How to Exclude Products from Discounts in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Discounts in Shopify
3. The Importance of Excluding Products from Discounts
4. How to Exclude Products from Discounts in Shopify
5. Best Practices for Implementing Discounts
6. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that nearly 70% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a retailer that offers discounts? As e-commerce continues to evolve, understanding how to strategically implement discounts can be a game-changer for Shopify merchants. However, what happens when you want to maintain the integrity of specific products or collections during promotional periods? For instance, how do you exclude certain items from discounts while still enticing customers with sales?

In this post, we’ll explore the nuances of excluding products from discounts in your Shopify store. We’ll discuss various methods, the importance of strategic discounting, and how Tevello can empower you to manage your digital products and online courses without the headache of external platforms.

If you’re a Shopify merchant looking to optimize your discount strategies while protecting your premium offerings, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover practical steps, best practices, and insights to help you navigate this aspect of your e-commerce strategy.

Let’s dive in!

Understanding Discounts in Shopify

Discounts are a powerful tool in retail, serving not only to attract new customers but also to retain existing ones. Shopify provides several discount types, including percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, and free shipping options. However, knowing how to implement these effectively, especially when it comes to excluding certain products, can be challenging.

Types of Discounts

1. Percentage Discounts: These discounts reduce the total price by a certain percentage. For example, a 20% discount on a collection of products.
2. Fixed Amount Discounts: These discounts reduce the total price by a specific dollar amount, such as $10 off your order.
3. Free Shipping: This type offers customers the ability to receive products without shipping charges, which can significantly enhance the shopping experience.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial for formulating a discount strategy that aligns with your brand’s goals while ensuring that your most valuable products remain protected.

The Importance of Excluding Products from Discounts

Now that we understand the types of discounts available, why might you want to exclude certain products from these offers? Here are a few reasons:

1. Protecting Brand Value

Some products, especially those that are new, exclusive, or have a high perceived value, should be treated with care. Offering discounts on these items can inadvertently devalue them, leading customers to expect lower prices in the future.

2. Maintaining Profit Margins

Discounting products can severely impact your profit margins. By excluding low-margin or costly items from promotions, you can maintain a healthier bottom line.

3. Encouraging Upselling

By excluding certain products, you can create a sense of urgency around other items. For example, if a customer knows that a popular item is not included in a discount, they might be more inclined to purchase additional items that are on sale.

How to Exclude Products from Discounts in Shopify

Method 1: Using Discount Codes

One of the primary ways to exclude products from discounts in Shopify is by creating specific discount codes. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Go to your Shopify Admin: Navigate to the Discounts section.
2. Create a New Discount Code: Click on "Create discount" and select the type of discount you wish to offer (percentage, fixed amount, or free shipping).
3. Select "Specific Collections": Scroll down to the "Applies to" section. Here, you can choose "Specific collections" and select the collection you want the discount to apply to.
4. Exclude Products: To exclude certain products, you need to set up your discount to apply only to the specific collection that does not include those products. For example, if you have a collection named "Sale Items," only include products in that collection that you wish to discount.
5. Save Your Changes: Once done, make sure to save your changes.

This method allows you to control which products are eligible for discounts effectively.

Method 2: Using Automated Collections

For more complex scenarios, you can create automated collections that help you manage discounted products dynamically:

1. Create a New Collection: In Shopify, go to the Collections section and click "Create collection."
2. Set Conditions for the Collection: Here, you can set rules for which products should be included or excluded. For example, you can create an automatic collection where the product tag is "Discountable."
3. Exclude Items by Product Tag: You can also set conditions to exclude products by using the "is not equal to" rule. For instance, if you want to exclude products under the tag "No Discount," make sure to set that condition.
4. Link to Discounts: Once your collection is set, go back to the Discounts page and apply the newly created collection to the discount code.

This method allows for a more flexible approach, especially as your product inventory changes.

Method 3: Utilizing Shopify Scripts

If you are on Shopify Plus, you can use Shopify Scripts to create more advanced discount logic that includes excluding specific products from discounts:

1. Navigate to the Script Editor App: This app is available to Shopify Plus users.
2. Create a New Script: Choose the type of script you want to create (e.g., discount script).
3. Write Your Logic: You can specify conditions under which discounts apply or do not apply. For example, you can write a script that states, "If the cart contains a product tagged 'No Discount', then do not apply any discounts."
4. Test Your Script: Always ensure to test your scripts in a controlled environment to verify that they work as intended.

Using scripts may require some technical knowledge, but it provides unparalleled flexibility for discount management.

Best Practices for Implementing Discounts

Implementing discounts effectively requires strategic planning. Here are some best practices to consider:

1. Analyze Customer Behavior

Understanding your customers' purchasing patterns can help you decide which products to exclude from discounts. Consider running analytics on previous promotions to see which items generated the most interest and which did not.

2. Set Clear Guidelines

When creating discounts, ensure that your customers know which products are excluded. This transparency builds trust and reduces customer frustration during the checkout process.

3. Experiment with Time-Limited Offers

Creating urgency through time-limited discounts can encourage customers to make purchases. However, ensure that your premium products are not included in these promotions unless strategically necessary.

4. Use Tevello for Digital Products

If you're looking to sell online courses or digital products, leveraging a dedicated platform like Tevello can streamline the process. Our all-in-one solution allows you to manage your courses and communities directly within your Shopify store, making it easier to implement discounts on digital products without the complications of external platforms.

Ready to build your course? Get started with Tevello today!

Conclusion

Excluding products from discounts in Shopify can be a powerful strategy to protect your brand, maintain profit margins, and enhance customer satisfaction. By utilizing discount codes, automated collections, or Shopify Scripts, you can create a tailored discount experience that meets your business goals.

At Tevello, we believe in empowering Shopify merchants to unlock new revenue streams and build meaningful connections with their audience. Our user-friendly platform provides robust features for managing digital products and communities, all without the need for external platforms.

Take the next step in optimizing your Shopify store. Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today!

FAQ

1. Can I exclude multiple products from discounts?

Yes, you can exclude multiple products by creating specific collections that do not include those items or by using product tags for exclusion.

2. What types of discounts can I apply?

You can apply percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, and free shipping discounts, depending on your promotional strategy.

3. Do I need technical skills to use Shopify Scripts?

While basic knowledge of coding can be helpful, Shopify Scripts are designed to be user-friendly. However, you may need to consult with a developer if you want more complex logic.

4. How can Tevello help my Shopify store?

Tevello empowers merchants by providing a comprehensive solution for creating and managing online courses and digital products directly within Shopify. Our platform is user-friendly and integrates seamlessly into the Shopify ecosystem.

5. How do I get started with Tevello?

You can easily get started by installing the Tevello app and taking advantage of our free trial. Start your trial today!

By implementing the strategies discussed in this post, we can enhance your discounting approach, protect your valuable products, and ultimately create a more successful e-commerce business.