The Ultimate Guide on How to Hide a Collection on Shopify

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Shopify Collections
  3. Hiding Collections in Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide
  4. Conclusion
  5. FAQ

Are you a Shopify merchant looking for a way to make certain collections invisible on your store but still accessible via direct link? Whether you want to create exclusive offers for select customers or simply wish to clean up your storefront without deleting collections, you've come to the right place. This post will dive into the surprisingly simple yet effective methods to hide collections on Shopify, specifically focusing on the popular Dawn theme and extending to general practices applicable to various themes. So, let's enhance your store's navigability and customer experience by mastering the art of hiding collections.

Introduction

Imagine stumbling upon a secret garden; it's there, but only those who know where to look can find it. Similarly, the ability to hide collections on your Shopify store presents a realm of possibilities for personalized customer engagement and inventory management. Given the constant evolution of online shopping behaviors, maintaining a clutter-free and focused storefront has never been more crucial. Plus, with the advent of subscriber-exclusive content and seasonal collections that merchants would prefer to keep under wraps until the right moment, the relevance of this feature swells.

In the bustling world of e-commerce, the Dawn theme by Shopify has emerged as a beacon of style and functionality, appealing to a broad spectrum of business owners. Yet, many Dawn users find themselves in a quandary over how to effectively hide collections without affecting their store's overall accessibility. This post will not only unravel this particular mystery but also equip you with the knowledge to tailor your Shopify store's display to perfection, contributing positively to both user experience and operational efficiency. So, buckle up as we embark on a journey to unlock the full potential of your Shopify store.

Understanding Shopify Collections

Before diving deep into the technicalities, it's pivotal to grasp what collections are and why you might need to hide them. In essence, collections are clusters of products grouped under a specific theme or criteria, making it easier for customers to navigate your store and find what they're looking for. However, there are scenarios where store owners might want to hide these collections from the main view:

  • Exclusive Releases: For items or collections intended only for a select audience.
  • Seasonal Offerings: Collections that are relevant only during certain times of the year.
  • Subscriber-Only Content: Special collections made exclusive to newsletter subscribers or VIP customers.

Hiding Collections in Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide

For the Dawn Theme and Beyond

The process to hide a collection on Shopify, especially with the Dawn theme, involves a bit of tinkering with the code. But fear not, for the steps outlined below are both simple and effective:

  1. Accessing the Code Editor: From your Shopify admin dashboard, navigate to 'Online Store > Themes'. Find your current theme, click 'Actions', and then 'Edit code'.

  2. Modifying the Code:

    • Locate the section or file that generates the collection list. For the Dawn theme, this would typically be in the sections > main-list-collections.liquid file.
    • You will need to insert an if-statement to check the collection handle and skip rendering it if it matches the handle of the collection you wish to hide. Here’s a simplified code snippet:
      {%- for collection in collections -%}
  {% unless collection.handle == "your-collection-handle" %}
    <!-- Your code to display the collection -->
  {% endunless %}
{%- endfor -%}

    Replace "your-collection-handle" with the actual handle of the collection you want to hide. Handles can be found in the collection's details in your Shopify admin under 'Collections'.

  3. Saving Changes: Once you've added the code snippet, save your changes and refresh your store to see the effect.

What If You Have Multiple Collections to Hide?

If you need to hide more than one collection, simply expand the unless condition to include those additional handles:

{% unless collection.handle == "first-collection-handle" or collection.handle == "second-collection-handle" %}

Beyond Hiding: Toggling Visibility

An alternative approach involves adjusting the visibility of collections without diving into code:

  • Editing Collection Settings: Go to 'Products > Collections' in your Shopify admin. Select the collection you wish to hide.
  • Adjusting Visibility: In the collection settings, you can control its visibility. Uncheck 'Online Store' to hide it from your storefront.

This method is particularly useful for those hesitant to modify their store's theme code directly. However, it entirely removes the collection from the storefront, which might not be desirable in all cases.

Conclusion

Tailoring your Shopify store to suit your and your customers' needs is a continuous process. Hiding collections, when done correctly, can significantly enhance the shopping experience by decluttering your interface and creating an air of exclusivity around certain products or offerings. Whether you choose to dive into the code or adjust settings through your admin panel, the tools at your disposal are both powerful and versatile.

Remember, the key to a successful Shopify store lies not just in what your customers can see, but also in what they don't see. By mastering techniques such as hiding collections, you position your store not just as a marketplace, but as a curated experience tailored to your audience's preferences and needs.

FAQ

  1. Can I hide collections from specific customers or groups? While Shopify doesn't offer this functionality natively, third-party apps like Locksmith can help set up such conditions.

  2. Will hiding a collection affect my store's SEO? Hiding a collection from your storefront view doesn't remove its content from being indexed by search engines unless you also adjust its visibility in the collection settings.

  3. Can hidden collections still be accessed through direct links? Yes, if you use the code modification method. If you adjust visibility settings, the collection won't be accessible without re-enabling it.

  4. Is it possible to automate collection visibility based on time or events? Automation requires either third-party apps or custom scripts. Shopify workflows can also be a solution, depending on your Shopify plan.

  5. Can I revert the changes if needed? Absolutely. Whether you've edited the code or changed visibility settings, you can always reverse your actions or remove the added conditions.

App Stack