How to Hide a Product in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Product Visibility on Shopify
3. Options for Hiding Products in Shopify
4. Managing Hidden Products: Best Practices
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Introduction

Every thriving Shopify store owner knows that managing product visibility is a crucial aspect of running a successful online business. Perhaps you have a seasonal product, a special collection for loyal customers, or even items that are awaiting restock. The question arises: how do we maintain control over what our customers see? In an era where customer experience heavily influences buying decisions, the ability to skillfully hide products can elevate our strategy, enhance user experience, and streamline our inventory management.

As savvy ecommerce merchants, we understand the importance of not only presenting the right products but also controlling their visibility depending on various factors such as customer segments or promotional cycles. This guide will equip you with a step-by-step understanding of how to hide products effectively within your Shopify store, ensuring that our customers receive a curated, seamless shopping experience while preserving the integrity of our business strategy.

By the end of this article, we will delve into various methods for hiding products on Shopify, discuss the reasons behind these strategies, and address common issues that may arise when managing visibility. From utilizing built-in features to leveraging Shopify apps, we will explore every avenue to ensure you have the knowledge needed to enhance your storefront effectively. So, let’s embark on this journey to take control over our product visibility and create a cleaner, more inviting shopping environment.

Understanding Product Visibility on Shopify

Why Hide Products?

Before we jump into the "how," let's first explore the "why." There are several compelling reasons for hiding products in your Shopify store:

• Seasonal Promotions: Temporary products, such as holiday specials or seasonal collections, can be hidden outside their active periods to prevent confusion among customers.
• Inventory Management: By hiding products that are out of stock, we can reduce customer frustration and streamline operations. This keeps our store organized and ready for a positive customer experience.
• Targeted Marketing: If we want to cater to certain groups — for example, launching a pre-order for loyal subscribers — hiding these products until the launch ensures exclusive access while generating excitement.
• User Experience: A clean, organized storefront helps customers find what they are looking for quickly and efficiently, thus enhancing their overall shopping journey.

Shopify Visibility Settings

Shopify provides merchants with specific tools for managing product visibility depending on various sales channels. Each product’s visibility status can be modified directly from the product page within the Shopify admin. This makes it easy for us to control which products appear on our online store without extensive coding knowledge.

Options for Hiding Products in Shopify

Method 1: Hiding Products from Online Store

This method allows us to hide a product completely from the public view while maintaining its presence in our admin panel for future sales.

1. Access Your Shopify Admin: Log into your Shopify account.
2. Navigate to Products: Click on the "Products" tab in the side menu.
3. Select the Product: Find the product you want to hide and click on it to open its details.
4. Editing Visibility: In the "Sales channels and apps" section, click on “Manage sales channels.”
5. Uncheck Online Store: From the options, uncheck the box next to Online Store. This action will effectively hide the product from your storefront.
6. Save Changes: Click "Done" and then "Save" at the bottom of the page.

By following these simple steps, we can ensure that the product is hidden from our online store, making it invisible to customers browsing the storefront.

Method 2: Creating a Private Collection

Another effective way of hiding products is by creating a private collection. This method is particularly useful for exclusive launches, subscription products, or products with limited access.

1. Create a New Collection:
   • Go to your Shopify admin and click on “Products,” then “Collections.”
   • Click on “Create collection.” Name your new collection (e.g., “Private Collection”).
2. Set Collection Visibility:
   • Under the collection visibility options, select "Hidden." This will ensure that the collection is not accessible from the main navigation of your online store.
3. Add Products to Your Collection:
   • Add the products you wish to include in this exclusive collection.
4. Share the Link:
   • Share the direct link of this collection privately with selected customers or subscribers.

This strategy ensures that the products remain hidden from the general public while still being available for direct access through a specific link.

Method 3: Using Tags and Custom Code

For greater customization, using tags in combination with custom code can provide a more tailored approach to hiding products from collections, search results, or recommendations.

1. Tagging Products:
   • In your Shopify admin, open the product you want to hide. Add a tag like “hidden” to the product.
2. Editing Theme Code:
   • Navigate to “Online Store” > “Themes” > “Actions” > “Edit code.”
   • Find the liquid file responsible for displaying collections or products, typically named collection.liquid or product-grid-item.liquid.
   • Insert a code snippet that prevents tagged products from displaying. For example:

     {% for product in collections['collection-handle'].products %}
       {% unless product.tags contains 'hidden' %}
         {{ product.title }}
       {% endunless %}
     {% endfor %}
     

   • Ensure to save your changes.

This ensures that any product tagged with "hidden" will not display in the specified section. While this method requires a bit more technical knowledge, it allows us to finely curate which products appear in various parts of our online store.

Method 4: Integrating Shopify Apps

If coding feels intimidating or overly complex, numerous Shopify apps provide user-friendly interfaces for hiding products without requiring manual code edits.

• Locksmith App: This app provides the ability to secure products, collections, and pages, making them accessible only to chosen customers based on criteria we define.
• B2B Login Lock & Hide Price: Best suited for bulk vendors or businesses that sell to other retailers, this app enables us to hide or show products based on customer login status and tags.

To explore these apps, simply visit the Shopify App Store and search for "product visibility" or related keywords.

Managing Hidden Products: Best Practices

Once we go through the process of hiding products on Shopify, maintaining control and organization is key in preventing confusion. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Keep a Documented List: Create a spreadsheet that tracks hidden products, their reasons for hiding, and any expected return to visibility. This makes it easier to manage seasonal items or special collections.
• Regularly Review Product Visibility: Regularly evaluate which products remain hidden based on trends, inventory levels, and customer feedback. Adjust visibility as needed.
• Communicate with Customers: Maintain clear communication with your customers who access hidden products, providing them with updates about availability, promotions, or product launches.

Conclusion

Navigating the realm of product visibility in our Shopify store is an essential skill for any ecommerce merchant. Not only can it enhance the user experience, but it also empowers us to manage our products strategically. Whether using the built-in visibility tools, creating private collections, applying custom code snippets, or leveraging third-party apps, we have a wealth of options to ensure that our storefront remains organized and engaging.

As we embrace these strategies, we can more effectively build a marketplace that resonates with our brand ethos while catering to our customer’s expectations. So, let’s take charge of our product visibility today and see how it can lead to a more efficient and successful shopping experience!

FAQ

1. Can I hide multiple products at once in Shopify?

Yes, you can hide multiple products by selecting them in bulk from the Products page and choosing the option to “Exclude from sales channels.”

2. Will hidden products still be visible in a search?

No, products a fully hidden from the online storefront will not show up in on-site customer searches.

3. How do I know if a product is successfully hidden?

You can check the product's status on the Products list page or through the Publishing section in the product's details. If the product is not associated with any sales channels, it is hidden.

4. Can I unhide a product easily?

Yes, simply go to the product’s details and check the boxes for the appropriate sales channels again to make the product visible once more.

5. Is there any coding experience required to hide products?

While some methods require basic coding knowledge, others—such as using the built-in visibility settings—do not. Apps can also simplify this process without coding.

By employing these various methods to hide products, we are enhancing our inventory management processes and maintaining our store’s efficacy, all while delivering a polished shopping experience to our customers. Let's innovate and thrive together!