Moving from WooCommerce to Shopify? Here’s everything you need to know about organising your products effectively in Shopify’s unique collection system.

If you’re migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify, one of the first things you’ll notice is that Shopify doesn’t use “categories” like WordPress. Instead, it uses a more powerful system called Collections. This fundamental difference can be confusing at first, but once you understand how to leverage Shopify’s approach, you’ll find it offers superior flexibility and automation capabilities.

Understanding the Fundamental Difference

WooCommerce Categories vs Shopify Collections

In WooCommerce, categories are hierarchical taxonomies – you create parent categories, child categories, and potentially grandchildren categories in a rigid tree structure. Products are assigned to categories, and that’s largely where the functionality ends.

Shopify Collections work differently:

• No native hierarchy: Collections exist on a flat structure (though we’ll show you workarounds)

• Two types: Manual and Automated (Smart) collections

• Multiple assignments: Products can belong to unlimited collections

• Dynamic rules: Collections can automatically update based on conditions

This isn’t a limitation – it’s a design philosophy that prioritises flexibility over rigid hierarchy.

Manual vs Smart Collections: Your Secret Weapon

Manual Collections

Manual collections are exactly what they sound like – you manually add and remove products. They’re perfect for:

• Curated gift guides

• Seasonal promotions

• Staff picks

• Limited-time bundles

• Editorial collections

Pro tip: Use manual collections when human curation adds value to the shopping experience.

Smart (Automated) Collections

This is where Shopify truly shines. Smart collections automatically include products based on conditions you set:

• Product title, type, or vendor

• Price ranges

• Inventory levels

• Tags

• Weight

• Publication dates

Example Smart Collection Rules:

“Summer Sale” Collection:

• Product tag equals “summer”
• AND Price is less than $50
• AND Inventory quantity is greater than 10

This collection automatically updates as products meet or stop meeting these criteria – no manual maintenance required.

Creating Hierarchy Without Native Nesting

While Shopify doesn’t offer native collection nesting, here are three proven strategies to create hierarchical organisation:

Strategy 1: The Naming Convention Method

Use consistent naming patterns:

• Men’s Clothing
• Men’s Clothing – Shirts
• Men’s Clothing – Shirts – Formal
• Men’s Clothing – Shirts – Casual

Combined with navigation menus, this creates a clear hierarchy for both customers and store management.

Strategy 2: The Tag-Based System

Implement a multi-level tagging structure:

• Primary tags: category:mens
• Secondary tags: type:shirt
• Tertiary tags: style:formal

Then create Smart Collections using combinations of these tags. This approach scales beautifully and maintains itself.

Strategy 3: The Hybrid Approach

Combine manual “parent” collections with automated “child” collections:

1. Create a manual “Men’s Clothing” collection

2. Use metafields or tags to link sub-collections

3. Build your navigation menu to reflect this structure

4. Use collection templates to maintain visual consistency

Best Practices for Product Organisation

1. Plan Before You Migrate

Map out your collection structure before importing products. Consider:

• Customer shopping behaviour
• Search patterns
• Seasonal needs
• Marketing campaigns

2. Use Tags Strategically

Tags are your best friend for automation. Develop a consistent tagging taxonomy:

• Type tags: type:dress, type:shoe
• Season tags: season:summer, season:winter
• Feature tags: feature:waterproof, feature:organic
• Campaign tags: promo:bogo, promo:clearance

3. Leverage Collection SEO

Each collection is a landing page opportunity:

• Write unique collection descriptions
• Optimise collection titles for search
• Add collection images that tell a story
• Use collection metafields for rich content

4. Think Cross-Merchandising

Products should typically appear in 3-7 collections:

• One primary collection (e.g., “Women’s Dresses”)
• Style collections (e.g., “Bohemian Style”)
• Occasion collections (e.g., “Wedding Guest”)
• Price-point collections (e.g., “Under $100”)
• Feature collections (e.g., “Sustainable Fashion”)

5. Automate Maintenance

Set up Smart Collections for common maintenance tasks:

• “Low Stock” (inventory < 5)
• “Back in Stock” (inventory changed from 0 to > 0 in last 7 days)
• “Price Errors” (compare price < cost)
• “Missing Images” (images count = 0)

Advanced Collection Strategies

Dynamic Seasonal Collections

Create Smart Collections that activate and deactivate based on dates:

“Summer Collection 2024”

• Tag contains “summer”
• AND Published after 1 June 2024
• AND Published before 1 September 2024

Performance-Based Collections

Use sales data to create dynamic bestseller collections:

• Connect to analytics apps
• Tag top-performing products automatically
• Create “Trending Now” collections that update daily

Personalisation Through Collections

Create collections for different customer segments:

• VIP customer exclusives
• Regional collections
• B2B vs B2C collections
• First-time buyer recommendations

Common Migration Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Over-complicating the structure: Start simple, iterate based on data

2. Ignoring SEO during migration: Set up redirects from old category URLs

3. Not training staff: Ensure your team understands the collection logic

4. Forgetting about collection images: These are crucial for visual merchandising

5. Neglecting collection analytics: Monitor which collections drive sales

Wine Industry Collection Strategy: A Complete Example

For wine stores, Shopify Collections can revolutionise how customers discover and purchase wines. Here’s a comprehensive approach:

Essential Wine Collections Structure

Varietal Collections (Smart):

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Pinot Noir
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Blends

Regional Collections (Smart):

• Napa Valley
• Bordeaux
• Tuscany
• Burgundy
• New World vs Old World

Style Collections (Smart):

• Bold & Full-Bodied
• Light & Crisp
• Natural & Organic
• Orange & Skin-Contact
• Sparkling & Champagne

Price Collections (Smart):

• Everyday Wines (Under $25)
• Premium Selection ($25-$75)
• Luxury & Collectible ($75+)
• Best Value (high ratings, lower prices)

Occasion Collections (Manual + Smart):

• Wine & Food Pairings
• Gift Sets & Special Packaging
• Wedding Wines
• Corporate Gifts
• Cellar Essentials

Discovery Collections (Smart):

• New Arrivals (last 30 days)
• Staff Picks (manual)
• 95+ Point Wines
• Winemaker’s Choice
• Limited Production (inventory < 12)

Wine-Specific Smart Collection Examples

“Perfect Dinner Party Reds”

• Product type equals “Red Wine”
• AND Price between $20 and $50
• AND Tag contains “crowd-pleaser”
• AND Inventory greater than 6

“Investment-Grade Wines”

• Tag contains “cellar-worthy”
• AND Price greater than $100
• AND (Tag contains “parker:95plus” OR Tag contains “spectator:95plus”)
• AND Vintage less than current year minus 2

“Ready to Drink Now”

• Tag contains “drink-now”
• OR (Product type equals “White Wine” AND Vintage equals current year minus 1)
• OR (Product type equals “Red Wine” AND Tag contains “ready”)
• AND Inventory greater than 0

The Bottom Line

Shopify’s collection system might seem foreign to WooCommerce users initially, but it’s designed for modern e-commerce realities:

• Flexibility over hierarchy: Customers don’t shop in rigid categories

• Automation over maintenance: Let smart rules do the heavy lifting

• Performance over complexity: Faster page loads and better mobile experience

The key is to embrace Shopify’s approach rather than trying to recreate WooCommerce’s structure. Think in terms of how customers want to browse and buy, not how you want to organise.

Action Steps for Your Migration

1. Audit your current categories: List all WooCommerce categories and their purposes

2. Map to collections: Decide which become Manual vs Smart collections

3. Design your tagging system: Create a consistent taxonomy before importing

4. Test with a subset: Import 50-100 products first to validate your approach

5. Monitor and iterate: Use analytics to refine your collection strategy

Remember, successful product organisation in Shopify isn’t about perfect hierarchy – it’s about creating intuitive paths to purchase that adapt to your business needs and customer behaviour.

Chris Mulhallen

CRU Subscription Agency – Owner

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