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Naming a Need

It's important to name your needs correctly, since the need's name is the key to re-ordering the right item(s) to cover the need. Here are guidelines to follow.

The name of a need is just what you would put on a shopping list.

The need name should be specific enough that your agent could go to the store and buy the product for you.

The assets that you use to cover a need should be "substitutes" for one another, as far as you're concerned. That is, you don't really care which one is chosen to cover the need.

Our convention is to put the main words first (e.g. the article type), followed by less important words (e.g. the fabric type or some stylistic detail), then the least important words (e.g. the color), separated by commas.

Here are some examples of need names, and some comments on them:

  1. Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, navy blue (solid)
  2. Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, pinstripe or chalk stripe
  3. Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, patterned (Glen plaid or herringbone)
  4. Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, (replace this with specifics)
  5. Apparel, Men's >> Shirts >> Dress shirts, colored (usually beige, pink, yellow, or pearl gray)
  6. Apparel, Men's >> Shoes >> Shoes, plain-toed slip-ons in a dark color (not moccasins)
  7. Apparel, Men's >> Shoes >> Shoes, tassel loafers
  8. Apparel, Men's >> Shirts >> Knit sport shirts or polo shirts (Izod, Ralph Lauren, etc.)
  9. Apparel, Men's >> Shoes >> Shoes, moccasins, loafers, boat shoes, other casuals
  10. Apparel, Women's >> Jackets >> Jacket, houndstooth, herringbone, or Glen plaid
  11. Apparel, Women's >> Blouses >> Blouse, cream/ivory surplice neckline
  12. Apparel, Women's >> Hosiery >> Hosiery, neutral or taupe
  13. Apparel, Women's >> Hosiery >> Hosiery, sheer black
  14. Apparel, Women's >> Handbags >> Handbag, leather, black or navy
  15. Apparel, Women's >> Necklaces >> Necklace, gold or silver choker (with complementary earrings)
  16. Apparel, Women's >> Scarfs >> Scarf, 100% silk to coordinate with suits

Comments:

  • Order of words. Item 1 could be called "Suit, navy blue (solid)" or "Solid navy blue suit". However, the former notation is recommended.

  • Singular or plural. You can say "shirt" or "shirts". It doesn't matter. We often use the plural, even when the quantity required is only one (1), but it's just a matter of taste.

  • Full Description. The name of the need (the part shown in bold here) must fully describe the need. So, usually the name of the article must be in the need name, even though it's also in the article subfolder. For example,

    WRONG: Apparel, Women's >> Hosiery >> Sheer black

    RIGHT: Apparel, Women's >> Hosiery >> Hosiery, sheer black

  • Article name. Item 7 could just be named:

    Apparel, Men's >> Shoes >> "Tassel loafers".

    NOTE that "tassel loafers" is still an article name -- just a specific one -- so it meets the need for "full description" described just above.

  • Item 13, "Hosiery, sheer black" specifically states that the hosiery must be sheer and black. A "thick black" pair is unacceptable, and a "sheer brown" pair is unacceptable. (But see "Use of 'OR'" below.)

  • Use of "OR". Note that item 3 says "Glen plaid or herringbone". That means that the client would take either one, and doesn't care which one. If you want one of each pattern type explicitly, create two needs like this:
    * Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, patterned, Glen plaid
    * Apparel, Men's >> Suits >> Suit, patterned, herringbone

  • "(replace with specifics)" You sometimes see need names like the one in item 4 on the "Add Many Needs" page. This phrase is to be replaced with a specific description of the need before adding the need.


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