How Do I Hide a Product on Shopify? Tips and Techniques for Shopify Merchants

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Hide Products?
3. Using Shopify Settings
4. Using Code Modifications
5. Utilizing Apps
6. Best Practices
7. FAQs
8. Conclusion

Introduction

As online shopping becomes increasingly sophisticated, ensuring that your product visibility aligns with your marketing strategy is paramount. Have you ever found yourself wondering how to selectively showcase certain products on your Shopify store while keeping others hidden? This query is not only common among merchants launching new collections but is also vital during strategic sales campaigns and exclusive offers. According to recent statistics, 90% of consumers prefer shopping with brands that offer personalized experiences, highlighting the importance of tailored product visibility.

In this blog post, we will explore effective methods to hide products on Shopify, providing you with actionable strategies to optimize your store's presentation and enhance overall customer engagement. From seasonal collections to exclusive pre-order items, we will delve into various scenarios where hiding products can be advantageous for your business. By the end of this guide, you'll understand how to leverage Shopify settings to manage your product visibility efficiently, enhancing customer experience while keeping your inventory organized.

We'll cover the following essential aspects:

1. Why Hide Products? - Understanding the strategic reasons for hiding products.
2. Using Shopify Settings - Step-by-step methods to hide products using built-in platform features.
3. Using Code Modifications - How to customize your theme to achieve specific hiding functions.
4. Utilizing Apps - Exploring third-party applications that facilitate product hiding without coding.
5. Best Practices - What to consider when hiding products to maintain overall store cohesion.
6. FAQs - Addressing common questions regarding product visibility on Shopify.

Get ready to transform your Shopify store into a personalized shopping environment that not only meets customer expectations but exceeds them!

Why Hide Products?

When it comes to managing an online store, strategically choosing which products to display—or hide—can have a significant impact on your sales and customer satisfaction. Here are several compelling reasons why you might want to hide certain products:

1. Seasonal Promotions and Launches

Hiding products is particularly valuable for seasonal promotions. For instance, if you're planning to launch a new spring collection in September, you might want to keep pre-orderable items exclusive to subscribers. By hiding these products from general view while still allowing select individuals access, you can create buzz and exclusivity around your upcoming collection.

2. Inventory Management

If specific products are temporarily out of stock, hiding them can prevent customer disappointment and improve their shopping experience. Instead of seeing a product that they cannot purchase, customers can be directed towards available options, maintaining the flow of sales.

3. Clean Shop Aesthetic

Maintaining an organized and visually appealing storefront is essential for customer retention. Hiding products that are not currently relevant or are lesser sellers ensures that your customers can easily navigate and focus on your best offerings.

4. Testing New Products

When introducing new items, merchants often want to gauge customer response before full-launching. Hiding these items allows you to test the waters—gathering feedback quietly without the pressure of a public launch.

5. Customer Segmentation

You might want to tailor your offerings based on customer segments. For instance, exclusive collections for VIP members can greatly enhance customer loyalty and retention rates. By hiding specific products from non-registered customers, you create an alluring sense of exclusivity.

Summary

Understanding the reasoning behind hiding products helps in deciding which methods to employ.

Using Shopify Settings

One of the most straightforward ways to hide a product on Shopify involves utilizing the built-in settings. Here’s how to get started:

Hiding Individual Products

1. Log into your Shopify Admin Panel: Go to your Shopify dashboard where you manage your store.
2. Navigate to the 'Products' Section: From the left sidebar, click on ‘Products’ to access your product listings.
3. Select the Product to Hide: Click on the product that you want to hide. This opens the product details page.
4. Manage Sales Channels: In the ‘Product Availability’ section, click on the “Manage Sales Channels” link. A pop-up will appear with a list of sales channels where the product is available.
5. Uncheck the 'Online Store' Checkbox: This action hides the product from your online store. Click ‘Done’ and then save your changes.

Hiding Multiple Products

If you want to hide several products at once, Shopify provides a bulk editing option:

1. Go to the Products Page: In your Shopify admin, click on the ‘Products’ section.
2. Select Products to Hide: Check the boxes next to the products you wish to hide.
3. Actions Dropdown Menu: At the top of the product list, select the “Actions” dropdown.
4. Choose ‘Exclude From Sales Channels’: Follow the prompts to uncheck the online store or other sales channels. Save the changes to make these products hidden.

Summary

Hiding products from sales channels is simple in Shopify, and this administrative method allows for broader control over product visibility.

Using Code Modifications

For those who are comfortable with coding—or willing to learn—a deeper layer of customization awaits in your Shopify theme’s code. This method is particularly useful for merchants wanting to create unique functionality, such as hiding certain products from search results or recommendations. Here’s how to do it:

Excluding Products from Search Results

1. Navigate to the Theme Editor: Click on ‘Online Store’ in the Shopify admin, then ‘Themes.’
2. Edit Code: Under your current theme, click on ‘Actions’ and select ‘Edit code.’
3. Locate the Search Liquid File: Use the left sidebar to find ‘search.liquid.’ This file controls the search behavior on your store.
4. Insert Exclusion Code: You can insert a piece of code to hide certain products by tags.

   {% for product in search.results %}
     {% unless product.tags contains 'hidden-product' %}
       {{ product.title }}
     {% endunless %}
   {% endfor %}
   

5. Save Changes: With this condition, products tagged with 'hidden-product' will not show in the search results.

Hiding from Recommendations

1. Find the Recommendations Code: Similar to hiding from search, you need to access the code for recommendations. This is typically in product-recommendations.liquid or related-products.liquid.
2. Add the Code Adjustments: Insert a condition to exclude products with a tag "hidden".

   {% unless recommendation.tags contains 'hidden' %}
      {{ recommendation.title }}
   {% endunless %}
   

3. Save your changes.

Summary

Leveraging code allows advanced users to precisely control which products display throughout their online store. However, it’s vital to keep backups before making changes to the codebase.

Utilizing Apps

For store owners who prefer not to code, several apps available in the Shopify App Store can simplify the process of hiding products based on customer criteria or tags. Here are some popular choices:

1. Locksmith

This app allows you to manage product visibility based on customer segmentation. You can create rules for who can access specific products or collections, making it ideal for building exclusive offers for select customer groups.

2. Hide Products by BSS

Enable you to hide specific products from search results, recommendations, and even the store's main page. It’s user-friendly and requires no coding experience.

3. Shopify Hide Product App

This app is built for exactly your needs—hiding products from search results and making them accessible only via a direct link, perfect for your exclusive offerings.

Summary

Opting for an application simplifies the management of product visibility significantly while allowing for customization without requiring technical skills.

Best Practices

When hiding products on Shopify, consider the following best practices to enhance effectiveness:

1. Maintain Communication with Customers

If you're hiding several products, especially during promotional windows, consider sending out notifications to inform customers. Communication builds trust and transparency.

2. Keep a Backup of Themes

Before making changes to your theme code, ensure you backup existing versions to avoid disruptions in case of errors. This practice protects your store from unintentional downtime.

3. Regularly Review Hidden Products

Set a timeline to review products you've hidden. Periodically assess whether they can be reintroduced or require further updates.

4. Tag Strategically

Utilize tagging effectively to categorize hidden products. It streamlines the management process and allows for easy identification when evaluating products for visibility.

5. A/B Testing

If you can, experiment with hiding selected products or collections. A/B testing can provide valuable insights into customer reactions and preferences, influencing future decisions.

Summary

Implementing best practices not only optimizes product visibility but also builds a more coherent and engaging shopping experience for customers.

FAQs

Q1: What types of products should I consider hiding?
Hiding products is particularly useful for seasonal items, out-of-stock products, and new introductions that need marketing testing.

Q2: Is hiding products permanent on Shopify?
No, product visibility can be toggled on or off as needed. Hidden products can later be reintroduced into your store for sale.

Q3: Will hiding a product affect my SEO?
Yes, hiding products from search results can influence your website's SEO, especially if these products had search engine footprints. However, managing visibility appropriately can prevent negative user experiences.

Q4: Can I hide products site-wide?
Yes, you can hide products from the entire site using sales channel management or code modifications, while retaining the ability to link them directly.

Q5: Do I need technical expertise to implement these methods?
Basic hiding techniques require little technical knowledge, while code modifications necessitate some familiarity with coding and Shopify’s Liquid template language. Apps are also a practical workaround for those wanting to avoid coding.

Conclusion

Hiding products on your Shopify store offers significant advantages in terms of inventory management, customer experience, and strategic marketing planning. By harnessing Shopify’s built-in settings, employing code modifications, and utilizing third-party apps, you can finely tune which products appear to visitors—leading to a more personalized shopping journey.

Are you ready to take charge of your product visibility? Following this guide, we hope you confidently navigate how you manage product displays to maximize engagement, drive sales, and ultimately promote brand loyalty. Remember, keeping your products clear and relevant is crucial in the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce.

Feel free to integrate any of the methods outlined above into your Shopify strategy today!