How to migrate from BigCartel to Shopify with LitExtension expert?

4 Reasons to Migrate Big Cartel to Shopify

Since both Big Cartel and Shopify are popular eCommerce platforms, you might be asking yourself, “Do I really need to make the switch?” Well — yes, you do! As discussed in our Big Cartel vs Shopify comparison, Shopify indeed outshines its rival in many key areas:

1. Shopify is excellent for scalability

One of Shopify’s standout advantages is the freedom to list as many products as you like, no matter which plan you choose.

Sure, once you hit 50,000 products, you’ll be limited to adding only 1,000 new products or variants every 24 hours. But other than that, the sky’s the limit, and you can keep expanding your inventory as much as your store (and budget) can handle!

Big Cartel, on the other hand, doesn’t offer the same flexibility: even with its top-tier Diamond plan, you’re limited to just 500 product listings. For anyone looking to grow their business long-term, that cap is definitely going to be pretty restrictive.

2. Shopify has far more customizable themes

Another impressive Shopify perk is its incredible theme store: as of now, you’ve got 217 themes to choose from, and the collection only keeps growing!

Prices range from free to $500 for a one-time purchase, so there are options available for every budget. Shopify has 217 beautiful themes across various industries

The best part? They’re very customizable. You can easily adjust headers, banners, fonts, and menu placement using just the built-in settings. For even more control, Shopify lets you add your own custom code and files for a truly unique design.

In comparison, Big Cartel doesn’t even come close; 17 templates and limited customization options will make you feel boxed in.

You can’t use your favorite fonts, position banners exactly where you want, or even upload videos to product listings. And forget about adding custom code – it’s not even an option.

3. Shopify can boost search engine rankings

Themes and listings aside, Shopify also leaves its competitors in the dust when it comes to SEO. Everything you need to boost your store’s visibility is right there: you can easily edit title tags, URLs, and meta descriptions without fuss.

Things get even better with Shopify’s built-in blogging engine, which helps you attract more visitors through engaging, relevant articles and blog posts.

Big Cartel, unfortunately, cannot compete in this area since there are zero options to edit meta descriptions or create redirects. Even something as basic as blogging requires either HTML knowledge or using external services (e.g., DropInBlog). We must say this is a pretty serious gap if you aim to grow your online presence in the long run.

4. Shopify’s app store is superior

Last but definitely not least, Shopify totally dominates in apps and extensions. With over 13,000 apps (and increasing), it has something for every eCommerce need imaginable!

Plus, the price range is very flexible, with options from free to around $100/month to ensure businesses of any size can find what fits them.

Shopify’s app store

Meanwhile, Big Cartel only offers about 1,500 apps and add-ons as of our writing. Sure, the number is decent (compared to some platforms), but it doesn’t stand a chance against Shopify’s variety.

Not to mention, the apps’ quality is nowhere near enough to bridge the huge gap in Big Cartel’s built-in features.

So, all in all, Big Cartel works mostly for smaller brands or start-ups with more basic needs. Once your business takes off (and you’re ready for bigger opportunities), switching to Shopify is clearly the smart next step to fuel future growth.

Switch from Big Cartel to Shopify – Preparation

There are two phases to complete before running the Big Cartel to Shopify migration successfully:

• Export a CSV file from your Big Cartel website
• Create a new Shopify store

1. Export Big Cartel CSV file

To export your Big Cartel into a single CSV file for future reference, follow our steps below:

• Log in to your account on my.bigcartel.com.
• Navigate to the “Orders” tab.
• Select either the “Unshipped” or “Shipped” tab.
• Narrow down your search for specific data by choosing the “Search” option from the drop-down menu.
• Hit “Download CSV” from the action menu.

2. Set up the Shopify store

Moving on, we have the Shopify store setting-up phase. You can try out their free trial before going for a monthly subscription plan.

• Navigate to the Shopify website and sign up for a new account at this address: https://www.shopify.com/commerce-coach/litextension
• Provide basic information about your online business, such as selling channels, specific requirements, experience, etc.
• Select “Enter my store” and you will gain access to your Shopify admin dashboard.

Perform Big Cartel to Shopify Migration with LitExtension in 3 steps

After successfully setting up your new store, it’s time we embark on your migration process. You can choose various methods when moving from Big Cartel to Shopify, such as manually or hiring an expert.

However, these will cost you more time and money as it requires decent technical knowledge to avoid possible data problems that may arise.

Additionally, because each Big Cartel store has an exclusive database structure, moving to Shopify requires a more complicated procedure than our Basic Migration Package.

That’s when LitExtension’s All-in-One Migration Package comes into play. A Personal Assistant (PA) will carefully carry out your project to ensure the most secure and smooth migration.

With 10+ years of experience, our experts have gained in-depth knowledge of both platforms, so relax because your store is in good hands!

First, let’s go through all the steps needed:

• Step 1: Meeting Schedule
• Step 2: Technical Consultation
• Step 3: Migration Configuration
• Step 4: Demo Migration
• Step 5: Demo Migration Review
• Step 6: Full Migration
• Step 7: Migration Result Testing
• Step 8: Post-Migration Services Utilization

The time has come, here goes the tutorial on how to migrate from Big Cartel to Shopify!

1. Meeting Schedule

Get in touch with our specialists for a one-on-one consultation to go through your needs regarding the Big Cartel Shopify migration. To do so, provide your contact details and choose a convenient time for the meeting.

Please book 2 hours in advance so we can prepare for it and address any concerns you may have.

2. Technical Consultation

During the meeting, our experts will gain an understanding of your specific requirements for the Big Cartel to Shopify migration. We will also shed lights on the current situation of your Big Cartel database to come up with the most suitable solution. It is crucial for both parties to have the same vision for the project to have the best outcome.

Move on to the payment steps; follow our guide here if you agree with the discussed process. LitExtension’s All-in-One Migration Package pricing currently starts from $139 based on your specific requirements.

3. Migration Configuration

Our experts will configure your target store to create the best environment when switching from Big Cartel to Shopify.

Identify the entities you wish to migrate to your new Shopify store, including products, customers, orders, etc. We have placed a box next to each category so that you can type in the exact amount of data according to your needs.

Look to the right, you will see a list of free Additional Options for further migration settings. Usually, we charge them $19 – $39 for the Basic Migration Package. Nevertheless, they are completely free for All-in-One clients, so seize your chance now!

Here are what most of our previous customers go for:

• Preserve Product, Order, Customer IDs on Target Store: By selecting this choice, the product, customer, and order IDs will remain unchanged in your Target Store, mirroring those in your Source Store. This selection is essential for maintaining the interconnectedness of entities post-migration. Additionally, it facilitates convenient management of your products, customers, and orders.
• Clear Data On Target Store Before Migration: This feature enables you to remove data on the Target Store based on the selected entities for migration. Its purpose is to prevent data mixing and duplication throughout the migration process.

Next up, we also offer store customization service.  However, these modifications are restricted to your Big Cartel and Shopify’s unique requirements.

It’s important to understand that this does not cover the transfer of non-standard data or data created by third-party modules and extensions. For more information, please consult our experts during the private meeting.

4. Demo Migration

Run through the free Demo Migration beforehand to observe our service in action with a maximum of 1,000 entities. It might take you a few minutes to complete the procedure.

5. Demo Migration Review

The result of the Demo Migration may be seen before the completion of the Full Migration. If you are satisfied with it, our experts will perform the Full Migration to move from Big Cartel to Shopify.

6. Full Migration

This is when your whole store will be officially moved to its new home. LitExtension experts will conduct the Full Migration from Big Cartel to Shopify.

With LitExtension Smart Controller monitoring your system, our team can identify and resolve any problems that arise quickly.

7. Migration Result Testing

LitExtension’s team of experts will thoroughly examine the migrated data to ensure that the transfer from Big Cartel to Shopify has been executed accurately and without any discrepancies.

You can look at the migration result and ask the PA for more advanced requirements (if needed).

If you have any severe technical troubles with your migrated data within 30 days, LitExtension is responsible for a FULL REFUND. Send us a ticket detailing your order and the reason for the refund.

Your refund will be processed and sent within 7 days of your verified refund request.

8. Post-Migration Services Utilization

The great thing about using the All-in-One Migration Package when migrating from Big Cartel to Shopify is that your old store will continue to receive new orders as usual during the migration process.

Thus, your database will need to be updated after the migration to ensure the best shopping experience for your customers.

Don’t worry, our post-migration services are here to help:

• Recent Data Migration: The transfer process will seamlessly move all existing and forthcoming orders and customers to the new store, ensuring a smooth transition without disruptions.
• Re-Migration: If the previous upgrade did not meet your specific requirements, you could initiate another upgrade process to address any remaining needs or expectations.
• Smart Update: You can import newly created and previously modified data into your Shopify store simultaneously.

Within 6 months after your Full Migration, LitExtension offers free, unlimited post-migration services as long as the number of migration entities only accounts for 10% of the total.

The video below may help you better visualize how LitExtension performs the task:

Guidelines to Set Up Shopify Store After Migration

Even though the migration has been completed, you’re not ready to generate profits yet. There are still a couple of things to do, follow our footsteps to find out!

1. Install themes & apps

So that’s done with the database, let’s design your website. Your online store’s conversion rate, credibility, and other metrics are all impacted by how your brand is represented visually. Therefore, installing a theme and utilizing customization tools is a must.

First, pick the most suitable one from the 140+ themes offered by Shopify Theme Store (both free and premium). Otherwise, you can also extend your search when navigating to Themeforest. For further information, refer to our collection of best Shopify themes.

Then, set up essential eCommerce features by integrating third-party apps from the Shopify App Store. By doing this, you can guarantee the most fulfilling experience for your customers.

2. Change DNS & switch domain

DNS is what helps connect your domain name to the network’s IP address where your server is located. Your domain name server (DNS) settings connect your website’s address (IP address) to your unique domain name.

Thus, you will need to update your domain name server settings to use the IP address of your newly created eCommerce website.

After the Big Cartel to Shopify migration, you may encounter one of three typical DNS and domain-related difficulties, including:

• Both stores are hosted by the same company, using the same URL. However, the Shopify store you’re moving to lies in the subdirectory.
• You use the same hosting service, yet the URLs of the two stores are not an exact match.
• You have two online stores with distinct domain names and hosting providers.

Your Shopify store will be plagued with issues if you don’t replace the old domain. If you’re having trouble doing this, contact the LitExtension team for support.

3. Configure shipping & payment methods

Before launching your new business, it’s crucial to set up your Shopify shipping options. If you don’t account for shipping costs when setting prices, you may have to ask the customers for more payment or issue refunds. Neither of these outcomes is ideal.

Similarly, deciding payment methods also directly affects customer satisfaction. You can offer third-party payment gateways or the in-house option (Shopify Payments).

Remember to evaluate the processing fees before making your final decision since each gateway charges merchants a different price.

4. Place test orders

Last but not least, don’t forget to place test orders before publishing your website. Double-check every step of your customer journey to ensure that things have fallen into place, from products and orders to transactions. This also enables you to notice problems and fix them just in time.

If you want to have a detailed look, our Shopify launch checklist might be helpful!