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How to Hide Out of Stock Products in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide for E-Commerce Success

How to Hide Out of Stock Products in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide for E-Commerce Success

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding the Importance of Hiding Out-of-Stock Products
  3. Methods to Hide Out-of-Stock Products in Shopify
  4. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that nearly 60% of online shoppers are deterred by out-of-stock items when browsing an e-commerce site? This statistic highlights a crucial aspect of online retail: managing inventory effectively is essential for maintaining a positive customer experience. As Shopify merchants, we need to ensure that our stores are optimized not only for sales but also for customer satisfaction. One way to enhance the shopping experience is by hiding out-of-stock products from view.

In this blog post, we will explore the various methods to hide out-of-stock products in Shopify. As we journey through this topic, we’ll delve into the implications of managing inventory efficiently, share practical tips, and demonstrate how Tevello can help streamline this process with its all-in-one solutions for course creation and community engagement.

Our goal is to provide you with a clear understanding of the available options and best practices to manage your inventory, ensuring your Shopify store operates at its best. So, how are we currently managing out-of-stock products in our Shopify store? Let’s find out!

Understanding the Importance of Hiding Out-of-Stock Products

Having out-of-stock products visible on your store can create confusion and frustration for customers. Not only does it lead to potential lost sales when customers encounter products that cannot be purchased, but it may also harm your store's credibility. Here are several reasons why hiding out-of-stock products is vital:

  1. Enhanced User Experience: Customers prefer to see products they can purchase immediately. Out-of-stock items can lead to disappointment, which may drive potential buyers away.
  2. Improved Conversion Rates: By showcasing only available products, you increase the chances of conversions. Removing out-of-stock items from the display can help guide customers toward products they can buy right away.
  3. Streamlined Inventory Management: Hiding out-of-stock products can simplify your inventory management process, allowing you to focus on items that are currently in stock.
  4. Reduced Customer Inquiries: When customers don’t see out-of-stock products, they are less likely to inquire about availability, saving time for both customers and your support team.

By adopting strategies to hide out-of-stock products, we can create a more efficient and customer-friendly shopping experience.

Methods to Hide Out-of-Stock Products in Shopify

Now that we understand the importance of hiding out-of-stock products, let's explore the various methods available in Shopify. Each method has its pros and cons, and we’ll provide insights into which might work best for your store.

Method 1: Using Third-Party Apps

One of the simplest ways to manage out-of-stock products is by using third-party apps specifically designed for this purpose. Apps like Nada: Sort & Hide Out-of-Stock automatically hide sold-out products, unpublishing them from your online store sales channel. They can also bring products back online once they are in stock again, minimizing manual effort.

Benefits of Using Apps:

Considerations:

If you're ready to streamline your inventory management, consider exploring our Tevello app for a free trial.

Method 2: Unpublishing Products from Sales Channels

Another method to hide out-of-stock products is to unpublish them from your online store sales channels. This approach can be done manually through the Shopify admin panel.

Steps to Unpublish Products:

  1. Log into your Shopify admin panel.
  2. Go to Products and select the product you want to unpublish.
  3. In the Sales channels and apps section, uncheck the relevant sales channel.
  4. Click Save.

Advantages:

Drawbacks:

Method 3: Setting Product Status to Draft

For a more straightforward approach, you can set the product status to draft when it is out of stock. This method effectively hides the product from your store, but does require that you remember to switch the status back to active when the product is restocked.

Steps to Set Product Status to Draft:

  1. In the Shopify admin, navigate to Products.
  2. Select the product you wish to hide.
  3. Change the status to Draft.
  4. Click Save.

Pros:

Cons:

Method 4: Automatic Collection Rules

If you use automated collections in Shopify, you can create conditions that automatically exclude out-of-stock products from being displayed.

Steps to Create Automatic Collection Rules:

  1. Go to Products > Collections.
  2. Select the collection you want to edit or create a new one.
  3. Under Conditions, add a rule for inventory stock: "Inventory stock is greater than 0".
  4. Save your changes.

Benefits:

Drawbacks:

Method 5: Hiding Sold-Out Variants Only

If you have products with multiple variants, you may not want to hide the entire product if only one variant is sold out. Instead, you can hide only the sold-out variant using some custom coding in Shopify.

Steps to Hide Sold-Out Variants:

  1. Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
  2. Click on Actions > Edit Code.
  3. Locate the product-template.liquid file.
  4. Add conditional statements to hide sold-out variants.

Example Code:

{% if variant.available %}
  <label>{{ variant.title }}</label>
{% endif %}

Pros:

Cons:

Additional Recommendations for Managing Inventory

To further enhance your inventory management strategy, consider the following practices:

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing out-of-stock products is a critical aspect of running a successful Shopify store. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide—whether through third-party apps, unpublishing products, or utilizing automatic collection rules—we can significantly improve the shopping experience for our customers.

At Tevello, we believe in empowering Shopify merchants to unlock new revenue streams while building meaningful connections with their audience. Our all-in-one solution integrates seamlessly into the Shopify ecosystem, offering user-friendly features to manage your store effectively.

Are you ready to take the next step in optimizing your Shopify store? Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and experience the benefits firsthand.

FAQ

1. Why should I hide out-of-stock products?

Hiding out-of-stock products improves user experience and increases conversion rates by showcasing only available items.

2. Can I hide only sold-out variants instead of the entire product?

Yes, you can use custom coding in Shopify to hide only sold-out variants if the product has multiple available options.

3. How do I manage my inventory effectively?

Regular inventory audits, customer notifications for back-in-stock items, and utilizing Shopify’s analytics tools can help manage inventory efficiently.

4. Are there any costs associated with using third-party apps for hiding out-of-stock products?

Yes, many third-party apps may require a subscription fee, so it's essential to consider your budget before implementing them.

By following the methods outlined in this post and leveraging the all-in-one capabilities of Tevello, we can enhance our Shopify stores and create a more successful e-commerce experience for our customers.