Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

BigCommerce to Big Cartel Migration Guide

BigCommerce

Big Cartel

This guide walks you through migrating from BigCommerce to Big Cartel, helping artists and makers access an extremely affordable, simplified ecommerce solution tailored for creative businesses.

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BigCommerce to Big Cartel Migration Guide

A step-by-step guide to migrate your online store from BigCommerce to Big Cartel's artist-focused platform while preserving your essential product data and customer information.

Evaluate Your Product Catalog and Choose Big Cartel Plan

Review your current BigCommerce product count and determine if you need Big Cartel's Gold plan (50 products, $9.99/mo) or Platinum plan (500 products, $19.99/mo). Note that Big Cartel has simpler product variant options compared to BigCommerce's 250 variant limit, so you may need to consolidate complex product variations.

Export Data from BigCommerce

Access your BigCommerce admin panel and export your products, customers, and orders using the built-in CSV export feature under Store Setup > Import/Export. Download separate CSV files for products, customer lists, and order history to ensure you have complete data backups.

Set Up Your Big Cartel Store

Create your Big Cartel account and configure basic store settings including store name, description, and payment methods. Big Cartel integrates seamlessly with PayPal and Stripe, making it ideal for artists who need simple payment processing without complex merchant accounts.

Manually Import Products and Optimize for Artists

Since Big Cartel doesn't support direct CSV imports, manually add your products using the exported BigCommerce data as reference. Take advantage of Big Cartel's artist-focused features like high-quality image galleries and simplified product descriptions that showcase your creative work effectively.

Configure Theme and Artist Branding

Select and customize one of Big Cartel's artist-friendly themes that highlight visual products beautifully. Upload your logo, set brand colors, and organize your product categories to create a clean, professional storefront that appeals to art buyers and collectors.

Test Store Functionality and Go Live

Thoroughly test your Big Cartel store by placing test orders, verifying payment processing, and ensuring all product information displays correctly. Once satisfied, update your domain settings and redirect traffic from your BigCommerce store to minimize downtime during the transition.

BigCommerce to Big Cartel Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step migration process for artists and makers moving from BigCommerce to Big Cartel's affordable platform. This guide addresses the significant platform differences and helps streamline your product catalog for Big Cartel's simplified structure.

Export Data from BigCommerce

30-45 minutes

Navigate to your BigCommerce admin panel and go to Products > Export. Download CSV files for products, customers, and orders separately. BigCommerce provides comprehensive export options including product variants, images, and customer data. Review the exported files to understand your current data structure before proceeding.

Tips:

• Export products, customers, and orders in separate CSV files
• Include all product images and variant data in your export
• Save exports with clear naming conventions for easy reference

Important:

• BigCommerce exports can be large - ensure stable internet connection
• Some custom fields may not export properly and will need manual recreation

Analyze and Simplify Product Catalog

2-4 hours

Review your BigCommerce product data focusing on variant complexity. Since Big Cartel limits products to 5 variants maximum (compared to BigCommerce's 250), you'll need to consolidate or separate complex products. Create a mapping strategy for products with extensive variant options. Consider turning complex variants into separate products or simplifying your offerings.

Tips:

• List products with more than 5 variants for restructuring
• Consider combining similar products to reduce overall count
• Prioritize your best-selling items for the migration

Important:

• Big Cartel's variant limit may require significant catalog restructuring
• Some product complexity will be lost in the migration process

Create Big Cartel Account and Choose Plan

15-20 minutes

Sign up for Big Cartel at bigcartel.com and select an appropriate plan based on your product count. The free plan supports up to 5 products, while paid plans range from $9.99/month for 50 products to $19.99/month for 500 products. Big Cartel is designed for artists and makers, so the interface will be much simpler than BigCommerce.

Tips:

• Start with a paid plan if you have more than 5 products
• Big Cartel offers a 30-day free trial for paid plans
• Choose your subdomain carefully as it affects your initial branding

Important:

• Free plan is very limited with only 5 products
• No transaction fees, but payment processing fees still apply

Select and Customize Theme

1-2 hours

Browse Big Cartel's theme gallery and select a theme that matches your artistic brand. Big Cartel offers both free and premium themes specifically designed for artists, makers, and creative businesses. The customization options are more limited than BigCommerce but focus on essential branding elements. Upload your logo, set colors, and configure basic layout options.

Tips:

• Choose themes specifically designed for your product type (art, clothing, etc.)
• Premium themes offer more customization options
• Focus on mobile responsiveness as many customers browse on mobile

Important:

• Theme customization is much more limited than BigCommerce
• Advanced CSS customization requires higher-tier plans

Configure Basic Store Settings

30-45 minutes

Set up your store's fundamental information including store name, description, contact details, and policies. Big Cartel's settings are streamlined compared to BigCommerce, focusing on essential information. Configure your store's currency, timezone, and basic SEO settings. Add your business address and contact information for customer trust.

Tips:

• Write a compelling store description that reflects your artistic brand
• Set up clear return and shipping policies
• Enable Google Analytics if you want detailed tracking

Important:

• SEO options are more limited than BigCommerce
• Some advanced store settings from BigCommerce won't be available

Import and Recreate Products

4-8 hours depending on product count

Big Cartel doesn't support direct CSV import, so you'll need to manually add products using your exported data as reference. Start with your best-selling or most important products first. For each product, add title, description, price, images, and up to 5 variants. Use the simplified variant structure (like size and color combinations) rather than complex option sets.

Tips:

• Start with your most important products first
• Use high-quality images optimized for web
• Keep product descriptions concise but compelling

Important:

• No automated import process - all products must be added manually
• Complex variant structures will need to be simplified significantly

Set Up Payment Processing

20-30 minutes

Configure payment methods through Big Cartel's integrated options including Stripe and PayPal. Big Cartel has simplified payment setup compared to BigCommerce, with fewer gateway options but easier configuration. Set up your preferred payment methods and test the checkout process. Big Cartel doesn't charge transaction fees beyond standard payment processor fees.

Tips:

• Stripe is recommended for credit card processing
• PayPal provides additional buyer confidence
• Test payments with small amounts before going live

Important:

• Fewer payment gateway options than BigCommerce
• Some international payment methods may not be available

Configure Shipping Settings

45-60 minutes

Set up shipping zones and rates in Big Cartel's simplified shipping interface. Unlike BigCommerce's complex shipping rules, Big Cartel uses straightforward shipping profiles based on location and weight. Create shipping rates for your primary markets and set up free shipping thresholds if desired. Consider flat-rate shipping for simplicity.

Tips:

• Use flat-rate shipping for easier management
• Set up different rates for domestic and international shipping
• Consider offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount

Important:

• Shipping calculations are less sophisticated than BigCommerce
• Limited integration with shipping carriers for real-time rates

Set Up Tax Configuration

15-30 minutes

Configure tax settings for your applicable regions using Big Cartel's basic tax tools. The tax system is much simpler than BigCommerce, focusing on essential tax collection for your primary markets. Set up tax rates for states or countries where you're required to collect sales tax. Big Cartel handles basic tax calculations but doesn't offer advanced tax management features.

Tips:

• Focus on your primary selling regions for tax setup
• Consult with a tax professional for complex requirements
• Keep tax rates updated as regulations change

Important:

• Tax features are basic compared to BigCommerce
• No advanced tax management or reporting features

Migrate Essential Content and Pages

1-2 hours

Recreate important pages like About, Contact, FAQ, and policies using Big Cartel's page builder. The content management system is simpler than BigCommerce but adequate for essential pages. Focus on key information that builds trust with customers. Add your artist story, contact information, and clear policies about returns and shipping.

Tips:

• Focus on essential pages that build customer trust
• Keep content concise and easy to read
• Include your artist story to connect with customers

Important:

• Limited page templates compared to BigCommerce
• No blog functionality on lower-tier plans

Set Up Domain and Redirects

30-60 minutes

If you have a custom domain, configure it to point to your Big Cartel store through your domain registrar's DNS settings. Set up 301 redirects from your old BigCommerce URLs to prevent broken links and maintain SEO value. Big Cartel provides instructions for common domain registrars. Test all redirects to ensure they work properly.

Tips:

• Update DNS settings at your domain registrar
• Set up redirects for your most important product and category pages
• Allow 24-48 hours for DNS changes to propagate

Important:

• Some complex URL structures may not redirect perfectly
• SEO rankings may temporarily fluctuate during the transition

Test Store Functionality and Go Live

2-3 hours

Conduct comprehensive testing of your Big Cartel store including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, and payment processing. Test on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure proper functionality. Place test orders to verify the entire customer experience. Once satisfied, announce your new store to customers and update any external links or marketing materials.

Tips:

• Test the complete customer journey from browsing to purchase
• Verify all payment methods work correctly
• Check mobile responsiveness thoroughly

Important:

• Some features from BigCommerce won't be available
• Monitor for any issues closely in the first few weeks after launch

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: BigCommerce supports 250 vs Big Cartel's 50.

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

Key questions and solutions for migrating from BigCommerce to Big Cartel, covering cost savings, feature limitations, and migration considerations for artists and small businesses.

How much money can I save by migrating from BigCommerce to Big Cartel?

You can save significantly - BigCommerce Standard costs $39/month while Big Cartel Gold is only $9.99/month for up to 50 products, or Platinum at $19.99/month for 500 products. This represents savings of $29-19 per month respectively, making it ideal for artists and makers with smaller inventories.

What major features will I lose when moving from BigCommerce to Big Cartel?

Big Cartel is much more limited - you'll lose advanced features like abandoned cart recovery, detailed analytics, multi-channel selling, advanced SEO tools, and extensive app integrations. However, you'll retain core selling functionality like product listings, basic customization, and order management.

Can I migrate my product data from BigCommerce to Big Cartel using CSV export?

Yes, you can export your products from BigCommerce via CSV, but you'll need to manually reformat and import the data into Big Cartel since they have different data structures. Big Cartel doesn't have automated migration tools, so this process requires manual work.

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

Yes, customer accounts and passwords cannot be transferred to Big Cartel. Your customers will need to create new accounts when they want to make purchases on your new Big Cartel store.

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

For small inventories (under 50-500 products), expect 1-2 weeks including setup, manual data entry, design customization, and testing. The timeline depends heavily on your product count since Big Cartel requires more manual setup than automated migration tools.

What happens to my SEO rankings when I switch to Big Cartel?

You'll likely experience some SEO impact since Big Cartel has more limited SEO features compared to BigCommerce. Set up proper 301 redirects from your old URLs and be prepared for a temporary dip in rankings while search engines reindex your new site.

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

Big Cartel doesn't support importing historical order data or customer information. You'll need to keep your BigCommerce data for reference and start fresh with Big Cartel, which is why this migration works best for newer businesses or those prioritizing cost savings over data continuity.

Are there alternatives to BigCommerce apps I was using?

Big Cartel has a very limited app ecosystem compared to BigCommerce. Most advanced functionality will need to be handled through external tools or manual processes, which aligns with Big Cartel's simplified approach for artists and makers.

How much downtime should I expect during the migration?

You can minimize downtime by building your Big Cartel store while keeping BigCommerce running, then switching your domain when ready. Expect a few hours of downtime for DNS propagation when you make the final switch.

Will my current BigCommerce theme work with Big Cartel?

No, themes are not compatible between platforms. Big Cartel offers simpler, more limited customization options focused on showcasing products cleanly, which works well for artists but offers less flexibility than BigCommerce themes.

Should I migrate if I have more than 500 products?

Probably not - Big Cartel's highest plan (Platinum) only supports 500 products for $19.99/month. If you have more products, you'd need to significantly reduce your catalog or consider that Big Cartel isn't designed for larger inventories.

How do I handle operations during the migration process?

Keep your BigCommerce store running normally while building Big Cartel in parallel. Pause marketing campaigns before the switch, notify customers about the change, and plan the transition during low-traffic periods to minimize disruption to sales.