A Complete Guide To Transferring Products Across Shopify Stores

This comprehensive guide is your ultimate resource to navigate the intricate process of moving your products across different Shopify stores with ease and precision, whether you’re expanding your product offerings, optimizing your sales channels, or simply rebranding.

Pre-Transfer Checklist

A successful product transfer between Shopify stores begins with a well-structured pre-transfer checklist. This checklist is your safety net, ensuring that no critical detail is overlooked and your transition is seamless.

Ensuring up-to-date product details

Product details, including descriptions, images, and prices, serve as the foundation for attracting and retaining customers. Outdated or inaccurate information can lead to customer frustration and trust issues. 

Ensure that product descriptions are current, images are high-quality and representative of the product, and prices are accurate. This step involves a thorough review and editing of your product listings to align them with your current offerings.

Verifying inventory levels

Inventory management plays an indispensable role in a successful e-commerce business. Before transferring products, it’s essential to verify the stock levels for each item. This helps prevent overselling, leading to backorders and customer dissatisfaction, or underselling, which results in missed sales opportunities. 

It’s advisable to reconcile your physical inventory with what’s listed in your store to ensure accuracy.

Creating backups

Creating a backup of all your product data is a fundamental precautionary measure. This involves making copies of product information, including images, descriptions, pricing, and associated metadata. Backups can be stored on secure external servers or cloud platforms to prevent data loss during the transfer process. 

Backups serve as a safety net in case something goes wrong, ensuring that you can quickly restore your product data to its original state without significant disruptions to your business operations. It’s a best practice to schedule regular backups as part of your ongoing data management strategy, even beyond the transfer process.

How To Transfer Products From One Shopify Store To Another

Manual Transfer

There is no doubt that manual transfer is still the most traditional and familiar way for merchants to keep up without incurring costs. It is a well-defined process that ensures complete control and accuracy. We’ll walk you through the steps, complemented by visual aids.

The essential first step is exporting these products from the source store. Shopify offers various methods for this, with one of the most widely adopted and versatile options being using CSV files.

1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel for your source store.
2. Click on the “Products” tab, your central hub for managing product data.

3. Under “Products,” locate the “Export” option. Click on it to begin the export process.
4. Select the specific items you wish to export from the dialogue box. Your options include:
   • The current product page
   • All products
   • Products meeting your defined search and filter criteria

5. Choose Export Type:
   • Advanced file: if you plan to work with your product CSV file in applications like Excel, Numbers, or any spreadsheet software
   • Simple CSV file:  if you intend to use a plain-text editor with your product CSV file
6. Confirm and export: Review your export settings and hit the “Export products” button to create the CSV file. This file contains your product information and will be saved to your device.

Once products are exported from the source store, it is vital to prepare the CSV file before importing them into the destination store. This involves adjusting column headers to align with the destination store’s fields, checking data accuracy, or ensuring the right data format for a seamless import process.

The next step is to migrate the products to your destination store. The process is also as straightforward as exporting.

1. Access your Shopify admin: Now, log in to your Shopify admin panel for the destination store.
2. Navigate to “Products“: Click on the “Products” tab in your destination store’s admin interface.

3. Select “Import“: Under “Products,” find the “Import” option and click on it to initiate the import process.

4. Upload CSV File: You’ll be prompted to upload a CSV file. Locate the file you exported from the source store and select it. You have options to consider:
   • Overwrite any current products with the same handle: If chosen when the handle in the import CSV file matches an existing handle in your products list, the CSV file values replace those in the corresponding columns in the existing product list. If not selected, products matching an existing handle will be skipped during the CSV import.
   • Publish new products to all sales channels: To publish new products to all sales channels you have instead of exclusively publishing on your online store
5. Preview your first product: Ensure that the data aligns correctly.

6. Begin Import: Click “Import” to initiate the transfer. Shopify will process the CSV file and import the product information into your destination store.

The duration of the import process may vary based on factors like the file’s size and the number of products being transferred. After a while, your products will be ready to be sold!

This streamlined approach demonstrates how transferring products between Shopify stores has been made remarkably straightforward.

Using Shopify Tools

Besides products, Shopify offers a tool to transfer the entire inventory data. Shopify inventory transfers encompass the various procedures within your admin that enable you to record, monitor, and manage incoming inventory, whether it’s moving between your store’s active locations.

Create an inventory transfer

You have the option to generate incoming transfers from different operational store locations. Once a transfer is established and designated as pending, you can access incoming inventory figures by navigating to the product details page and selecting “Incoming.”

Here are the steps to create a transfer:

1. In your Shopify admin, access the “Products” section and then navigate to “Transfers.” 
2. Click on the “Create transfer” button to initiate the Shopify inventory management process. 

3. In the Origin section, select the location that the inventory is coming from by clicking “Select origin.” You can choose from a list of existing locations or create a new supplier by providing their details.

4. Next, designate the destination location for the inventory transfer in the Destination section by clicking “Select destination.” To include a new location, you must either establish a new location or reactivate a previously disabled one.
5. To add products, scroll down to the “Add products” section and specify the products and variants you wish to include in the transfer. 
6. In the “Quantity” section, indicate the quantity for each product in your first Shopify inventory transfer. Transferring a quantity exceeding the available amount at the source location will result in a negative quantity.
7. In the “Shipment details” section, enter the expected arrival date, shipment tracking number, and shipping carrier. Shopify may automatically choose the shipping carrier after receiving the tracking number. 
8. Optionally, in the “Additional details” section, assign a reference number or tag to the transfer for easy identification within your admin.

• You have the option to access all your tags by clicking “View all tags” to choose or remove tags you’ve previously utilized. 
• Once the desired tags are located in the Applied tags section, click “Apply changes.” 

Tags can contain up to 255 characters. Using reference numbers and tags helps you filter and organize your transfers on the Transfers page.

9. Once all details are provided, click “Save transfer” to complete the process.

Once a transfer is labeled as “pending,” further editing of the transfer becomes unavailable. This action also triggers modifications in the Available inventory values at the origin location and adjusts the Incoming inventory at the destination location.

Nonetheless, when utilizing a third-party fulfillment service, the standard Shopify inventory transfer feature becomes inaccessible, making it impossible to generate transfers for products managed by external fulfillment software.

Third-Party Apps and Services

Currently, a prominent and long-term way that cannot be ignored is utilizing third parties to transfer. While it may cost merchants, it significantly reduces time and effort and also ensures the highest effectiveness instead of being done manually.

Here, we’ll explore three popular third-party apps available on the Shopify platform that excel in product transfer capabilities.

Stock Sync

Stock Sync offers a cost-effective solution, spanning from $0 to $25 per month. It’s a dedicated app for inventory management and product transfer.

Stock Sync simplifies the product transfer process by allowing you to import/export inventory data via CSV files. It supports automatic and scheduled updates, ensuring that product information is consistent across your stores.

After installing Stock Sync, configure your source and destination stores, and set up your inventory data within the app. Then, create and upload CSV files containing product information to initiate transfers, and Stock Sync will ensure the seamless synchronization of your products.

Matrixify

Matrixify’s pricing plan starts from $0 to $200 per month, and it is exclusively designed for Shopify and Shopify Plus stores, meeting the highest standards of ease of use, speed, and merchant value.

Matrixify specializes in bulk product imports and exports via CSV files. It enables you to transfer large product catalogs efficiently. You can edit, update, and create products, variants, and collections in a user-friendly spreadsheet format. The app supports data validation and rollback features, ensuring data accuracy.

After installing the app, you can initiate product transfers by uploading CSV files with the necessary data from your source store. Matrixify provides detailed documentation and tutorials to guide you through the process. You can also schedule automatic imports and exports for ongoing synchronization between stores.

SKULabs

SKULabs offers pricing starting at $499 per month. It’s a robust inventory and order management solution that serves high-growth businesses.

It facilitates product transfers by centralizing inventory control, real-time order tracking, and automated stock level updates. It’s designed for e-commerce businesses with complex inventory management needs.

After signing up with SKULabs, integrate your Shopify stores and configure your inventory. When it’s time to transfer products, select the source and destination locations, and SKULabs will manage the transfer process efficiently.

Post-Transfer Adjustments

Last but not least, after processing, the post-adjustment stage is a critical phase that ensures the integrity of your product data and the overall health of your e-commerce business after the transfer.

Updating product-related settings

After transferring products, it’s vital to review and update various product-related settings. This can include revising collections and tags to ensure products are correctly categorized and searchable on the new store. Additionally, checking and updating inventory levels is crucial to prevent overselling or running out of stock.

Maintaining SEO

As with manual transfer, when you export your items as a CSV file, it won’t include the product images associated with each item. In practice, all you need to do is include the current image URLs in your CSV file and keep the corresponding images accessible on your old website, enabling the smooth import of product image files into Shopify and preserving their visual integrity.

From an SEO perspective, ensuring that product URLs redirect accurately is essential for preserving your website’s search engine rankings and visibility. When you change URLs during a product transfer, you risk losing valuable SEO rankings and organic traffic. Proper redirects, particularly 301 redirects, signal to search engines that a page has permanently moved, transferring the SEO value from the old URL to the new one.

Additionally, when users encounter broken links or errors due to incorrect redirects, they are more likely to leave the site, leading to higher bounce rates. This negatively impacts both SEO and the overall perception of your brand.

Thus, properly implementing and monitoring these redirects is an ongoing process. Manual verification is crucial, as automated tools may not catch all the nuances of URL changes. After the initial transfer, continued monitoring, and maintenance are essential to adapt to any changes in products or URLs, ensuring the effectiveness of SEO strategies and preserving the integrity of your online store.

Verifying product data

Post-transfer, it’s essential to ensure the accuracy and completeness of product data, eliminating the risk of the incoming sale. Here are some tips for you to catch up:

• Establish standardized data entry procedures: Implement clear and standardized procedures for entering and updating product data. This helps maintain consistency and minimizes the chances of errors in product descriptions, pricing, and other details.
• Use SKU numbers: Assign unique SKU numbers to each product. These identifiers simplify inventory tracking, reduce the risk of duplicate listings, and streamline order management.
• Regularly audit product descriptions: Periodically review product descriptions to confirm their accuracy and relevance. Ensure that they align with the product’s current features and specifications, and update them as needed.
• Cross-check pricing: Verify that product prices are up to date and in compliance with legal regulations. Cross-reference prices with suppliers’ rates and adjust them as necessary to remain competitive and legally compliant.
• Data backup: Utilize the data backup you have created in the pre-transfer phase to double-check the data, ensuring it is absolutely precise.

Troubleshooting common issues

Handling common issues that may arise during the transfer of products is a critical aspect of ensuring a smooth and error-free transition when moving products between Shopify stores. Here are our recommendations

• Start by identifying discrepancies in product data, such as inaccurate descriptions, images, or prices. 
• Synchronize the data between the source and destination stores to address any inconsistencies. 
• Ensure product URLs are correctly redirected for SEO optimization and conduct inventory checks to prevent overselling or stockout problems. 
• Rigorous testing and validation play a crucial role in identifying and resolving issues before they affect customers.
• Collaborate with technical experts if needed; document best practices.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, transferring products across Shopify stores demands a methodical approach and meticulous attention to detail. Careful planning and execution will pave the way for a seamless transition.

By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you can navigate the process with confidence, ensuring that your customers receive the same quality and consistency they’ve come to expect, all while taking your e-commerce venture to new heights.

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