CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 1

Import Item Setup Process

Product Information

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Item Setup Process - Agenda

2

• Acronyms & Key Terms

• Item Setup Process

• Applications

o LowesLink & Product Information Tool Kit

o PI Builder

o FootPrints

• Review/Q&A

Contact LGS contact or PCMSupport@lowes.com with questions

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Acronyms & Key Terms

3

• VBU – Lowe’s Vendor Number

• LGS – Lowe’s Global Sourcing

• PI – Product Information

• PI Builder – “Smart” excel file found on Loweslink®

o IOS – Item offer sheet

o MDS – Marketing Data Spreadsheet

o Ecat – SOS cost sheet

• GDSN – Global Data Synchronization Network

• Solution Provider – data sync company (3rd Party)

• Data Pool Vendor – uses Solution Provider to provide product data to PCM

• Web Vendor – provides product data directly in PCM

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 4

1. Publish GDSN Information to

Solution Provider

2. Download and Complete PI

Builder file

o Login to LowesLink®

Product Information Tool Kit

PI Builder

3. Run Data Validation Checker on

every sheet, as available

4. Upload Digital Assets to PCM

Item Setup Process

4

5. Submit PI Builder file to LGS via

FootPrints

o Data Pool Vendors

Work with your solution

provider to check/fix errors

o Web Vendors

After PI subscribes to

item(s), enter product data

into PCM

Work with PI specialist to

correct errors

6. Once GTINs are setup in PCM, PI

starts processing the MDS digital

assets

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Applications

5

• Loweslink® – Secure website for information, resources, and contacts

to the different departments within Lowe’s. Two applications that vendors

use to communicate with PI include PCM and PI Tool Kit.

• Product Information Tool Kit – secure site where the PI Builder,

training documents, and standards can be found.

• PI Builder – A set of “smart” Excel spreadsheets which aids the Product

Information Specialist to input vendor data into (PCM).

• Footprints – Ticketing system used to submit requests, questions, and

PI Builder files.

• Product Content Management (PCM) – system used to manage

product data. Vendors can submit images and find existing marketing

data.

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 6

• Once assigned a Vendor Number (VBU),

access LowesLink®, select Getting

Started and Continue Here to request

access to Lowe’s applications

• LowesLink® is a portal for suppliers to

access information and support for Item

Setup and Maintenance

• Product Information Tool Kit houses the

PI Builder 6

NOTE: Access Lowe’s tools and applications via

Internet Explorer only

LowesLink and PI Tool Kit

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 7

PI Builder

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 8

PI Builder - Completing

• Detailed instructions for each

attribute are displayed by clicking

on an individual cell

• All columns with a red header are

required and must be populated

• All columns with a black header are

optional or auto-populated

• When copying and pasting, use

Paste Special Values

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 9

PI Builder - Completing

• Use the Mandatory Task

Menu to enter Vendor

Contact Information

and to start the Data

Validation Checker

• All tabs must clear

Validation

• Use the Utilities & Help

button to find importing

data functions, standards

and guides

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 10

PI Builder - Completing – Factory ID

1. Log into

Tradestone

2. Select Search for

Party(s)

3. Enter Home Office

(HO) VBU

4. Select Home Office

(HO) Party ID

5. Hover over View,

select View

Related Parties

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Best Practices / Reminders

11

• Save As your PI Builder file when downloading

• Download and Open your PI Builder file on a PC desktop

• Expiration Dates for a downloaded Builder

o Downloaded Builder, lasts 14 days

o Created Builder file spreadsheet, lasts 60 days

• Downloaded PCM file (Marketing, etc.) lasts 14 days

• Unable to find the appropriate Category

o Do not force your product into a Category, contact your Item

Setup Specialist via FootPrints

(support found in PI Builder Quick Reference Guide)

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Best Practices / Reminders

12

• 400 Error

• Enable Macros in Excel

(support found in PI Builder Quick Reference Guide)

• Home Office VBU – Ensure this is Import VBU

• Barcodes and Correct Quantities – Do not leave blank. If an item has a

master carton barcode, include it

• Correct Model for each Item Number

• Digital asset file names in MDS page must match the digital asset file

you upload to PCM

• Unsure how to answer a field, contact PCMSupport@lowes.com

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Best Practices / Reminders

13

• Brand Name not on approved Brand

List

• Check to see if your brand name is

on our Master Brand Report by

logging into LowesLink

o Select PCM -> View Reports ->

Lowe’s Master Brand Report

• If your brand is not represented,

o Create a FootPrints ticket with

Issue Type = Brand Name

o Include your brand name

exactly as you want it

represented (spelling, capitalization

and punctuation included)

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 14

Product Content Management (PCM)

Upload .jpg or .pdf for items

Change Requests to

update/correct

marketing data

Open marketing

subscriptions

will show in

WorkList

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

FootPrintsProduct Information Support Portal (FootPrints) is an application that

Vendors use to communicate with the Lowe’s Product Information team that

manages data submission for Item Setup and Maintenance.

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 16

FootPrints – Creating Tickets

16

Attach your completed, validated Builder

file to a FootPrints ticket for your LGS

Office to review

• Complete the following:

o Subject o What you are requesting

o Division o Merchandising division of your Item

o Subdivision o Merchandising subdivision of your Item

o Issue & Sub Type o Choose Import and your LGS office

NOTE: Don’t forget to Upload Digital Assets to PCM

before submitting via FootPrints

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only. 17

FootPrints – Responding to Tickets

17

Two options for Replying

to FootPrints Tickets:

1. You can access the

FootPrints ticket in an

Internet Explorer

browser window

2. Reply directly to

FootPrints ticket in your

email by selecting

Reply

Add your

text above

this line

only when

replying

Select to open in FootPrints to edit,

reply, or add attachments

CONFIDENTIAL. Intended for internal distribution only.

Review / Q & A• Abide by the Marketing Data and Image Standards

• via Product Information Tool Kit in LowesLink

• via Utilities & Help Menu in PI Builder file

• Validate data in PI Builder

• Upload digital assets into PCM

• Respond to Footprint Tickets in a timely manner

• Data Pool: Publish and provide consistent product data

Contact LGS contact or PCMSupport@lowes.com with questions