Custom Cart to Shopify Migration

Our client is a UK-based garden centre that managed its product and inventory data through an internal SQL database rather than a dedicated eCommerce platform. As online demand increased, they needed a structured storefront that could operate independently from their database while remaining easy for the team to manage. Shopify was selected for its user-friendly interface and flexibility in handling frequent seasonal catalog updates without ongoing technical complexity.

Because there was no existing eCommerce platform, the project required transforming structured SQL exports directly into Shopify’s data model. This meant converting raw database tables into products, variants, collections, inventory records, and customer data while preserving relationships and hierarchy.

LitExtension was chosen for our ability to interpret complex database structures and accurately map them into Shopify’s framework. Our approach focused on minimizing structural conflicts, maintaining data integrity, and ensuring the new store launched with a clean, organized foundation.

For this project, our client outlined a few clear requirements as follows:

• Migrating all store data from the SQL database into Shopify, including products, customers, orders, and related records.
• Clearing all existing data on the target Shopify store before the migration to avoid conflicts or duplicates.
• Converting source categories from the SQL database into automated collections in Shopify for easier management and filtering.

One of the main challenges came from how orders were stored in the SQL database. Some records were unpaid and unfulfilled because they represented shopping cart drop-outs rather than completed purchases. Distinguishing these abandoned carts from actual orders was critical, as they needed to be reflected correctly when migrated into Shopify.

To address the issue of order misclassification from the SQL database, we first worked closely with the client to define clear rules for distinguishing abandoned carts from completed purchases. Because unpaid and unfulfilled records were stored similarly to actual orders, confirming the correct status mapping upfront was essential to prevent inaccurate order data in Shopify.

After aligning on the classification logic, we conducted a test migration using a sample dataset to review how these records appeared in Shopify. Once the results were validated, we proceeded with the full migration under our All-in-One Migration Service, applying the agreed status logic to ensure all remaining orders were transferred accurately.