Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Big Cartel to Shopify Migration Guide

Big Cartel

Shopify

Migrate from Big Cartel to Shopify to unlock advanced features and access over 8,000 apps for scaling your business. This guide covers transferring products, customers, and orders while maximizing Shopify's robust ecosystem.

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Migrating from Big Cartel to Shopify

A comprehensive guide to migrate your online store from Big Cartel to Shopify, taking advantage of Shopify's robust app ecosystem and advanced management features while preserving your product data and customer experience.

Export Your Big Cartel Data

Log into your Big Cartel admin panel and navigate to the Account section to export your product data as a CSV file. This export will include product names, descriptions, prices, and images, but note that Big Cartel's export may require manual formatting adjustments for Shopify compatibility. Also gather any customer data, order history, and digital assets you'll need to recreate your store.

Set Up Your Shopify Account and Plan

Create your Shopify account and select the appropriate plan based on your needs - Basic ($39/mo) for simple stores or Shopify ($105/mo) for growing businesses with advanced features. Complete the initial store setup including your store name, address, and basic settings. Take advantage of Shopify's 14-day free trial to test the platform before committing.

Configure Store Settings and Payment Methods

Set up your payment gateways, shipping zones, and tax settings in Shopify's admin panel, which offers more advanced options than Big Cartel's simpler system. Configure your domain settings and decide whether to use a Shopify subdomain or connect your existing custom domain. Review and adjust store policies, notification settings, and checkout preferences to match your business needs.

Import and Optimize Product Data

Format your Big Cartel CSV export to match Shopify's import requirements, paying special attention to product variants since Shopify handles them differently than Big Cartel's 50-variant limit. Use Shopify's CSV import tool or consider apps like Matrixify for more complex imports, and manually upload product images since they typically don't transfer automatically. Review each product listing to ensure descriptions, SEO settings, and inventory tracking are properly configured.

Install Essential Apps and Integrations

Explore Shopify's extensive app store to install apps that enhance your store's functionality beyond Big Cartel's basic features. Consider apps for email marketing, inventory management, customer reviews, and analytics to take full advantage of Shopify's ecosystem. Set up integrations with your existing tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and any third-party services you currently use.

Test and Launch Your New Store

Thoroughly test your Shopify store by placing test orders, checking all payment methods, and verifying that shipping calculations work correctly. Set up proper redirects from your Big Cartel URLs to maintain SEO value and ensure customers can find your products. Once everything is working properly, update your social media profiles, email signatures, and marketing materials with your new Shopify store URL before making the final switch.

Big Cartel to Shopify Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step process to migrate your online store from Big Cartel to Shopify, leveraging CSV exports and Shopify's robust ecosystem for improved management and scalability.

Export Data from Big Cartel

1-2 hours

Log into your Big Cartel admin panel and navigate to the Products section. Use Big Cartel's built-in CSV export feature to download your product data, including titles, descriptions, prices, and images. Since Big Cartel supports up to 50 variants per product, ensure all variant data is captured in the export. Also manually collect customer data and order history as Big Cartel doesn't provide comprehensive export tools for these.

Tips:

• Export products in small batches if you have a large catalog to avoid timeouts
• Take screenshots of your current store design and layout for reference
• Document any custom HTML/CSS modifications you've made to your Big Cartel theme

Important:

• Big Cartel doesn't export customer passwords - customers will need to reset them
• Image URLs in the CSV may be temporary and could break after migration

Set Up Shopify Account and Plan

30 minutes

Create your Shopify account and select an appropriate plan based on your business needs. For most Big Cartel users, the Basic Shopify plan ($29/month) provides significant feature upgrades. Complete the initial store setup including store name, address, and basic business information. Take advantage of Shopify's 14-day free trial to test the platform before committing.

Tips:

• Use the same business email address for consistency across platforms
• Consider starting with Basic Shopify plan and upgrading later as you grow
• Set up two-factor authentication immediately for security

Important:

• Your store will be password-protected during trial period
• Some payment providers require plan activation before setup

Choose and Customize Theme

2-4 hours

Browse Shopify's theme store and select a theme that matches your brand aesthetic and functional requirements. Many free themes offer more features than Big Cartel's options. Install your chosen theme and begin basic customization including logo upload, color scheme, and typography. Focus on maintaining visual consistency with your previous Big Cartel store to avoid confusing existing customers.

Tips:

• Test themes on mobile devices as Shopify themes are generally more responsive than Big Cartel
• Free themes like Dawn or Craft often provide more functionality than Big Cartel's premium options
• Use Shopify's theme customizer to preview changes before publishing

Important:

• Avoid over-customizing initially - focus on launching first
• Some theme features may require higher Shopify plan tiers

Prepare and Import Products

3-6 hours

Clean and format your Big Cartel CSV export to match Shopify's import requirements. Map Big Cartel fields to Shopify's product structure, ensuring variants are properly configured (Shopify supports up to 100 variants vs Big Cartel's 50). Upload product images separately or ensure image URLs are accessible. Use Shopify's product import tool or apps like Matrixify for complex catalogs.

Tips:

• Use Shopify's CSV template to ensure proper formatting
• Batch import products in groups of 50-100 to monitor for errors
• Optimize product images for web before uploading to improve site speed

Important:

• Image imports may fail if Big Cartel URLs are no longer accessible
• Product handles (URLs) will change - plan for redirects accordingly

Import Customer Data

1-2 hours

Export customer information from Big Cartel manually or use available data to create a customer CSV file. Import customers into Shopify using the customer import feature, ensuring email addresses, names, and shipping addresses are properly mapped. Since Big Cartel doesn't export order history comprehensively, focus on getting customer contact information transferred accurately.

Tips:

• Send email notification to customers about the platform change
• Tag imported customers as 'Big Cartel Migration' for tracking
• Verify email addresses are valid before importing to maintain deliverability

Important:

• Customers will need to create new passwords
• Order history from Big Cartel won't transfer automatically

Configure Payment Gateways

1 hour

Set up Shopify Payments (if available in your region) or configure your preferred payment gateway. Shopify offers more payment options than Big Cartel, including buy now pay later services. If you were using PayPal or Stripe with Big Cartel, you can continue using the same accounts. Configure payment settings including accepted payment methods, currency, and fraud protection settings.

Tips:

• Shopify Payments offers competitive rates and integrates seamlessly
• Enable multiple payment methods to reduce cart abandonment
• Test payment processing in Shopify's test mode before going live

Important:

• Payment gateway fees may differ from Big Cartel's structure
• Some gateways require re-verification when switching platforms

Set Up Shipping Configuration

2-3 hours

Configure shipping zones, rates, and methods in Shopify's more advanced shipping system. Unlike Big Cartel's basic shipping options, Shopify offers calculated shipping rates, free shipping thresholds, and integration with shipping carriers. Set up shipping profiles for different product types and configure local delivery or pickup options if applicable.

Tips:

• Use Shopify's shipping calculator for accurate real-time rates
• Set up free shipping thresholds to increase average order value
• Configure shipping profiles for different product categories

Important:

• Shipping costs may change due to different calculation methods
• International shipping requires careful tax and duty consideration

Configure Tax Settings

1-2 hours

Set up tax configuration in Shopify's comprehensive tax system, which is more advanced than Big Cartel's basic tax handling. Configure tax rates for different regions, set up tax-exempt products if applicable, and enable automatic tax calculations. For US businesses, consider enabling Shopify's tax reporting features for easier compliance.

Tips:

• Enable automatic tax calculations for accuracy
• Set up tax overrides for specific products or customer groups
• Use Shopify's tax reports for easier bookkeeping

Important:

• Tax calculations may differ from Big Cartel's methods
• Consult tax professional for complex tax situations

Migrate Content and Pages

2-4 hours

Recreate your Big Cartel pages in Shopify, including About, FAQ, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service pages. Use Shopify's page editor to format content and add any additional pages that take advantage of Shopify's more flexible content management. Set up blog if you had one on Big Cartel, and configure navigation menus to match your site structure.

Tips:

• Use Shopify's rich text editor for better content formatting
• Create template pages for consistent styling
• Set up blog categories and tags for better organization

Important:

• Page URLs will change - document old URLs for redirect setup
• Some Big Cartel custom code may not work in Shopify

Set Up URL Redirects

2-3 hours

Create 301 redirects from your Big Cartel URLs to corresponding Shopify URLs to preserve SEO value and ensure customers can find your products. Map old product URLs, category pages, and content pages to their new Shopify equivalents. Use Shopify's built-in redirect feature or apps like Tiny SEO for bulk redirect management.

Tips:

• Use tools like Screaming Frog to crawl your old site for complete URL list
• Prioritize redirects for your most popular products and pages
• Test redirects using different devices and browsers

Important:

• Missing redirects will result in 404 errors and lost SEO value
• Some Big Cartel URL structures may not have direct Shopify equivalents

Install Essential Apps

1-2 hours

Take advantage of Shopify's robust app ecosystem by installing essential apps that weren't available on Big Cartel. Consider apps for email marketing, SEO optimization, reviews, inventory management, and analytics. Popular starter apps include Klaviyo for email marketing, Judge.me for reviews, and Google & YouTube for advertising integration.

Tips:

• Start with free apps and upgrade as needed
• Read app reviews and check compatibility with your theme
• Focus on apps that solve specific business problems you had with Big Cartel

Important:

• Too many apps can slow down your store
• App costs can add up quickly - budget accordingly

Test and Launch

2-4 hours

Conduct comprehensive testing of your new Shopify store including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, and payment processing. Test on multiple devices and browsers to ensure compatibility. Remove password protection, update DNS settings to point your domain to Shopify, and announce the migration to your customers via email and social media.

Tips:

• Create test orders using different payment methods
• Ask friends or family to test the checkout process
• Monitor site speed and performance after launch

Important:

• DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to propagate fully
• Have a rollback plan ready in case of critical issues

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Big Cartel supports 50 vs Shopify's 100.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

Common challenges and solutions

Essential questions and answers for businesses migrating from Big Cartel to Shopify, covering timeline, costs, data transfer, and operational considerations.

How long does it take to migrate from Big Cartel to Shopify?

A basic migration typically takes 1-2 weeks for planning, setup, and testing. The actual data transfer using Big Cartel's CSV export can be completed in a few hours, but theme customization and app configuration may extend the timeline.

Will I lose my search engine rankings when migrating from Big Cartel to Shopify?

You can maintain most SEO value by setting up proper 301 redirects from your old Big Cartel URLs to new Shopify URLs. Plan your URL structure carefully and update your sitemap to minimize any temporary ranking fluctuations.

Can I transfer my order history and customer data from Big Cartel to Shopify?

Big Cartel provides CSV exports for products, but order history and customer data migration is limited. You'll need to manually export available data and may lose some historical order details, so document important information before migrating.

How much will my monthly costs increase when switching from Big Cartel to Shopify?

Expect a significant cost increase - from $9.99-$19.99/month on Big Cartel to at least $39/month for Shopify Basic. However, you'll gain access to unlimited products, advanced features, and over 8,000 apps that can drive more sales.

What Big Cartel features might I lose when moving to Shopify?

Big Cartel's simplicity and lower cost for small catalogs are the main losses. However, Shopify provides significantly more features including advanced analytics, abandoned cart recovery, and professional reporting that weren't available in Big Cartel.

How do I handle website downtime during the migration?

Build your Shopify store completely before switching your domain, allowing you to test everything thoroughly. The actual domain switch can be done in minutes, minimizing downtime to less than an hour if properly planned.

Do I need to recreate my website design from scratch on Shopify?

Yes, you'll need to choose a new Shopify theme and customize it to match your brand. While you can't directly transfer your Big Cartel design, Shopify's theme ecosystem offers more professional and mobile-responsive options.

Will my customers need to create new accounts after the migration?

Unfortunately, customer passwords cannot be transferred from Big Cartel to Shopify for security reasons. Your customers will need to create new accounts or use the password reset function on your new Shopify store.

What apps should I install to replace Big Cartel's built-in features?

Most of Big Cartel's features are built into Shopify, but you might want apps for advanced SEO, email marketing, or social media integration. Start with free apps and gradually add paid ones based on your specific needs.

How do I test my new Shopify store before going live?

Use Shopify's preview functionality and password-protect your store while testing. Process test orders, check all product pages, and verify payment processing before removing the password and updating your domain.

Can I keep selling on Big Cartel while building my Shopify store?

Yes, you can maintain your Big Cartel store while building Shopify in parallel. This ensures no sales interruption, but you'll need to manually sync inventory and orders between platforms during the transition period.

Will my product reviews transfer from Big Cartel to Shopify?

Product reviews typically don't transfer automatically from Big Cartel to Shopify. You'll need to manually migrate important reviews or use a review app like Judge.me or Yotpo to import and manage customer feedback on your new store.