> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/pet-products/usage-purpose.md).

# Usage / Purpose

Is it a toy, a tool, or therapy? This field knows.

<br>

OVERVIEW &#x20;

The Usage / Purpose field describes the primary function or intended use case of a product. It answers the question: what is this product actually for? A harness can be for everyday walking, hiking, training, or water activities — same product category, completely different purchase contexts.

This field is most powerful for accessories, toys, and non-food products where the product category alone is insufficient. It enables use-case-based collection pages ("training essentials", "travel gear"), cross-sell logic based on activity, and recommendation engines that understand context.<br>

BUSINESS VALUE &#x20;

Why this field matters

* Use-case search queries ("dog hiking harness", "cat travel carrier") need structured purpose data to match
* Collection pages built around use cases outperform category pages for SEO and conversion
* Cross-sell logic ("you need a harness, leash, and water bottle for hiking") requires purpose alignment
* Gifting occasions are use-case driven — "what do I get for a new puppy owner" needs purposeful filtering
* ACF's Automatic Tagging feature can auto-apply Shopify tags based on usage\_purpose values<br>

ACF SETUP &#x20;

How to configure this field in Accentuate Custom Fields

| Where       | ACF dashboard → Templates tab → Product scope → Add new field                         |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Label       | Usage / Purpose                                                                       |
| Name / Key  | usage\_purpose                                                                        |
| Namespace   | accentuate (default)                                                                  |
| Field type  | Shopify >> Single-line text (List)                                                    |
| Multi-value | Yes — a harness can serve Daily walking + Training + Outdoor adventure simultaneously |

| ℹ️  Use List type for multi-purpose products. Consider combining with ACF's Automatic Tagging to auto-tag products with Shopify tags based on their usage\_purpose values — great for collection automation. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

STEP-BY-STEP IN ACF &#x20;

1. In ACF, open Templates tab and select the Product scope
2. Click "Add new field"
3. Label: "Usage / Purpose" — Key auto-fills as "usage\_purpose"
4. Namespace: leave as "accentuate"
5. Field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List)
6. Enable "Allow multiple selections"
7. Optional: Enable ACF Automatic Tagging to auto-apply Shopify tags from field values
8. Click Done, then Save
9. Open a non-food product and populate with relevant purpose values

| 🔧  Shopify admin (optional pinning): Pin in Shopify admin: Settings → Custom data → Products. Namespace: "accentuate", Key: "usage\_purpose", Type: Single-line text (List). Once pinned, usage\_purpose appears directly on the product edit page in Shopify admin alongside ACF. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| 🔁  Repeatability: Shopify >> List handles multi-purpose products natively. Also explore ACF's Automatic Tagging (Templates tab → field settings → Automatic tagging) to sync purpose values to Shopify tags automatically. |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

REFERENCE VALUES &#x20;

Example values — adapt to your catalog

| Value                   | When to use                                                         |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Daily walking           | Standard leash walks; everyday wear; neighborhood and park use      |
| Training                | Behavior training; positive reinforcement; puppy obedience          |
| Outdoor adventure       | Hiking, trail running, camping; rugged environments                 |
| Travel                  | Car trips, air travel, hotel stays; portable and TSA-compatible     |
| Indoor enrichment       | Mental stimulation for indoor pets; puzzles, activity mats          |
| Post-surgery / Recovery | Restricted activity; cones, recovery suits, gentle gear             |
| Water / Swimming        | Flotation, waterproof materials; beach, lake, pool use              |
| Dental hygiene          | Tooth cleaning, tartar control; daily oral care routines            |
| Calming / Anxiety       | Stress reduction; separation anxiety, travel anxiety, fireworks     |
| Performance / Sport     | Agility, flyball, dock diving; competition and high-intensity sport |

&#x20;

BEST PRACTICES &#x20;

* Assign purpose from the customer's perspective, not the product category perspective
* List all relevant purposes — this powers cross-category collections
* Align purpose values with your navigation structure and collection naming
* Use ACF's Automatic Tagging to sync purpose values to Shopify tags automatically
* Recovery and post-surgery products are a distinct, high-intent category — do not omit this value

&#x20;

COMMON MISTAKES — AVOID THESE &#x20;

* Using product category names as purpose values: "Harness" is a product type, not a purpose
* Overloading a single product with every possible purpose to maximise visibility
* Missing the "Training" value on products clearly designed for training contexts
* Not enabling Automatic Tagging — manual tag management at scale is painful and error-prone
* Omitting travel-specific products from "Travel" — these have very specific customer intent

<br>

IN CONTEXT — EXAMPLE PRODUCT &#x20;

| 🎯 Multi-Function Adventure Harness — No-Pull Design                       |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Pet type:   Dog                                                            |
| Usage / Purpose:   Daily walking, Training, Outdoor adventure              |
| Breed size:   M / Medium, L / Large                                        |
| Activity level:   Active, High                                             |
| Safety notes:   No-pull front clip; reflective strips; double-lock buckles |

\
\ <br>

Developer Implementation

| Liquid note: Shopify >> List type — use .value for the array. Consider also using ACF's Automatic Tagging so purpose values auto-sync to Shopify tags for collection conditions. |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

<br>

Liquid — Storefront Rendering

```
{% comment %}
  Usage / Purpose — Shopify >> List type
  Each purpose is a separate array element
{% endcomment %}


{% assign purposes = product.metafields.accentuate.usage_purpose.value %}


{% if purposes != blank %}
  <div class="purpose-tags">
    {% for use in purposes %}
      <span class="tag tag--purpose">{{ use }}</span>
    {% endfor %}
  </div>
{% endif %}


```

<br>