# Create and publish a product

Publish one Copenhagen Lamp with a black variant and verify that a buyer can purchase it in your configured store.
The sequence matters: creating content, pricing it, and publishing it are separate operations.

## Before you begin

Complete [Configure a store](/guides/catalog/configure-store) and retain its IDs.
Use an Admin credential with the required catalog permissions.
If you created the lamp in the [Admin quickstart](/getting-started/admin-quickstart), use that product ID and skip step 1.

## 1. Create the product


Admin API

```graphql
mutation CreateLamp($input: ProductCreateInput!) {
  productCreate(input: $input) {
    product { id name slug status }
    errors { __typename ... on UserError { message } }
  }
}

```


Variables

```json
{
  "input": {
    "name": "Copenhagen Lamp",
    "slug": "copenhagen-lamp",
    "status": "DRAFT",
    "tags": [
      "lighting"
    ]
  }
}

```


Save the returned product ID only after checking payload errors.
After an uncertain response, inspect the catalog before repeating creation.

## 2. Create its sellable variant


Admin API

```graphql
mutation CreateLampVariant($input: ProductVariantsBulkCreateInput!) {
  productVariantsBulkCreate(input: $input) {
    productVariants { id name sku status }
    errors { __typename ... on UserError { message } }
  }
}

```


Variables

```json
{
  "input": {
    "productId": "<product-id>",
    "variants": [
      {
        "name": "Black",
        "sku": "LAMP-BLACK",
        "status": "ACTIVE"
      }
    ]
  }
}

```


Keep the variant ID and SKU.
The cart will use the variant ID; inventory setup will use the SKU.
For several selectable finishes, use [attributes](/concepts/catalog/attributes) instead of relying only on variant labels.

## 3. Add price and stock

Follow [Configure prices, inventory, and tax](/guides/catalog/configure-commerce) with this variant ID and SKU.
It supplies complete inputs for the EUR 129.00 example price and ten tracked units.
Return here once those writes succeed.

## 4. Activate the product


Admin API

```graphql
mutation ActivateLamp($input: ProductUpdateInput!) {
  productUpdate(input: $input) {
    product { id status }
    errors { __typename ... on UserError { message } }
  }
}

```


Variables

```json
{
  "input": {
    "id": "<product-id>",
    "status": "ACTIVE"
  }
}

```


The variant created above is already active.
An existing draft variant needs its own status update before it can be sold.

## 5. Publish both levels


Admin API

```graphql
mutation PublishLamp($input: ProductPublishInput!) {
  productPublish(input: $input) {
    product { id }
    errors { __typename ... on UserError { message } }
  }
}

```


Variables

```json
{
  "input": {
    "productId": "<product-id>",
    "publications": [
      {
        "channelId": "<distribution-channel-id>",
        "publishedAt": "<UTC-timestamp>",
        "availableForPurchaseAt": "<UTC-timestamp>"
      }
    ]
  }
}

```


Admin API

```graphql
mutation PublishLampVariant($input: ProductVariantPublishInput!) {
  productVariantPublish(input: $input) {
    product { id }
    errors { __typename ... on UserError { message } }
  }
}

```


Variables

```json
{
  "input": {
    "productId": "<product-id>",
    "variantId": "<variant-id>",
    "publications": [
      {
        "channelId": "<distribution-channel-id>",
        "publishedAt": "<UTC-timestamp>",
        "availableForPurchaseAt": "<UTC-timestamp>"
      }
    ]
  }
}

```


Replace each timestamp placeholder with an ISO 8601 UTC timestamp, such as the intended launch time.
Use a time that has already arrived when verifying immediate availability.
Publishing the product does not implicitly publish its variants.

## Verify through Storefront

Run the product read in [Your first order](/getting-started/first-order) using the store, price channel, EUR, and DK context from setup.
Confirm SKU `LAMP-BLACK`, a usable price, and `availableForPurchase: true`.
If a condition fails, use [Catalog visibility](/concepts/catalog/publication) to diagnose that layer.