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Product categories

Categories help the buyer navigate the shop. If the structure is clear, the buyer finds the needed product faster and gets less confused on the storefront.

Open the needed shop in the seller cabinet and go to Product categories.

Category list​

The category list shows the catalog tree for the selected store. Here the seller manages category structure, statuses, and order.

On this page you can:

  1. switch between Drafts, Published, and Archive;
  2. search for a category by name;
  3. create a root category or subcategory;
  4. open the category edit form;
  5. publish, return to drafts, archive, or restore a category;
  6. change category order when search is not active and an archive list is not open.

If a category is not visible on the storefront, first check its status and the status of parent categories. A published product inside a draft or archived category may also not appear to the buyer.

Next step: if there is no structure yet, create the first root category. If the category already exists, open its form and check the name, parent, cover, icon, and status.

Category and subcategory​

A category is a group of products. For example, Flowers, Gift sets, or Home textiles.

A subcategory is a category inside another category. For example, inside Home textiles, there may be Blankets, Towels, and Bedding.

A category without a parent is called a root category. A nested category is inside another category.

When the structure is clear​

A good catalog structure helps the buyer answer the question: "Where should I look for this product?"

Before creating categories, check that:

  1. category names are short and clear;
  2. similar products are not split across too many places;
  3. one category does not contain completely different products without a reason;
  4. subcategories are not created only for decoration;
  5. the buyer can open the category from a phone and quickly understand the choice.

Category form: what to fill in​

In Product categories, choose Add category or Add subcategory.

Usually a category includes:

  1. Name - the seller sees it, and the buyer may see it.
  2. Parent category - shows whether the category is root or nested.
  3. Icon - helps recognize the category faster.
  4. Category image - may be used as the category cover.
  5. Order in the tree - affects category placement in the list, if the current interface allows changing the order.
  6. Status - shows whether the category is being prepared, published, or archived.

After saving, a new category usually appears as a draft. When the name and structure are ready, you can publish it.

In edit mode, a category may have Main, Category fields, and Choice variants tabs. If the category is in archive, the form may be view-only until you restore the category.

Next step after saving: return to the category list, make sure the category has the needed status, then add or review products in this category.

Choice variants in a category​

On the Choice variants tab, you can prepare templates for future products in this category, for example Size, Color, Material, or Packaging.

A category template is a starting point, not a public product setting. When the seller creates a new product in this category, the cabinet may add templates to the product card. After saving, they become separate options of that specific product.

If you change a category template, the change affects future new products and future manual additions from the category. Existing products are not updated automatically.

If you need to remove a size or color only for one product, open that product and edit its Choice variants tab. Do not change the category template just to fix one card.

Category statuses​

The cabinet uses these statuses:

  1. Drafts - categories are being prepared and should not yet participate in the public catalog.
  2. Published - categories are ready to be shown to buyers, if the shop and storefront are also available.
  3. Archive - categories are removed from active work, but their details remain saved in the cabinet.

An archived category cannot be used as a regular active category. If you need to work with it again, restore it first.

What happens with subcategories and products​

A category can contain subcategories and products.

If you publish, return to drafts, or archive a category, the cabinet may warn that the action will affect nested categories and products. Read the warning carefully before confirming.

If a category contains products and subcategories at the same time, this is allowed, but the structure may become overloaded. Check whether it is better to move products into more precise subcategories so the buyer can choose more easily.

How category status affects the storefront​

A published product may not appear on the storefront if its category is not published or is archived.

Before checking a product on the storefront, make sure that:

  1. the category is published;
  2. parent categories are not archived;
  3. the product belongs to the needed category;
  4. the shop is active and the storefront opens.

What to do if...​

The category is not shown on the storefront​

Check the category status. If it is in drafts or archive, the buyer may not see it. Then check the shop status and open the storefront again.

You cannot choose a category as a parent​

Check whether it is archived. Archived categories may be visible in the cabinet, but unavailable as active parent categories.

The category became too complex​

Check whether it contains both products and subcategories. If the buyer may struggle to navigate it, move products into more precise subcategories.

You cannot change the order​

Clear search and check that the archive status is not open. During search, some categories are hidden, so changing the order may be unavailable.