Whether you're on WooCommerce, Etsy, or even Wix, migrating to Shopify is THE move to boost your boutique's online game! But let’s be real—migrating your store’s content and data can feel like a hot mess 🔥. That’s where this guide comes in. We’re breaking it down step-by-step, keeping it simple, fun, and of course, packed with the personality that makes your boutique stand out. 🙌
Step 1: Let’s Get Ready to Move 🚚
First thing's first, if you don’t have a Shopify store yet, boo, what are you waiting for? Sign up, create that store, and take a look at your current site to decide what you want to bring with you. 👀 Migrations are the PERFECT time to ditch old, low-performing content that doesn’t serve your new vibe. ✂️
Pro Tip: Want a fresh start? This is your chance to Marie Kondo your product catalog, blog posts, and pages. Keep what sparks joy and toss the rest. ✨
Here’s what you might want to move:
- Products 👗
- Customers (keep those VIPs!) 👑
- Historical orders (yep, all that good data!) 📦
- Gift cards, certificates, store credits 🎁
- Blog posts 📝
- Pages like your Shipping Policy, Contact, and About 🛠️
There are a few ways to do this:
- The old school copy-paste (for simpler stuff).
- Export/import using CSV files (great for products).
- Hire a Shopify partner if you don’t want to mess with it at all (we got you, babe!).
Hot Mess Tip: ALWAYS import your products first, then customers, then historical orders. You gotta keep it connected, so Shopify knows what’s what!
Step 2: Check Your Goods 🛍️
After importing, make sure everything transferred perfectly. Price, weight, inventory—triple check that info, babe! If something’s missing, go back and tweak it. Products can be imported in bulk using CSV files, but always double-check for errors.
Step 3: Make Your Store Look FAB 😍
Now that your products are in, it’s time to make your Shopify store look as good as your outfits! 💅 When you sign up, Shopify gives you a default theme, but trust me—you’re gonna want something that screams YOU.
Options:
- Add a free theme directly from Shopify OR
- Buy a paid theme from the Shopify Theme Store (hello, Stiletto!). You can even try before you buy. 💳
Hot Mess Tip: Pick a theme that’s easy to customize so you can match it to your boutique’s unique personality. And don’t be afraid to go BIG with your branding!
Step 4: Shipping—Don’t Overthink It ✈️📦
Setting up shipping can be stressful, but girl, we got this! Make sure your shipping rates and methods are in place before you launch. You don't want to be that boutique that has to refund customers because you charged too much (or too little) for shipping! 😅
Pro Tip: If you’re selling digital products (like courses or downloads), turn off the shipping option. Digital doesn’t need a shipping box!
Step 5: Taxes—Let’s Keep It Legal 💸
No one loves taxes, but ignoring them? Big no-no. Shopify’s got your back by automatically calculating shipping taxes based on where your customers live. Just make sure you set it up right to avoid surprises. 😱
Step 6: Cha-Ching! Set Up Payment Options 💳
Ready to get paid? Set up a payment provider so your customers can easily give you their $$$. Shopify Payments lets you skip those annoying third-party fees (and who doesn’t love more money in their pocket?!).
Hot Mess Tip: Make sure you’ve got your store policies (refunds, returns, etc.) ready to go on your checkout page, so your customers know what to expect!
Step 7: Test the Waters 🌊
Before launching, run a few test orders to make sure everything works smoothly. Nothing worse than launching your new store and discovering your checkout page is a hot mess. 😱 This also helps you see exactly what your customers will experience when they buy from you—so make sure it’s seamless!
Step 8: Add Your Dream Team 👯♀️
If you have staff helping with your boutique, now’s the time to add them to your Shopify store. Each staff member gets their own login and permissions, so your sensitive info stays safe!
Step 9: Domain Time, Baby 🌐
Got your domain ready? You can either buy one through Shopify or transfer your existing domain over. Just make sure you disconnect your old domain first to avoid any glitches. And don’t forget to set up redirects so your old links don’t go to error pages.
Step 10: Set Up Shopify POS (Optional) 🛒
If you’re also selling IRL at a retail location, you’ll want to set up Shopify POS. Shopify supports some existing hardware, but make sure it’s compatible before you switch over.
Step 11: SEO for Success 📈
You didn’t hustle this hard to be invisible! Make sure you’re setting up your Shopify store for SEO success so customers can find you online. Redirect old links, write killer meta descriptions, and submit your sitemap to Google so the search engines know exactly where to find you.
Hot Mess Tip: Use an SEO app to boost your store’s rankings and make sure your images are optimized for speed!
