Shopify to Etsy Migration

If you’re selling handmade, vintage, or craft supplies, picking the perfect platform is super important. While Shopify gives you flexibility, Etsy offers a ready-made marketplace with lots of potential buyers. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the advantages of migrating from Shopify to Etsy and walk you through the process of transferring using LitExtension.
Let’s get started!

Why should you migrate from Shopify to Etsy?

Both Shopify and Etsy are popular eCommerce platforms, and they each cater to different needs and audiences. It’s important to consider that for certain businesses, migrating from Shopify to Etsy can be a strategic move, offering a range of benefits that align with their specific goals. Here’s a deeper look at why you might consider making the switch.

Pricing

Etsy has lower upfront costs and transaction fees than Shopify. Its listing fees are nominal, and transaction fees are a percentage of the sale price, making it easier to predict and manage costs.
Etsy:

• Listing fee: $0.20 per listing (valid for 4 months or until sold)
• Transaction fee: 6.5% of the sale price + 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee
• Monthly subscription: None

Shopify:

• Listing fee: None (included in monthly subscription)
• Transaction fee: Varies based on the chosen plan and payment gateway (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
• Monthly subscription: Ranges from $39/month (Basic Shopify) to $399/month (Advanced Shopify)

Let’s say you sell a product for $50.

• Etsy: You’d pay $0.20 to list the item and then, upon sale, a transaction fee of $3.25 (6.5% of $50) + $1.50 (3% of $50) + $0.25 = $5.
• Shopify: Assuming you’re on the Basic Shopify plan, you wouldn’t pay a listing fee, but you would pay a transaction fee of $1.45 (2.9% of $50) + $0.30 = $1.75, plus your $39 monthly subscription.

As you can see, Etsy’s upfront costs are lower, especially if you’re just starting out and have fewer sales. However, Shopify’s transaction fees might be lower in the long run if you have a high sales volume.

Scalability

Etsy’s built-in audience provides a significant advantage for sellers of handmade, vintage, and craft supplies as compared to Shopify..

Etsy:

• Monthly active buyers: Over 96 million (as of Q2 2023)
• Focus: Handmade, vintage, and craft supplies
• Marketing advantage: Etsy actively promotes its platform and sellers, attracting a large audience of shoppers specifically looking for unique, handcrafted goods.

Shopify:

• Monthly active buyers: None (Shopify is a platform, not a marketplace)
• Focus: All types of businesses
• Marketing responsibility: You are responsible for attracting customers to your Shopify store through marketing efforts.

Etsy consistently ranks high in search engine results for keywords related to handmade and vintage goods, driving organic traffic to its marketplace. While Shopify offers more control and customization, it requires more effort to build an audience and establish a community presence.

Ease of use

Etsy’s user-friendly platform and simplified listing process make it an ideal choice for sellers who prioritize ease of use and efficiency. The intuitive interface, guided setup, and structured listing templates allow sellers to focus on creating and selling their products without getting bogged down by technical complexities.

Etsy:

• Etsy provides templates with specific fields for product details.
• The platform emphasizes high-quality product photography.
• Etsy suggests relevant categories and tags to help you optimize your listings for search visibility.

Shopify:

• Shopify offers more flexibility in how you create listings, but this can also require more time and effort.
• You are responsible for optimizing your Shopify listings for search engines and ensuring they are visually appealing.
• Shopify often relies on third-party apps for features like image optimization and SEO, which can add complexity and cost.

Due to the streamlined process and pre-defined templates, creating a listing on Etsy takes less time on average than on Shopify. Plus, Etsy’s focus on visual presentation helps your listings stand out and attract more buyers!

Security

I completely understand your concerns about the security of online marketplaces. Etsy is committed to providing a secure and reliable platform for transactions backed by a dedicated support team. Its robust security infrastructure, buyer protection policies, and responsive customer service are designed to create a safe and trustworthy environment for both buyers and sellers.

While Shopify also offers security features and support, Etsy’s focused approach allows it to tailor its security measures and support services to the unique needs of its sellers, making it a more secure and supportive option for many.

Preparing for a Shopify to Etsy Migration

Migrating your Shopify online store to Etsy requires careful planning to ensure a smooth transition. Etsy operates differently from Shopify, focusing on a marketplace model rather than a standalone eCommerce platform. Here’s a guide to help you prepare effectively:

Review Etsy’s Seller Policies
Before migrating, familiarize yourself with Etsy’s seller policies, listing fees, and rules regarding handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. Understanding these guidelines will help you determine if your products are a good fit for the Etsy marketplace and how to best position them.

Evaluate Your Product Catalog
Not all products sold on Shopify may be eligible for Etsy. Review your product catalog and select the items that align with Etsy’s marketplace criteria. Consider focusing on unique, handmade, or vintage items, as these tend to perform well on Etsy.

Backup Your Shopify Store Data
Before making any changes, ensure you have a complete backup of your Shopify store’s data. This includes product details, customer information, order history, and any other important data. This backup serves as a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration.

Optimize Product Listings for Etsy
Etsy’s search algorithm and audience differ from Shopify’s, so it’s important to optimize your product listings accordingly. This includes using relevant keywords, crafting compelling titles and descriptions, and selecting appropriate categories and tags. High-quality photos are also crucial, as Etsy buyers rely heavily on visuals.

Review and Adjust Pricing
Etsy charges listing fees and transaction fees that differ from Shopify’s fee structure. Review your pricing strategy to ensure your products remain profitable after accounting for these costs. You may need to adjust prices or offer bundled products to maintain your profit margins.

Prepare for Etsy’s Payment System
Etsy has its own payment processing system, Etsy Payments, which is mandatory in many countries. Familiarize yourself with how Etsy Payments works, including the fees, payout schedule, and supported payment methods. This will help you manage cash flow effectively.

How to Migrate from Shopify to Etsy with LitExtension?

Migrating your online store from one platform to another can seem daunting, but with the right tools, the process can be smooth and efficient. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use LitExtension to migrate your store seamlessly!

Step 1. Backup database of Shopify stores

A backup of your Shopify store data serves as a safety net for you to restore your store to its previous state if any issues arise during the migration process.

What data should you back up?

• Products: All product details, including descriptions, images, variants, pricing, and inventory levels.
• Customers: Customer information, including names, email addresses, shipping addresses, and order history.
• Orders: Order details, including order numbers, customer information, product details, and payment information.
• Collections: Product collections and their organization.
• Pages: Content from pages like About Us, Contact Us, and any custom pages.
• Blogs: Blog posts and their content.
• Themes: Your current theme files (optional but recommended).

Shopify offers two primary methods for backing up your store data manually or using an app. Here’s how to manually back up your products (recommended for most users). You can apply the same flow to Shopify customers and orders.

• Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
• Go to Products > Export.
• Select the specific data you want to export. For a comprehensive backup, choose All products.
• Select CSV for Excel, Numbers, or other spreadsheet programs as the export format.
• Hit Export products.

Always remember to choose the backup method that best suits your needs and technical expertise and to prioritize the safety of your business data.

Step 2. Create a new Etsy store

Setting up an Etsy store is a straightforward process, but it’s important to consider each step carefully. Here’s a breakdown of how to set up your shop:

• Visit the Etsy website (www.etsy.com) and follow the prompts to create a new account.
• Choose your shop name
• List at least one product to make your shop visible to buyers.
• Add a shop icon and banner image to personalize your shop and make it visually appealing.
• Tell your story and connect with buyers by providing information about yourself and your brand.
• Once you’ve completed all the necessary steps, you can open your shop to the public.

Step 3: Receive consultant from LitExtension expert

I understand how important it is to ensure a smooth and successful transfer of your data from Shopify to Etsy. Our team at LitExtension will work closely with you to discuss your specific requirements for the migration, explain the migration process, and provide guidance on any technical aspects. We will also provide a realistic timeline for the migration, considering the volume of data and any specific requirements you have.

Step 4: Data mapping & setting by experts

We understand how important it is for your data transfer from Shopify to Etsy to be seamless and accurate. Our team of experts at LitExtension takes great care in handling this critical step.

1. Data mapping: We take the time to understand your data structures and create mapping rules to ensure data integrity. We also handle any custom fields to make sure nothing is left behind.
2. Setting up your target Etsy store: We carefully configure essential settings and optimize for a smooth data transfer.
3. Configuring the environment for optimal data transfer: We establish secure connections, optimize server settings, and monitor the environment to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Before we fully move everything over, we make sure to thoroughly test and double-check that all the data is in the right place. If we find any little issues during testing, we sort them out right away to make sure your data stays accurate.
We know that dealing with all the technical stuff can be a lot, so we handle all the data mapping and setup for you. Our goal is to free you up to focus on your main business tasks.

Step 5: Perform full Shopify to Etsy migration

With the careful data mapping and setting, every piece of your data is transferred with precision. Throughout the migration process, our experts keep a close eye on things in real-time and swiftly address any issues. Your product information, customer details, and order history are treated with the utmost importance to ensure accurate and complete transfer.

Step 6. Perform post-migration checklist

Once the migration is complete, we will review your Etsy store to ensure that everything is transferred smoothly. Our team will double-check product listings, customer details, order history, and other important elements to ensure a successful transition.

Remember, we are here to support you even after the migration is complete for up to 6 months with recent migration and smart updates. Don’t hesitate to contact us for further support.