Product Categories vs. Product Types: Understanding the Power Duo for Your Shopify Store

What Are Product Categories? 📂

Think of Product Categories as the backbone of your store’s organization. These are predefined by Shopify, which means they’re standardized across the platform. This standardization is crucial because it ensures your products are easily found and correctly classified, not just on your site, but also on other sales channels like Google, Facebook, and more.

Why Should You Care?

• Tax Rates: Shopify’s predefined categories help ensure accurate tax calculations. You don’t want any surprises here, right?
• Syncing with Sales Channels: These categories make it seamless to integrate with platforms like Google Shopping, ensuring your products are displayed to the right audience.

Example: Imagine you’re selling luxury bed sheets. Instead of just tossing them into a generic “Home Decor” section, you can categorize them under Home & Garden > Linens & Bedding > Bedding > Bed Sheets. This makes sure they’re found by people specifically searching for bedding.

What Are Product Types? 🎨

Now, let’s talk about Product Types. Unlike categories, these are completely customizable. This is your space to get creative and tailor product classifications to fit your unique brand and offerings.

Why Should You Care?

• Flexibility: If your product doesn’t quite fit into Shopify’s predefined categories, no worries! You can create your own type.
• Branding: This allows you to maintain a brand voice that resonates throughout your store. Think about the personality and vibe of your products—your product types should reflect that.

Example: Let’s say your bed sheets aren’t just any bed sheets—they’re Colorful Linens designed to brighten up any room. While the product category might be Bedding, the product type could be Colorful Linens. This tells your customers exactly what they’re getting and adds that personal touch to your store.

Why Use Both? 💪

You might be wondering, “Why not just stick with one?” Well, here’s why using both Product Categories and Product Types is like having your cake and eating it too!

• Standardization Meets Personalization: Product Categories help with the nitty-gritty stuff like taxes and integrations, while Product Types let your brand shine through with personalized touches.
• Better SEO: Using both can improve your store’s SEO. Categories help search engines understand what you’re selling, and types give you the flexibility to add keywords and descriptions that can boost your search rankings.
• Improved Customer Experience: When your products are organized well and clearly described, it’s easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for, leading to higher satisfaction and better sales.

How to Add or Edit Product Types: The Step-by-Step Guide 🛠️

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how you can add or edit product types on Shopify. It’s easier than you think, and I’m here to walk you through it.

For a Single Product:

1. Go to your Shopify admin: Navigate to the “Products” section.
2. Select the product you want to edit.
3. In the Product Organization section, enter your custom Product Type in the field.
4. Click Save. That’s it!

For Bulk Editing:

1. In Shopify admin, click on “Products”.
2. Select the products you want to edit.
3. Click Bulk Edit.
4. Add the Product Type column (if it’s not already visible) through the “Columns” option.
5. Enter the Product Type for each product. If it’s a new type, Shopify will let you add it right there.
6. Hit Save.

Using a CSV File:

1. Download a sample CSV file from Shopify to use as your template.
2. Add or modify your product types in the CSV file.
3. Upload the updated CSV back to Shopify.

Pro Tip: Stick to Shopify’s standard product categories whenever possible—they’re like gold when it comes to integrating with other platforms. But for those times when you need to stand out, that’s where your custom product types come in. Use them to give your products that extra sparkle! ✨

The Complete List of Shopify Product Categories (2024) 📜

To help you out, here’s a current list of Shopify’s predefined product categories. This is super handy when setting up your store or adding new products:

1. Apparel & Accessories

   • Clothing
   • Shoes
   • Accessories
   • Jewelry
     
     

2. Arts & Entertainment

   • Hobbies & Creative Arts
   • Party & Celebration
   • Musical Instruments
     
     

3. Baby & Toddler

   • Baby Toys
   • Baby Furniture
   • Baby Clothes
     
     

4. Electronics

   • Computers
   • Phones
   • Audio
     
     

5. Food, Beverages & Tobacco

   • Alcoholic Beverages
   • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
   • Snack Foods
     
     

6. Furniture

   • Living Room Furniture
   • Office Furniture
   • Outdoor Furniture
     
     

7. Health & Beauty

   • Health Care
   • Personal Care
   • Fragrances
     
     

8. Home & Garden

   • Linens & Bedding
   • Home Decor
   • Garden & Outdoor
     
     

9. Media

   • Books
   • Magazines
   • Movies
     
     

10. Office Supplies

    • Office Furniture
    • Office Instruments
    • General Supplies
      
      

11. Pet Supplies

    • Pet Food
    • Pet Toys
    • Pet Furniture
      
      

12. Sporting Goods

    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Sports & Fitness
    • Team Sports
      
      

13. Toys & Games

    • Action Figures
    • Educational Toys
    • Board Games

This list is subject to updates, so always check Shopify’s official documentation for the latest categories.

Wrapping It All Up: Why This Matters for Your Shopify Store 🎀

Using Product Categories and Product Types effectively can seriously level up your Shopify game. Not only does it make your store more organized and user-friendly, but it also improves your SEO, helping you rank higher on search engines and attract more customers.

Remember, the key is to strike a balance between using Shopify’s standard categories and adding your own custom product types where needed. This way, you get the best of both worlds—standardization and flexibility, all while keeping your brand’s unique personality front and center.

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start organizing those products like a pro. Your customers (and your bottom line) will thank you! 🎉

Ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Whether you need help with branding, web design, or just figuring out the best product categories, I’ve got your back! Book a free consultation, and let’s make your store the hottest mess in the best possible way! 🔥