About Wix

How do I switch my ecommerce store from Wix to Shopify?

Switching from Wix to Shopify involves careful planning and execution to ensure your ecommerce store transitions smoothly. Here's what you need to know about the migration process.

Understanding the Migration Process

Migrating from Wix to Shopify requires transferring your products, customer data, order history, and content from one platform to another. Since these platforms have different structures, the process involves exporting data from Wix, reformatting it, and importing it into Shopify.

Key Migration Steps

Backup Your Wix Store

Before beginning any migration, create a complete backup of your Wix site. This ensures you have all essential data including products, customer information, and order history safely stored.

Export Your Data from Wix

Wix doesn't offer a direct export feature for products, so you'll need to manually create a CSV file containing your product details such as names, descriptions, prices, and images. Download all product images and copy other content into documents for safekeeping.

Set Up Your Shopify Account

Sign up for Shopify and select a plan that matches your business needs. Choose a theme and configure your basic store settings to prepare for data import.

Prepare and Import Data

Edit your CSV file to match Shopify's required structure. Each platform has different formatting requirements, so ensure all necessary fields are properly mapped. Use Shopify's admin panel to import your product CSV file, then repeat the process for customer and order data.

Important Note: Customer passwords cannot be migrated between platforms for security reasons. You'll need to invite customers to reset their passwords after the migration.

Migration Methods

You have several options for migrating your store:

  • Manual Migration: Copy and paste data directly, suitable for smaller stores
  • CSV Import: Export data to CSV files and import to Shopify
  • Third-Party Migration Apps: Use automated tools available on the Shopify App Store
  • Professional Services: Hire experts for complex migrations

Post-Migration Checklist

After importing your data, verify that all product details, inventory counts, and customer information transferred correctly. Set up payment gateways, configure shipping settings, and install necessary apps. Thoroughly test your store before launching to ensure everything functions properly.

Domain Transfer Considerations

If you want to keep your existing domain, you can either transfer it to Shopify or keep it registered with Wix and point it to your Shopify store. To transfer, obtain the EPP code from Wix's domain management area and use it in Shopify's admin panel.

SEO and Customer Communication

Maintain your search engine rankings by properly configuring SEO settings on Shopify, including URL redirects from your old Wix pages. Communicate with your customers about the migration, especially regarding password resets and any temporary service interruptions.

While Wix offers a comprehensive website building platform with ecommerce capabilities, Shopify provides specialized ecommerce features that many growing businesses find beneficial. For more information about Wix's ecommerce features, visit www.wix.com.

The migration process typically takes several days to complete, depending on your store's size and complexity. Take your time to ensure accuracy, and consider running both stores in parallel during a testing phase before fully committing to the switch.