How to Create & Manage Manual Collections on Shopify

Do you want to improve your Shopify store's organization and make it easier for customers to find the products they're looking for? Manual collections are the answer! They give you full control over how you group your products, creating a more seamless and enjoyable shopping experience.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple steps to create and manage manual collections on Shopify. Let’s get straight to it!

How To Create A Manual Collection on Shopify

A manual collection contains only the products you select, and it remains unchanged unless you manually add or remove items. You hand-pick each item, and the collection stays the same unless you manually update it.

However, keep in mind that creating manual collections requires a Shopify subscription plan of Basic or higher. Also, you can only add entire products to a manual collection, not individual product variants.

To create a manual collection on Shopify on the desktop, follow these steps:

• Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Collections.

• Step 2: Click Create Collection.

• Step 3: Enter a title and description for your collection.

• Step 4: In the Collection type section, select Manual.

• Step 5: In the Products section, search for products or click Browse to add the items you want in the collection.

• Step 6: Set the sort order for how products should be displayed in your store.

• Step 7: In the Sales Channels section, click Manage to select the sales channels where your collection will be available.

• Step 8: In the Collection image section, click Add Image to upload an image for the collection.

• Step 9: Click Save.

• Step 10: Finally, add a link to your collection in your store's navigation so customers can easily find it. We’ll talk more about it later in the article.

To create a manual collection on Shopify on iPhone and Android, follow these steps:

• Step 1: In the Shopify app, go to Products > Collections.
• Step 2: Tap + to create a collection.
• Step 3: Enter a title and description.
• Step 4: (Optional) Tap the image icon to upload an image.
• Step 5: Ensure the Automate product list is off.
• Step 6: (Optional) Tap Edit in Sales channels to select visibility options.
• Step 7: Add products to the collection.
• Step 8: Tap ✓ to save.
• Step 9: (Optional) Tap Sort by to arrange product order.
• Step 10: Add a link to the collection in your store’s navigation.

Managing Your Manual Collections

Managing your manual collections involves several key tasks to keep them organized and effective.

Add Products To A Manual Collection on Shopify

To add products to a manual collection on Shopify, follow these steps:

• Step 1: In your Shopify admin, go to Products > Collections

• Step 2: Click on the collection you want to add products to.

• Step 3: In the Products section, search for products or click Browse to select and add the items you want to include in the collection.

To add products to a manual collection on Shopify on iPhone and Android, follow these steps:

• Step 1: In the Shopify app, go to Products > Collections.
• Step 2: Tap the collection you want to update.
• Step 3: In the Products section, tap Edit (or Add products if the collection is empty).
• Step 4: Select the products you want to include.
• Step 5: Tap ✓ to save your changes.

Add A Product To Existing Collections From Its Details Page on Shopify

You can also add a product to existing collections from its details page. Here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: In your Shopify admin, go to Products.

• Step 2: Click on the product you want to add to a collection.

• Step 3: Choose the collections you wish to add the product to in the Collections section.

• Step 4: Click Save to update all selected collections.

To add a product to existing collections from its details page on iPhone or Android devices:

• Step 1: In the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
• Step 2: Tap the product you want to add to a collection.
• Step 3: Tap Collections.
• Step 4: Select the manual collections where you want to include the product (automated collections are not available).
• Step 5: Tap the back button to return to the product details.
• Step 6: Tap Save or the ✓ button to save your changes.

Remove Products from a Manual Collection on Shopify

As your store evolves, you may need to remove certain products from these collections. Here's how you can do it:

• Step 1: In your Shopify admin, go to Products > Collections.

• Step 2: Select the collection you want to remove products from.

• Step 3: Click the x next to each product to remove it from the collection (this will not delete the product from your Shopify store).

If you’re using iPhone and Android devices, follow these steps:

• Step 1: In the Shopify app, go to Products > Collections.
• Step 2: Select the collection you want to update.
• Step 3: Tap Edit in the Products section.
• Step 4: Uncheck the products you want to remove.
• Step 5: Tap ✓ to save your changes.

Move Products From A Collection To Another on Shopify

Sometimes, you need to rearrange your products. Moving products from one collection to another is easy. Here's how:

• Step 1: In your Shopify admin, go to Products.

• Step 2: Tick the box near the product you want to move to a different collection. You can tick multiple boxes if you want to
• Step 3: Click the … button then click Remove from collection(s) and Save.

• Step 3: Click Add to collection(s) and select the collections you want to add this product to, then click Save.

Hide Out-Of-Stock Products From Your Collections on Shopify

Hiding out-of-stock products keeps your automated collections clean and prevents customers from seeing products they can't buy. When you restock, these products will automatically reappear in your collections. Follow these steps to do just that:

• Step 1: Before you can hide out-of-stock products from your collections, you need to first turn on inventory tracking. Go to Products and select a product. Check Tracks this product’s quantity in the Inventory section. Click Save.

• Step 2: Edit your collection and set conditions to:

• For Products must match, choose All conditions.
• For Inventory stock, select is greater than and enter 0.

• Step 3: Click Save to apply your changes.

Add Links To Collections on Shopify

After crafting compelling collections, the next crucial step is ensuring your customers can effortlessly discover them. In Shopify, you can add collection links in your store’s navigation by following these steps:

• Step 1: Go to Online Store > Navigation in your admin.

• Step 2: Select the menu where you want to add the link.

• Step 3: Click Add menu item.

• Step 4: Enter a name for the link and choose Collections to link to your collection.

• Step 5: Click Save Menu.

Delete A Collection on Shopify

Deleting a collection on Shopify is simple, but it's important to exercise caution as the action is irreversible. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Step 1: Go to Products > Collections in your admin.

• Step 2: Click the collection you want to delete.

• Step 3: Click Delete collection at the bottom.

• Step 4: Confirm the deletion.

If you don’t want to delete a collection from your store, you can simply hide that collection on your menu.

Tips for Effective Collection Management

To maximize the impact of your Shopify store and streamline your product organization, here are six essential tips for effective collection management.

• Organize by Theme: Create collections based on themes, seasons, or promotions to enhance customer experience and drive sales.
• Automate with Conditions: Set up automated collections with specific conditions to keep them updated with minimal effort.
• Update Regularly: Refresh collections frequently to include new inventory, seasonal items, and promotions.
• Optimize Navigation: Ensure collections are easy to find through your store’s navigation menu.
• Monitor and Analyze: Use Shopify’s analytics to track the performance of collections and make data-driven adjustments.

Bottom Line

By creating and managing manual collections on Shopify, you can organize your products to enhance customer shopping. Regular updates, smart organization, and using Shopify’s features will help keep your store fresh and engaging for your customers.

Related Posts:

• How to make product available on your sales channel on Shopify
• How to remove products from a manual collection on Shopify
• How to add products to a manual collection on Shopify
• How to add selection conditions for an automated collection on Shopify