Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Big Cartel to WooCommerce Migration Guide

Big Cartel

WooCommerce

Migrate from Big Cartel to WooCommerce to break free from product limits and gain complete control over your store's functionality and design. This guide covers the essential steps to transition your artist or maker business to WordPress's powerful, customizable ecommerce ecosystem.

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Big Cartel to WooCommerce Migration Guide

Migrate from Big Cartel to WooCommerce to gain full control over your store with WordPress's powerful ecosystem. This guide covers exporting your Big Cartel data and setting up a customizable WooCommerce store.

Set Up WordPress and WooCommerce

Choose a WordPress hosting provider and install WordPress, then add the free WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress repository. Complete the WooCommerce setup wizard to configure your store's basic settings, payment methods, and shipping options.

Export Your Big Cartel Data

Log into your Big Cartel admin panel and navigate to the export section to download your product data as a CSV file. Note that Big Cartel's export includes basic product information like titles, descriptions, prices, and images, but you may need to manually collect additional data like customer information.

Prepare and Clean Your Product Data

Review your Big Cartel CSV export and format it to match WooCommerce's import requirements, including product categories, SKUs, and inventory levels. Since Big Cartel limits you to 50 variants, you can now expand your product variations in WooCommerce without restrictions.

Import Products to WooCommerce

Use WooCommerce's built-in CSV importer (Tools > Import > WooCommerce products) to upload your prepared product data. Map the CSV columns to the appropriate WooCommerce fields and run the import, then review and adjust any products that need manual formatting.

Configure Design and Functionality

Choose a WooCommerce-compatible WordPress theme and customize your store's appearance to match your brand. Install essential plugins for SEO, security, and additional functionality that wasn't available in Big Cartel's limited platform.

Test and Launch Your New Store

Thoroughly test your WooCommerce store's checkout process, payment gateways, and shipping calculations before going live. Update your domain DNS settings if needed, set up 301 redirects from your old Big Cartel URLs, and announce the migration to your customers.

Big Cartel to WooCommerce Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step process to migrate your online store from Big Cartel to WooCommerce, enabling full WordPress integration and unlimited customization capabilities for content-focused merchants.

Export Data from Big Cartel

30-60 minutes

Access your Big Cartel admin panel and navigate to Settings > Data Export to download your product catalog as CSV files. Big Cartel provides separate exports for products, orders, and basic customer data. Note that Big Cartel's export functionality is limited compared to other platforms, so you'll need to manually document any custom settings, discount codes, and shipping rules that aren't included in the CSV export.

Tips:

• Download all available CSV files including products, orders, and any customer data
• Take screenshots of your current shipping settings, tax configurations, and discount codes
• Export your current theme customizations and brand assets separately

Important:

• Big Cartel's export doesn't include customer passwords or detailed order histories
• Product images may need to be downloaded separately from your Big Cartel media library

Set Up WordPress and WooCommerce

1-2 hours

Install WordPress on your hosting provider and activate the WooCommerce plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard. Run through WooCommerce's setup wizard to configure basic store settings including currency, location, and initial payment methods. Since you're migrating from Big Cartel's simpler structure, take time to familiarize yourself with WooCommerce's more extensive feature set and WordPress's content management capabilities.

Tips:

• Choose a hosting provider optimized for WooCommerce like SiteGround or WP Engine
• Install essential plugins like Yoast SEO and security plugins during initial setup
• Configure WordPress permalinks to be SEO-friendly before importing products

Important:

• Ensure your hosting plan can handle WooCommerce's resource requirements
• Don't skip the WooCommerce setup wizard as it configures critical store functionality

Select and Configure WooCommerce Theme

2-4 hours

Choose a WooCommerce-compatible theme that matches your brand and supports the content-focused approach you're seeking. Popular options include Storefront (WooCommerce's official theme), Astra, or OceanWP for their flexibility and performance. Configure the theme's customization options through the WordPress Customizer, paying special attention to product page layouts, checkout design, and mobile responsiveness since these areas offer more control than Big Cartel's limited customization options.

Tips:

• Test theme responsiveness thoroughly as WooCommerce themes offer more mobile customization than Big Cartel
• Configure header and footer menus to include essential store pages
• Set up widget areas and customize the shop page layout to showcase your products effectively

Important:

• Avoid themes that aren't specifically WooCommerce-compatible to prevent checkout issues
• Don't over-customize initially - focus on core functionality first

Prepare and Import Products

3-6 hours

Clean and format your Big Cartel CSV export to match WooCommerce's import requirements, paying special attention to product variants since WooCommerce handles unlimited variations compared to Big Cartel's 50-variant limit. Use WooCommerce's built-in Product Import tool or a plugin like WP All Import for complex product catalogs. Map your Big Cartel categories and product attributes to WooCommerce's more robust taxonomy system, and ensure product images are properly linked or uploaded.

Tips:

• Create WooCommerce product categories and attributes before importing to ensure proper mapping
• Use WooCommerce's sample CSV template to format your Big Cartel data correctly
• Import products in small batches to identify and fix formatting issues early

Important:

• Product URLs will change during migration, requiring redirect setup later
• Verify that all product variants imported correctly as WooCommerce handles variations differently than Big Cartel

Configure Payment Gateways

1-2 hours

Set up payment processing in WooCommerce, which offers more options than Big Cartel's limited payment methods. Configure popular gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Square through WooCommerce > Settings > Payments. If you were using PayPal or Stripe with Big Cartel, you can use the same accounts but will need to reconfigure webhook settings and API connections. Test each payment method thoroughly in WooCommerce's sandbox mode before going live.

Tips:

• Enable multiple payment options to reduce cart abandonment compared to Big Cartel's limitations
• Configure payment gateway webhooks for proper order status updates
• Set up saved payment methods and subscription billing if needed for your business model

Important:

• Update webhook URLs in your payment processor accounts to point to your new WooCommerce store
• Test refund processing as WooCommerce handles refunds differently than Big Cartel

Set Up Shipping Configuration

2-3 hours

Configure WooCommerce's comprehensive shipping system, which offers significantly more flexibility than Big Cartel's basic shipping options. Set up shipping zones, methods, and rates through WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping, recreating your Big Cartel shipping rules while taking advantage of WooCommerce's advanced features like shipping classes, free shipping thresholds, and real-time carrier rates. Consider integrating with shipping plugins for advanced functionality.

Tips:

• Create shipping classes for different product types to replicate Big Cartel's item-specific shipping
• Set up shipping zones geographically for more precise rate calculation than Big Cartel offered
• Configure free shipping thresholds and promotional shipping rates to boost average order value

Important:

• Double-check international shipping settings as WooCommerce requires more detailed configuration
• Test shipping calculations thoroughly as customers will notice any rate discrepancies

Configure Tax Settings

1-2 hours

Set up WooCommerce's advanced tax system through Settings > Tax, which provides more granular control than Big Cartel's basic tax handling. Configure tax rates by location, product type, and customer status, and enable tax calculation for digital products if applicable. WooCommerce can handle complex tax scenarios including EU VAT, US state taxes, and tax-exempt customers, offering much more flexibility than Big Cartel's simplified approach.

Tips:

• Import tax rates using WooCommerce's CSV import feature for multiple jurisdictions
• Configure tax display options for both shop pages and checkout to match customer expectations
• Set up tax reporting features for better compliance tracking than Big Cartel provided

Important:

• Verify tax calculations match your legal requirements as WooCommerce's flexibility requires careful configuration
• Test tax calculations for different customer locations and product combinations

Import Customer Data

1-3 hours

Import available customer information from your Big Cartel export using WooCommerce's customer import tools or plugins like Import Users from CSV. Since Big Cartel provides limited customer export capabilities, focus on importing email addresses, names, and order history where available. Set up customer accounts in WooCommerce and configure user roles, account pages, and email notifications to provide better customer account management than Big Cartel offered.

Tips:

• Send welcome emails to imported customers explaining the platform change and new account features
• Set up customer groups or roles if you offer wholesale or membership pricing
• Configure WooCommerce's customer account pages with order history and account management features

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated, so users will need to reset passwords on first login
• Verify customer order history imported correctly and matches Big Cartel records

Migrate Content and Create Essential Pages

2-4 hours

Leverage WordPress's superior content management capabilities by creating essential store pages like About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service with more detailed content than Big Cartel allowed. Import any blog content or product descriptions, and create new content to take advantage of WordPress's SEO and content marketing features. Set up WooCommerce-specific pages like My Account, Cart, and Checkout, customizing them beyond Big Cartel's limited page options.

Tips:

• Create a blog section to leverage WordPress's content marketing capabilities
• Set up detailed product category pages with rich content for better SEO
• Configure WooCommerce email templates to match your brand better than Big Cartel's basic emails

Important:

• Ensure all legal pages comply with current regulations and are more comprehensive than Big Cartel versions
• Don't forget to create and configure essential WooCommerce pages like shop, cart, and checkout

Set Up URL Redirects

1-2 hours

Implement 301 redirects from your Big Cartel URLs to corresponding WooCommerce pages to preserve SEO value and prevent broken links. Use a plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO Premium to manage redirects systematically. Map Big Cartel's URL structure (typically bigcartel.com/product/product-name) to WooCommerce's customizable permalink structure, ensuring product pages, categories, and other important pages redirect properly.

Tips:

• Create a comprehensive redirect map before implementing to avoid missing important pages
• Use regex patterns for bulk redirects when URL structures are consistent
• Monitor 404 errors after launch using Google Search Console to catch missed redirects

Important:

• Test redirects thoroughly as broken links will hurt SEO and customer experience
• Don't redirect to generic pages - ensure each redirect leads to the most relevant new page

Configure Analytics and Marketing Tools

2-3 hours

Set up comprehensive tracking and marketing tools that offer more capabilities than Big Cartel's limited analytics. Install Google Analytics 4 with Enhanced Ecommerce tracking, Facebook Pixel, and other marketing pixels through plugins like MonsterInsights or direct code integration. Configure email marketing integrations with services like Mailchimp or Klaviyo, and set up abandoned cart recovery and other automated marketing features not available in Big Cartel.

Tips:

• Set up goal tracking in Google Analytics for key ecommerce events like purchases and newsletter signups
• Configure marketing automation workflows to recover abandoned carts and nurture customers
• Install SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath for better search optimization than Big Cartel offered

Important:

• Ensure GDPR compliance when implementing tracking codes and marketing tools
• Test all tracking implementations to verify accurate data collection

Comprehensive Testing and Launch

4-6 hours

Conduct thorough testing of all store functionality including product browsing, cart operations, checkout process, payment processing, and order management. Test the mobile experience extensively since WooCommerce offers more responsive design options than Big Cartel. Verify that all migrated data appears correctly, shipping calculations are accurate, and email notifications are working properly. Perform test transactions using real payment methods in sandbox mode before switching your domain and going live.

Tips:

• Create a testing checklist covering all ecommerce functions from browsing to post-purchase
• Test with different user roles and customer types to ensure proper functionality
• Verify that all WooCommerce features work correctly across different devices and browsers

Important:

• Don't rush the testing phase as WooCommerce's complexity requires thorough validation
• Have a rollback plan ready in case critical issues are discovered after launch

What will be migrated

products

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

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.

Big Cartel to WooCommerce Migration: Common Challenges and Solutions

Essential questions and answers for merchants planning to migrate from Big Cartel to WooCommerce, covering technical requirements, data transfer, and operational considerations.

How long does it typically take to migrate from Big Cartel to WooCommerce?

A complete migration usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on your store complexity and customization needs. This includes setting up WordPress hosting, configuring WooCommerce, importing your CSV product data from Big Cartel, and thoroughly testing before going live.

Will I lose my search engine rankings when switching from Big Cartel to WooCommerce?

You can minimize SEO impact by implementing proper 301 redirects from your old Big Cartel URLs to new WooCommerce URLs and maintaining similar page structures. Plan your URL structure carefully and submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console after migration.

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

Big Cartel provides limited export options for order data, and customer passwords cannot be transferred to any platform for security reasons. You'll need to manually export available order information and ask customers to create new accounts on your WooCommerce store.

What happens to my Big Cartel apps and integrations when I move to WooCommerce?

Big Cartel apps won't transfer directly, but WooCommerce has thousands of plugins and extensions that likely offer similar or better functionality. Research WooCommerce alternatives for your current Big Cartel apps before starting the migration process.

How do WooCommerce features compare to Big Cartel's limitations?

WooCommerce offers unlimited products (vs Big Cartel's 50-500 product limits), advanced inventory management, multiple payment gateways, and extensive customization options. You'll gain much more flexibility but will need to manage WordPress hosting and updates yourself.

How much downtime should I expect during the migration?

With proper planning, you can minimize downtime to just the DNS propagation period (24-48 hours maximum). Build your entire WooCommerce store while Big Cartel remains live, then switch your domain when everything is tested and ready.

Do I need WordPress experience to successfully migrate to WooCommerce?

Basic WordPress knowledge is highly recommended since WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. If you're not comfortable with WordPress, consider hiring a developer or choosing managed WordPress hosting that includes support and maintenance.

Can I keep my current store design when moving to WooCommerce?

You'll need to recreate your design using a WooCommerce-compatible WordPress theme since Big Cartel themes don't transfer. Many WooCommerce themes offer similar aesthetic options, or you can hire a developer to create a custom design.

How will the migration affect my existing customers?

Customers will need to create new accounts since login credentials can't be transferred from Big Cartel. Communicate the migration timeline clearly and consider offering incentives for customers to re-register on your new WooCommerce store.

Can I continue processing orders during the migration?

Yes, keep your Big Cartel store operational during the migration process and only switch over when your WooCommerce store is fully tested. You may need to manually add any orders received during the final switchover period.

How do the costs compare between Big Cartel and WooCommerce?

While WooCommerce is free, you'll pay for WordPress hosting ($10-200+/month vs Big Cartel's $9.99-19.99), plus potential costs for premium themes, plugins, and developer assistance. Long-term costs vary greatly depending on your hosting choice and feature needs.

Will my product reviews transfer from Big Cartel to WooCommerce?

Big Cartel's limited review system data may not export easily to WooCommerce's native review system. You might need to manually recreate important reviews or use a third-party review app that can import data from multiple sources.