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How to Add Product type to your Shopify store?

Sam|
December 20, 2024|
7 min read

Optimizing product organization helps customers find what they need quickly, especially in stores with a wide range of items. However, many users may not fully understand how to do this. By learning how to add product types in Shopify, you can simplify inventory management and improve the shopping experience, which can lead to higher sales. 

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to add a product type to your Shopify store. Let’s get started!

Why Does Your Shopify Store Need Product Type? 

A product type in Shopify is a category that defines what a product is. Each product can have one product type, which can either be predefined by Shopify or custom-created by the store owner. This categorization helps organize products and makes it easier for customers to navigate your store. Here’s why adding product types is essential for your Shopify store:

  • Categorize and label products for easier searching
  • Support search functionality by filtering products by type
  • Group simi
  • Better Organization: Categorize products, making inventory management more efficient.
  • Improved Customer Experience: Easily find what they are looking for, improving their shopping experience.
  • Streamlined Search: Improve product filtering and search functionality, making it easier for customers to navigate your store.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Allow for better reporting and analysis, helping you track sales performance by category.

How To Add Product Types in the Shopify Store: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Just by these below simple steps, online merchants can easily add Product Types to their online shops:

Step 1: Go to Products

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After logging into your Shopify admin dashboard, click on “Products.”

Add Product type to Shopify store 1

Step 2: Add a Product

  • Click the “Add Product” button at the top right of the page.
Add Product type to Shopify store 2
  • Then, enter details like the new product’s title, description, and images.
Add Product type to Shopify store 3

Step 3: Add Product Type and Vendor

In the Product Organization section, you can enter a Product Type. If you type a new name, it will be saved for future use.

Add Product type to Shopify store 4

Step 4: Save Changes

Finally, click one of the “Save” buttons at the top or bottom of the page to complete the process.

Add Product type to Shopify store 5

How to Bulk Edit Product Types You Should Know

Shopify store owners can edit their product’s category and custom product type in bulk, rather than one at a time. 

  • Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
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  • Step 2: Select the products you want to modify using one of the following methods:
    • To edit specific products, check the box next to each product.
    • To edit variants of a single product, select only that product.
    • To select all items on the page, check the box at the top of the product list.
    • To select all products in your store, check the box at the top of the list, then click “Select all 50+ items from your store.”
  • Step 3: Click “Bulk edit.”
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  • Step 4: If the Product type column isn’t visible, click “Columns” and select “Product type.”
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  • Step 5: Add or modify the product type for each product. If adding a new product type, click “+ Add” to include it in your store.
  • Step 6: Click “Save” to apply the changes.
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Shopify Product Type vs. Collections: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the difference between product types and collections is crucial for managing a Shopify store, as it allows one to optimize business operations and improve customer experience.

Here’s a comparison table highlighting the differences between Shopify Product Type and Collections:

FeatureProduct TypeCollections
DefinitionProduct type based on common characteristics for easier tracking and management.Groups related products together to make browsing easier for customers.
PurposeHelps store managers organize products and manage inventory.Improve the shopping experience by grouping products for easy customer navigation.
Example“T-shirts,” “Jeans,” or “Footwear” for a clothing store.“Summer Products” collection containing sunglasses, T-shirts, and shorts.
Benefits– Simplifies inventory management and reporting.- Supports custom product types to fit store needs.– Provides a cohesive shopping experience.
– Can be created manually or automatically for marketing goals.
CustomizationCustom product types can be created to meet specific store requirements.Collections can be curated manually or based on automatic rules (e.g., price, tag, product type).
Internal UsePrimarily for internal use by the store manager to track and categorize products.Primarily for customer-facing use, making it easier to browse products based on themes or criteria.
Impact on InventoryDirectly helps with inventory organization and reporting by category.Indirect impact, focused more on enhancing product discoverability for customers.
Impact on CustomerLimited direct impact on customers; mostly helps store owners.Direct impact by creating a better shopping experience through grouped, themed, or filtered products.
SEO ImpactMinimal SEO impact.Improve SEO by using collections that target specific product themes or categories.
Use in MarketingNot typically used for marketing purposes.Highly beneficial for marketing, allowing for targeted promotions and campaigns.

Bottom Line 

Understanding how to add new product type in Shopify is essential for effective inventory management. As Shopify grows in popularity, organizing your products helps customers find what they need quickly. 

This tutorial outlines the steps to add product types, empowering you to enhance your store’s organization. Utilizing this feature can improve your customers’ overall shopping experience.

FAQs 

How can product types influence SEO rankings?

Product types can enhance SEO rankings by organizing products into clear categories, making it easier for search engines to understand your site. This organization improves user experience, leading to longer visit durations and lower bounce rates, positively impacting rankings.

Additionally, incorporating product types into URLs and meta descriptions helps optimize pages for relevant keywords, attracting more traffic and increasing the likelihood of conversions.

How does it affect store navigation and filtering?

Product types significantly enhance store navigation and filtering by categorizing products, making it easier for customers to browse and find items of interest. This organization allows users to filter products based on specific attributes, streamlining their shopping experience.

A well-structured navigation system reduces search time and improves customer satisfaction. When shoppers can navigate effortlessly, they are more likely to explore related products, ultimately leading to increased sales.

How do I add product categories on my Shopify store?

To add product categories in your Shopify store, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Log into Shopify: Go to your Shopify admin panel and click “Products.”
  • Step 2: Select a Product: Select an existing product or click “Add product” to create a new one.
  • Step 3: Product Organization: In the Product Organization section, enter the desired category name. For accuracy, you can select from Shopify’s predefined categories.
  • Step 4: Save Changes: Click “Save” to apply the new category.

How do I add product type filter on Shopify?

  • Create Product Types: Ensure that your products have defined product types. You can do this by going to the Products section in your Shopify admin, selecting a product, and entering the product type in the Product Organization section.
  • Set Up Filters: In the Shopify Search & Discovery app, navigate to Filters. Click on Add Filter and select Product type as the filter source. This allows customers to filter products based on their types.
  • Customize Display: You can customize how filters appear on your store. After setting up the filters, make sure to save your changes.

How do I add product variants to Shopify?

  • Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
  • Step 2: Click the product with the option values you want to edit or add.
  • Step 3: Click the variant option and the option value field.
  • Step 4: Click the entry you want to edit, then click Edit.
  • Step 5: Edit the fields as needed.
  • Step 6: Click Save.

How do I add custom product fields in Shopify?

  • Step 1: Log into Shopify: Go to your Shopify admin panel.
  • Step 2: Navigate to Settings: Click on Settings >  Products.
  • Step 3: Create Metafield Definition: Set up a new Metafield definition for the custom field you want.
  • Step 4: Add Values: Enter the values you wish to display on the product page.
  • Step 5: Enable Storefront Access: Check the option to allow storefront access for the metafield.
  • Step 6: Customize Product Template: Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize and add the meta field to your product template.
Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.