Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Webflow to Big Cartel Migration Guide

Webflow

Big Cartel

This guide walks you through migrating from Webflow to Big Cartel, helping artists and makers transition to an extremely affordable ecommerce solution while maintaining essential online selling functionality.

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Webflow to Big Cartel Migration Guide

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

Choose Your Big Cartel Plan and Export Webflow Data

Sign up for Big Cartel's Gold plan ($9.99/mo for 50 products) or Platinum plan ($19.99/mo for 500 products) based on your inventory size. Export your product data from Webflow's ecommerce dashboard as CSV files, including product names, descriptions, prices, and inventory levels.

Backup and Download Product Images

Manually download all product images from your Webflow site since these aren't included in CSV exports. Organize images by product name or SKU to make the upload process to Big Cartel more efficient.

Set Up Big Cartel Store Structure

Configure your Big Cartel store settings including payment methods (PayPal, Stripe), shipping zones, and tax settings. Create product categories that match your Webflow organization to maintain a familiar structure for returning customers.

Manually Import Products and Images

Since Big Cartel doesn't support CSV imports, manually create each product using your exported data as reference. Upload product images and ensure all details like pricing, descriptions, and inventory quantities match your Webflow store exactly.

Customize Your Store Design

Choose from Big Cartel's free themes or upgrade to premium themes that best represent your brand aesthetic. Customize colors, fonts, and layout to maintain brand consistency from your previous Webflow design.

Test and Redirect Traffic

Place test orders to verify payment processing, shipping calculations, and email notifications work correctly. Set up domain forwarding or 301 redirects from your Webflow URLs to your new Big Cartel store to preserve SEO and guide existing customers.

Webflow to Big Cartel Migration Guide

A comprehensive step-by-step guide for migrating from Webflow to Big Cartel, specifically designed for artists and makers seeking an extremely affordable e-commerce solution for small product lines.

Export Data from Webflow

2-4 hours

Access your Webflow dashboard and navigate to the CMS Collections tab to export product data as CSV files. Download any additional content like blog posts, customer information, and order history manually since Webflow doesn't provide comprehensive export tools. Create a backup of all images, videos, and digital assets by downloading them directly from your Webflow media library. Document your current site structure, custom code, and any third-party integrations you're using.

Tips:

• Export each CMS collection separately to maintain data organization
• Screenshot your current site layout and design elements for reference
• Create a spreadsheet mapping your current product categories to Big Cartel's structure

Important:

• Webflow doesn't export customer data automatically - you'll need to manually compile this information
• Custom code and advanced interactions won't transfer to Big Cartel

Create Big Cartel Account and Choose Plan

30 minutes

Sign up for a Big Cartel account at bigcartel.com and select the appropriate plan based on your product count (Gold plan for up to 25 products at $9.99/month or Platinum for up to 100 products at $19.99/month). Complete the initial store setup by entering your business name, store URL, and basic information. Verify your email address and familiarize yourself with Big Cartel's admin interface. Note that Big Cartel's free plan only supports 5 products, so most Webflow migrations will require a paid plan.

Tips:

• Choose a memorable store URL as this will be your primary domain initially
• Consider starting with a lower-tier plan and upgrading as needed
• Take advantage of Big Cartel's 30-day free trial on paid plans

Important:

• Big Cartel has strict product limits per plan - ensure your product count fits
• Custom domains require a paid plan and additional setup

Select and Customize Theme

3-5 hours

Browse Big Cartel's theme gallery and select a theme that best matches your artistic style and product presentation needs. Most themes are free, with some premium options available for $50-100. Customize your chosen theme using Big Cartel's built-in editor, adjusting colors, fonts, and layout options to align with your brand. Upload your logo and customize the header, footer, and navigation elements to create a cohesive brand experience.

Tips:

• Preview themes with your actual product images before making a final decision
• Choose themes optimized for your product type (artwork, jewelry, clothing, etc.)
• Test theme responsiveness on mobile devices during customization

Important:

• Big Cartel themes have limited customization compared to Webflow's design flexibility
• Some advanced design features from your Webflow site may not be replicable

Configure Store Settings and Policies

1-2 hours

Set up your store's basic information including business address, contact details, and currency settings in the Account section. Create essential store policies including shipping, returns, privacy policy, and terms of service using Big Cartel's policy templates or importing your existing policies from Webflow. Configure your store's SEO settings by adding meta descriptions, keywords, and Google Analytics tracking code. Enable or disable features like inventory tracking, customer accounts, and email notifications based on your business needs.

Tips:

• Use Big Cartel's policy templates as starting points and customize them for your business
• Set up Google Analytics early to track migration impact on traffic
• Configure email notifications to match your customer communication preferences

Important:

• Ensure your policies comply with local laws and regulations
• Double-check currency and tax settings for your target markets

Import and Set Up Products

4-8 hours

Manually add your products to Big Cartel using the exported data from Webflow, as Big Cartel doesn't support direct CSV imports. Create product categories that align with your artistic offerings and upload high-quality product images (up to 5 images per product). Set up product variants carefully, keeping in mind Big Cartel's 50 variant limit per product, which may require consolidating complex variant structures from Webflow. Configure inventory tracking, pricing, and product descriptions optimized for your target audience of art buyers.

Tips:

• Prioritize your best-selling products for initial setup
• Optimize product images for web to ensure fast loading times
• Use descriptive, SEO-friendly product titles and descriptions

Important:

• Big Cartel's 50 variant limit may require restructuring complex product options
• Manual product entry is time-consuming - plan accordingly

Set Up Payment Processing

1-2 hours

Configure payment methods through Big Cartel's integrated payment options including Stripe and PayPal, which are essential for processing customer transactions. Connect your existing Stripe or PayPal accounts, or create new ones if needed, ensuring all bank account and tax information is correctly entered. Test the payment process with small test transactions to verify everything works correctly. Set up any additional payment methods that your customers commonly use, keeping in mind that Big Cartel has more limited payment options compared to Webflow's flexibility.

Tips:

• Use the same payment processors from your Webflow store to maintain consistency
• Enable multiple payment methods to accommodate different customer preferences
• Set up payment notifications to track successful transactions

Important:

• Payment processor fees may differ from your Webflow setup
• Some international payment methods available in Webflow may not be supported

Configure Shipping Settings

2-3 hours

Set up shipping zones and rates in Big Cartel's shipping section, creating different rates for domestic and international shipping as needed for your art business. Configure shipping options for different product types (prints, originals, digital downloads) and set up calculated shipping if you ship items of varying weights and sizes. Create shipping profiles for different product categories and test the shipping calculator to ensure accurate rates are displayed to customers. Consider offering free shipping thresholds to encourage larger orders.

Tips:

• Research actual shipping costs to set profitable but competitive rates
• Offer multiple shipping speeds (standard, expedited) to give customers options
• Set up email notifications for shipping confirmations and tracking

Important:

• Big Cartel's shipping options are more basic than advanced Webflow integrations
• International shipping settings require careful attention to customs and duties

Set Up Tax Configuration

1 hour

Configure tax settings in Big Cartel based on your business location and where you're required to collect sales tax. Set up automatic tax calculation for applicable regions, particularly important for US-based artists who need to collect state sales tax. Review and adjust tax rates for different product categories if needed, and ensure digital products are taxed appropriately according to local laws. Test tax calculations with sample orders to verify accuracy before going live.

Tips:

• Consult with a tax professional about sales tax requirements for online art sales
• Keep records of tax settings for accounting purposes
• Set up tax-exempt options if you sell to qualifying organizations

Important:

• Tax laws for online sales vary by location and are frequently changing
• Incorrect tax setup can lead to compliance issues

Migrate Content and Create Essential Pages

3-5 hours

Manually recreate essential pages from your Webflow site including About, Contact, FAQ, and any artist statement or biography pages using Big Cartel's page editor. Transfer blog content if applicable, though Big Cartel's blogging features are more limited than Webflow's CMS capabilities. Upload and organize all images, ensuring they're properly optimized for web use and maintaining your visual brand consistency. Create any additional content pages that showcase your artistic process, exhibitions, or press coverage.

Tips:

• Focus on pages that directly support sales and customer trust
• Use high-quality images to showcase your artistic work effectively
• Keep page content concise and focused on your target audience

Important:

• Big Cartel's content management is more limited than Webflow's advanced CMS
• Complex page layouts from Webflow may need to be simplified

Set Up Domain and SSL

2-4 hours

Connect your custom domain to Big Cartel by updating DNS settings with your domain registrar, pointing your domain to Big Cartel's servers. Configure SSL certificate settings to ensure secure connections for customer transactions, which is crucial for payment processing and SEO. Update any email forwarding or subdomain configurations that were connected to your Webflow site. Test domain connectivity and SSL functionality across different browsers and devices to ensure everything works correctly.

Tips:

• Keep your domain registrar login information handy for DNS changes
• Allow 24-48 hours for DNS propagation to complete fully
• Set up domain forwarding from old URLs if needed

Important:

• DNS changes can cause temporary site downtime during propagation
• Incorrect DNS settings can make your site completely inaccessible

Implement Redirects and SEO

2-3 hours

Set up 301 redirects from your old Webflow URLs to corresponding Big Cartel pages to maintain SEO value and prevent broken links. Update your Google Search Console and Google Analytics properties to point to your new Big Cartel store. Submit your new sitemap to search engines and update any business listings, social media profiles, and marketing materials with your new store URLs. Optimize product and page titles, descriptions, and URLs for search engines within Big Cartel's SEO capabilities.

Tips:

• Create a redirect mapping document before implementing changes
• Monitor Google Search Console for crawl errors after migration
• Update social media bio links and email signatures with new store URL

Important:

• Big Cartel's redirect options are more limited than Webflow's
• Some SEO ranking may be temporarily affected during the transition

Test and Launch

2-4 hours

Conduct comprehensive testing of your Big Cartel store including placing test orders, testing payment processing, and verifying shipping calculations work correctly. Test the customer experience across different devices and browsers, ensuring mobile responsiveness and fast loading times. Verify all forms work properly, email notifications are sent correctly, and inventory tracking updates as expected. Once testing is complete, announce your new store to customers through email, social media, and other marketing channels.

Tips:

• Create a testing checklist to ensure all functionality is verified
• Ask friends or family to test the purchase process for feedback
• Prepare a launch announcement highlighting any new features or improvements

Important:

• Don't skip testing payment processing - failed transactions can damage customer trust
• Monitor the site closely for the first few days after launch for any issues

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Webflow supports Unlimited 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 detailed answers for businesses migrating from Webflow to Big Cartel, covering technical requirements, feature limitations, and cost considerations for artists and makers.

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

The migration timeline is usually 1-2 weeks for most small businesses, as Big Cartel's simpler structure makes setup faster than complex platforms. However, since Webflow only offers CSV export for basic data, you'll need additional time for manual content migration including product descriptions, images, and custom pages.

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

You'll likely experience some SEO impact since Big Cartel has more limited SEO customization options compared to Webflow's advanced SEO controls. Set up 301 redirects where possible and ensure your most important product pages maintain similar URL structures to minimize ranking loss.

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

Order history transfer is limited since Webflow's CSV export only covers basic data, and Big Cartel doesn't have robust import tools for historical orders. You'll need to manually export customer contact information and recreate important order records, or maintain access to your Webflow account for historical reference.

What Webflow features will I lose when moving to Big Cartel?

You'll lose significant design flexibility, advanced animations, custom code capabilities, and complex page layouts that Webflow offers. Big Cartel focuses on basic e-commerce functionality with limited customization options, making it much simpler but less powerful for complex websites.

How much money will I save by switching from Webflow to Big Cartel?

You can save $19-$192 per month depending on your current Webflow plan, as Big Cartel's Gold plan costs only $9.99/month compared to Webflow's $29-$212 monthly fees. This makes Big Cartel extremely cost-effective for artists and makers with small product catalogs.

Will there be any downtime during the migration process?

You can minimize downtime by building your Big Cartel store while keeping Webflow active, then switching your domain when ready. The actual switchover typically takes 24-48 hours for DNS propagation, during which some visitors might see the old site while others see the new one.

How do I choose the right Big Cartel plan for my Webflow store?

Choose Gold ($9.99/mo) if you have under 50 products, or Platinum ($19.99/mo) for up to 500 products. Since Big Cartel has strict product limits unlike Webflow, count your current products carefully and consider future growth when selecting your plan.

Can I recreate my Webflow design in Big Cartel?

Big Cartel's design capabilities are much more limited than Webflow's visual designer and custom code options. You'll need to choose from Big Cartel's pre-built themes and work within their constraints, which may require simplifying your current design significantly.

What happens to my customer accounts and passwords during migration?

Customer passwords cannot be transferred between platforms for security reasons, so all customers will need to create new accounts on Big Cartel. You can export customer email addresses from Webflow and send migration notifications encouraging customers to set up new accounts.

How should I handle orders during the migration period?

Process and fulfill all pending Webflow orders before switching, and consider temporarily pausing new orders during the final migration steps. Communicate clearly with customers about the transition and provide updates on order status and the new store location.

Are there alternatives to Big Cartel's limited app ecosystem compared to Webflow?

Big Cartel has very few third-party integrations compared to Webflow's extensive app marketplace and custom code capabilities. You'll need to rely on Big Cartel's built-in features and basic integrations, or use external tools that can connect via their limited API.

Can I migrate my customer reviews from Webflow to Big Cartel?

Review migration depends on which review system you used on Webflow, as Big Cartel doesn't have built-in reviews. You may need to manually recreate important reviews or integrate a third-party review service that Big Cartel supports, though options are limited.