Categories should reflect how buyers look for products, not the way stock is stored in the back room. A Nairobi general shop might group school supplies, phone accessories, kitchenware and home care separately; a mitumba seller may organise by clothing type rather than one category for every stall bale. Start with a small set of labels customers recognise.
Group around real buying choices
Keep products together when a shopper would reasonably compare them. Split a group only when the distinction helps a buyer choose?for example, chargers by connector type or school bags by size. Avoid creating a category for every item, and do not use several near-synonyms for the same products. A buyer looking for a bedsheet should not have to guess whether it is under ?home,? ?textiles? or ?bedroom.?
Use accurate names and keep listings in the most relevant group. If a product fits more than one customer need, choose the primary one and use clear titles and descriptions for the rest. A category cannot compensate for missing model, size, price or availability information.
Review from a customer's phone
Open the storefront and try to find three common products without search. If a customer in Nakuru cannot tell where a listing belongs, simplify or rename the group. Merge categories that mean the same thing; split a broad group only when there is enough stock and a genuine browsing reason.
KobStore lets sellers organise listings with categories. Review names as the catalogue changes and keep stock, prices and product details current across every group.
