Shopify migration
Big Cartel to Shopify migration
I move your Big Cartel shop to Shopify, rebuild the products and pages Big Cartel doesn't export, and point your domain at the new store without breaking old links.
Working to a budget? Tell me what you can spend and I’ll fit the scope to it. For first-time clients, the consultation and plan are free. Discuss your budget
- Shopify Select Partner
- 4.96 average from 719 reviews
- 1,000+ Shopify projects delivered
- Redirects and SEO handled
Pricing
Fixed quote
Overview
When Big Cartel feels small
Big Cartel is made for artists and makers with small catalogs, and it does that job simply. Sellers usually switch from Big Cartel to Shopify when they need more: more products and variants, more payment options, apps, wholesale or selling abroad. I'm a Shopify developer and CRO specialist and a Shopify Select Partner, so I'm biased towards Shopify. If your shop is small and working, my Shopify vs Big Cartel comparison may tell you to stay.
This migration has fewer official tools than most. As checked on 7 November 2026, Shopify's help center has no Big Cartel guide, and its Store Migration app doesn't list Big Cartel as a source. Big Cartel's help center documents a CSV export for orders, not for products. So I migrate Big Cartel products with a third-party migration app or by building a Shopify product CSV from your live shop, then check titles, prices, options, stock and every image against the original.
What needs care: Big Cartel product pages use /product/ in the address and Shopify uses /products/, so even that one letter breaks every old link from Instagram, press or newsletters. I redirect each product, category and page URL with a 301 before the switch. Customer details come from your order export and are imported as not subscribed unless you have their consent on record. Passwords never transfer between platforms, and reviews and custom pages are rebuilt on Shopify.
The domain is the step sellers ask about most. Big Cartel lets you buy a domain or connect one you already own. If it's with a separate registrar, I change its DNS records to point at Shopify; if you bought it through Big Cartel, I check the transfer options first. Either way the switch happens after redirects are live, so visitors never hit an error page. Every migration gets a fixed quote after a free 3‑point review.
Signs you've outgrown Big Cartel
- You need more product options and variants than Big Cartel handles well.
- Customers ask for payment methods you can't offer.
- You want apps for reviews, subscriptions, bundles or email.
- You'd like to sell wholesale or in other currencies.
- You're adding pop-ups or a physical shop and need POS.
What the migration includes
Product transfer
Products, options, prices, stock and images moved with a migration app or a CSV built from your live shop, then checked one by one.
Order and customer data
Your Big Cartel order export used to create customer records, with email consent recorded as it really is.
Pages and policies
About, FAQ, shipping and returns pages rebuilt, with your policies set up in Shopify's own policy pages.
301 redirects
Every /product/ and category URL redirected to its Shopify match, so old links from social posts and press still work.
Domain move
Your domain pointed or transferred to Shopify after redirects are live, with SSL checked on launch day.
Theme and apps
A Shopify theme styled to your brand, plus the apps you're moving for, set up without slowing the store down.
Benefits
Why makers move with me
Small shop, same checks
A 40-product shop gets the same checks as a big one. Every product, link and image is compared before launch.
Your look kept
Big Cartel shops often have a strong visual style. I rebuild it on a Shopify theme instead of forcing a template look.
Room to grow
The store is set up so adding products, collections, apps or new countries later doesn't mean another rebuild.
How it works
How the migration works
- 1
Free 3‑point review
Send your Big Cartel shop link. I look at products, pages and your domain setup and tell you the three things that matter most.
- 2
Plan and fixed quote
You get a list of what moves, how products will be transferred and when the domain switches, with a fixed quote and timeline.
- 3
Build and transfer
My team builds the Shopify store, moves and checks products and pages and prepares redirects, while Big Cartel keeps selling.
- 4
Domain switch and checks
Redirects go live, the domain points to Shopify, test orders go through and old links are clicked through one by one.
Is it a fit?
Is this migration right for you
A good fit
- Your Big Cartel shop sells steadily and you want room to grow.
- You need features Big Cartel doesn't offer.
- Your links are shared widely and must keep working.
- You want the domain move handled for you.
Not the right fit
- You sell a few products and Big Cartel's simplicity suits you.
- Keeping monthly costs low matters more than features right now.
- You want a copy with no redirects or checks.
Comparison
What moves, and what changes
| Aspect | On Big Cartel | On Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Products | No documented export | App or rebuilt CSV, checked |
| Product URLs | /product/name | /products/name, 301 redirected |
| Orders | CSV export | Imported if needed |
| Customers | From order data | Imported, consent kept |
| Pages | Custom pages | Rebuilt, plus policy pages |
| Domain | Bought or connected | Pointed or transferred |
Reporting
What you get at handover
Redirect map
Each old Big Cartel URL next to its new Shopify page, tested after the domain switch.
Product check
Every product, option and image compared between the two shops, with any change explained.
Domain record
Where your domain is registered, which records point to Shopify and when it renews.
Admin walkthrough
Adding products, managing orders and editing the theme in Shopify, explained for a small team.
Recent Shopify work
Shopify stores I’ve built.
Ricrac Shop
Built start to finish for an Egyptian-made furniture and home brand: a bilingual English/Arabic store with room- and product-led navigation and a ‘Ready to Ship’ range. Product pages put installments, delivery estimates, warranty, returns and reviews where buyers decide. I also handled the speed and SEO work.
View the Ricrac Shop case study
Wood Tech
Built start to finish for an Australian woodworking-machinery distributor: CNC machines, edgebanders, panel saws and tooling, with brand, machine-type and used-machinery routes. Machine pages lead with ‘Enquire Now’, specs, brochures and videos to turn high-ticket visits into sales calls. I also handled the CRO, speed and SEO work.
View the Wood Tech case study
IrelandsEye Knitwear
Dublin knitwear brand selling sweaters, cardigans and knitwear staples, with multi-currency shopping for customers across Europe and beyond.
View the IrelandsEye Knitwear case study
123TelecomShop
Electronics retailer selling smartphones, cases and accessories, with daily deals and a device trade-in route.
View the 123TelecomShop case study
PerfumeBey
Extrait de parfum brand with a ‘2+1 gratis’ bundle offer, pay-later messaging and a bilingual storefront.
View the PerfumeBey case studyWhy work with me
Why brands choose to work with me.
A specialist team, led by me
I lead every project personally, and a team of Shopify specialists helps me deliver faster across CRO, design, development, apps and automation.
Decisions backed by data
Changes start from customer behaviour, analytics and recordings, not guesswork.
Built around revenue
Design and code are judged by what they do for conversion and order value.
Direct communication
You work with me directly, with working-hour overlap with the US, UK and Europe.
Shopify Select Partner
Listed at Select tier in the Shopify Partner Directory, with 7+ years on the platform.
Trusted by brands in 35 countries
355+ clients and a 4.96 average rating from 719 reviews.
Client reviews
What store owners say.
Ashraf did a fantastic job on my first website. He is very friendly and experienced. he finished everything right on time as expected and even exceeded what I was expecting to receive! I'll definitely be coming back for more work, thank you Ashraf and I highly recommend this man for your future project. Next time we will together work again.
One Product Shopify Store
james_smith21
United StatesAshraf truly shines in website development, consistently exceeding expectations with his code expertise. His speed and responsiveness make working with him a pleasure; plus, his politeness adds a touch of professionalism to every project. As our go-to guy, he's crafted a NEW website from scratch in just a week, perfectly understanding every detail. 🙌
Shopify Store Design & Redesign
delanoveersel
NetherlandsIn today's age, where speed is of a crucial importance, this guy delivers it. Did the tasks in two hours.
Did what was needed and beyond. Made adjustments to level up my online store.
Had really good understanding between each other, which is paramount if you want to deliver on time, with precision.
You can count on him, truly.Shopify Custom Coding & CROuser84229888
Lithuania
FAQ
Migration questions, answered.
What store owners ask before moving to Shopify.
Ask me about your storeHow do I transfer my domain from Big Cartel to Shopify?
It depends on where the domain is registered. If it's with a separate registrar, you point its DNS records at Shopify and keep it there, or transfer it later. If you bought it through Big Cartel, you can point it or transfer it. I make the switch after redirects are live.
Can Big Cartel products be imported automatically?
Not with Shopify's own Store Migration app, which doesn't list Big Cartel. Third-party migration apps handle it, or I build a Shopify product CSV from your live shop. Either way every product is checked afterwards, because options and images are where imports go wrong.
Will I lose my Google rankings?
A short dip can follow any move. The lasting damage comes from broken links, so every old /product/ and category URL gets a 301 redirect, titles and descriptions are kept, and I watch Search Console after launch. I don't promise rankings.
What happens to my Big Cartel orders?
Big Cartel lets you export orders as a CSV from the Orders page. I keep that file as your archive and, if you want past orders inside Shopify, import them with an app, with staff order emails switched off first.
Can my customers keep their passwords?
No. Shopify can't import passwords from any platform. Customer details move, and anyone who wants an account sets a new password or signs in with a one-time email code on Shopify's new customer accounts.
Is Shopify more expensive than Big Cartel?
Often, yes. Shopify Basic is $25 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly, plus any paid apps you add. Compare that with your Big Cartel bill and the sales the extra features could bring before you decide.
How much does a Big Cartel to Shopify migration cost?
There's no set price. After a free 3‑point review you get a fixed quote based on product count, options, pages, design and the domain setup.
Does my Big Cartel shop stay open during the move?
Yes. The Shopify store is built on a temporary address while Big Cartel keeps selling. Cancel Big Cartel only after the domain has moved and your final order export is saved.