Shuttle simplifies the process of assigning products to the correct categories by enabling you to set default categories and precisely map Etsy categories to their Shopify counterparts. This helps maintain organization, ensures accurate product listings, and improves the overall shopping experience.
Why Map Categories Between Etsy and Shopify?
While Etsy and Shopify both use product categories to organize your listings, the categories might not always align perfectly between the two platforms. By matching Etsy categories directly to Shopify categories, you ensure your products remain well-organized and easy for customers to discover, regardless of the platform.
How to Set Up Category Mapping in Shuttle
Step 1: Set Your Default Categories
Default categories serve as a fallback when Shuttle can't find a matching category during a product transfer:
Go to Product Settings → Categories in Shuttle.
Under the Set Default Categories section, select a default category for both Etsy and Shopify.
These defaults will be used if no specific category mapping exists or if Shuttle can't automatically match a category based on name.
Step 2: Map Specific Etsy Categories to Shopify Categories
Precisely map your Etsy categories to Shopify categories to ensure accurate product placement:
In the Match Etsy and Shopify Categories section, you'll see two columns: Etsy Categories on the left and Shopify Categories on the right.
Match each Etsy category to its corresponding Shopify category by selecting from the dropdown menus.
Shuttle automatically saves these selections.
How Shuttle Assigns Categories
When transferring or updating a product, Shuttle assigns categories in the following order:
Matched Categories: Shuttle first looks for category matches you've manually mapped.
Automatic Matching: If no manual match exists, Shuttle attempts to match categories based on their names.
Default Categories: If automatic matching is unsuccessful, Shuttle uses the default categories you've set.
Recommendations and Tips
Regularly review and update your category mappings to maintain accuracy as your product line grows.
Use default categories to avoid products being misplaced during transfers.
By using Shuttle's category mapping feature, you'll maintain well-organized product listings, making your items easier to manage internally and more accessible to your customers.