Create the parent product first. This base product owns the variation model, category assignment, and storefront visibility.

Create each variation product separately, then assign it back to the base product from the Variations tab.

Assign the base product to a storefront category. This is what makes the variation family browsable from category pages.

Set price and inventory on each variation product, not on the base product.

Preview the base product on the storefront and confirm the variation family is visible.

Use the final summary as a quick reminder of what belongs on the base product and what belongs on each variation.