Building a Simple Area-Based Rigid Sign Product

Aaron Aldrich Updated by Aaron Aldrich

Introduction

Area-based products provide a fast and flexible way to price rigid signs using material costs without the complexity of additional labor rates, production steps, or advanced calculations. In this article, you'll learn how to create a simple custom rigid sign product that calculates pricing based on square footage and selected materials. This article is designed to supplement the video below, with terminology and steps aligned directly to the walkthrough demonstrated.

Related video: Building a Simple Area Based Product - Rigid Sign

Steps
Step 1 – Create a New Custom Product
  1. Navigate to Settings → Products.
  2. Click Add New Product.
  3. Select Create Custom Product.
  4. Enter the product details:
    • Product Name (Example: Custom Rigid Sign)
    • Interface = Custom
    • Type
    • Category
    • Income Account
    • Cost of Goods Account
  5. Click Save Product.
Step 2 – Add a Product Template and Configure Area Pricing
  1. Click Add Product Template.
  2. Change the pricing method to Formula.
  3. Select Area as the formula type.
  4. Changes will be saved

What happens next?

  • shopVOX automatically creates two modifiers:
    • Height
    • Width
  • These modifiers allow the product to calculate pricing based on square footage.

Step 3 – Create the Substrate Selection Dropdown

  1. On Configure Pricing tab - scroll to the bottom of the page to the Product Template section.
  2. Navigate to Drop Down Menus.
  3. Click Add New.
  4. Enter Substrate Selection as the title.
  5. Configure the dropdown:
    • Type: Material
    • Item Type: Rigid Substrates
    • Kind: Company Item
    • Formula: Area
    • Pricing Method: Charge Per Line Item Unit
  6. Leave Optional unchecked.
  7. Click Add New Dropdown.

Next, limit the available selections:

  1. Click the Green Plus (+) Icon.
  2. Select the substrate materials you want available.
  3. Save the dropdown.

This allows users to select only approved rigid substrate options when quoting.

Step 4 – Create the Vinyl Selection Dropdown
  1. Click Add New under Drop Down Menus.
  2. Enter Vinyl Selection as the title.
  3. Configure the dropdown:
    • Type: Material
    • Item Type: Digitally Printed Digital Vinyl
    • Kind: Company Item
    • Formula: Area
    • Pricing Method: Charge Per Line Item Unit
  4. Leave Optional unchecked.
  5. Save the dropdown.
  6. Use the Green Plus (+) Icon to add the vinyl materials you want available.

This dropdown pulls eligible vinyl products directly from your material pricing setup.

Step 5 – Create the Laminate Selection Dropdown
  1. Click Add New under Drop Down Menus.
  2. Enter Laminate Option as the title.
  3. Configure the dropdown:
    • Type: Material
    • Item Type: Laminates
    • Kind: Company Item
    • Formula: Area
    • Pricing Method: Charge Per Line Item Unit
  4. Click Add New Dropdown.
  5. Add the laminate materials you want available.

Since lamination may not always be required:

  1. Edit the Laminate Option dropdown.
  2. Enable Optional.
  3. Save the changes.

When marked optional, users may leave the laminate field blank without creating a pricing error.

Step 6 – Test the Product Pricing
  1. Open the product's Check Pricing area.
  2. Enter dimensions (Example: 12" × 12").
  3. Select a substrate.
  4. Select a vinyl option.
  5. Select a laminate option if desired.

The system calculates pricing automatically using:

  • Square footage
  • Material costs
  • Waste factors configured on materials

You can test different material combinations to verify pricing and ensure the product behaves as expected.

Step 7 – Add Ink as a Default Item (Optional)

If you would like ink costs included automatically:

  1. On Configure Pricing tab - scroll to the bottom of the page to the Product Template section.
  2. Navigate to Default Items.
  3. Click Add New.
  4. Configure:
    • Type: Material
    • Material: Digital Ink
    • Formula: Area
    • Pricing Method: Charge Per Line Item Unit
  5. Save the default item.

Unlike dropdown selections, default items are automatically included in the product calculation and do not require user selection.

Notes & Tips

🔹 Tip: Use the Green Plus (+) icon to restrict dropdown choices to only the materials you actually sell. This creates cleaner and more consistent quotes.

🔹 Tip: Area formulas automatically calculate pricing using the Height and Width modifiers generated by the product template.

⚠️ Warning: If a required dropdown is left non-optional, users must make a selection before pricing can be calculated.

⚠️ Warning: High square-foot pricing is often caused by material pricing or waste settings. Review your material setup if pricing appears inflated.

Outcome / Summary

After following these steps, you should be able to:

  • Create a custom rigid sign product using area-based pricing.
  • Allow users to select substrates, vinyl, and laminate options through dropdown menus.
  • Automatically calculate pricing based on square footage and material costs.
  • Include optional laminate selections when applicable.
  • Add default materials such as ink to pricing calculations.
  • Generate simplified rigid sign pricing without configuring labor rates or more advanced production workflows.

How did we do?

Summary Conclusion: Lessons 1-10 - shopVOX Pro

Contact