Moving your handmade or curated shop from Etsy to Shopify can feel like a high-stakes operation: you want better branding, lower fees, greater control over data and marketing — but you can’t afford to lose the sales, search presence, and loyal customers that made your shop successful. With careful planning, the right tools, and a customer-first communication strategy, you can migrate without a major drop in revenue.
This post outlines a practical, step-by-step approach you can execute in phases: prepare the technical backbone, preserve customer trust and discoverability, and launch a Shopify store that maintains momentum while giving you room to grow.
Prepare and Export: Inventory, Listings, Customers, and Data
Start by compiling everything you currently have on Etsy. Exporting accurate product data and customer information is the foundation of a smooth migration. Etsy provides CSV exports for listings and orders, but you should also collect images, description copy, tags, pricing history, and SKU/variant details manually or with an export tool.
- Export listings and orders from Etsy as CSV files and download original product images.
- Compile customer emails and order histories — these will power launch marketing and re-engagement.
- Inventory sync: if you plan to sell on both platforms during the transition, use a multi-channel inventory tool to avoid overselling.
- List any non-transferable items (for example, reviews and Etsy-specific badges) and plan a workaround (testimonials, badges on Shopify, or manual review highlights).
Tools can automate much of this work. Look for CSV import utilities or migration apps that map Etsy fields to Shopify product, variant, and image fields. If you have many SKUs or complex variants, consider a migration service or freelancer to minimize errors.
Preserve SEO, Traffic, and Customer Trust
You can’t do 301 redirects from Etsy to Shopify, so preserving search presence and repeat traffic requires a different strategy. Start by auditing your best-performing listings (organic search terms and social traffic). Recreate those product pages on Shopify using the same keywords, descriptive copy, and image names. Make sure your Shopify URLs are clean and include the primary keyword to improve organic continuity.
To keep existing customers connected, communicate clearly and proactively. Announce your move on Etsy via shop updates, shop banners, and listing descriptions if permitted. Use your saved customer emails to send a personalized announcement: explain the benefits of your new store (better checkout, loyalty program, exclusive products) and include a limited-time incentive such as a discount or free shipping code to encourage first purchases on Shopify.
Because Etsy reviews and sales history don’t transfer, surface social proof on Shopify by:
- Embedding screenshots of Etsy reviews or creating a testimonials page (ensure you have permission to reuse content).
- Asking top customers to leave reviews on your new site in exchange for a small reward.
- Displaying trust badges, a clear return policy, and contact options to reduce buyer hesitation.
Configure Shopify: Payments, Shipping, Apps, and Testing
Shopify gives you control over checkout, shipping profiles, taxes, and apps, but these need careful setup to avoid friction. Configure payment gateways (Shopify Payments, PayPal, Apple Pay), and make sure tax settings match how you handled sales on Etsy. Recreate shipping settings and carrier rules so customers don’t encounter unexpected costs.
Install core apps before you launch: an email marketing tool, product review app, SEO optimizer, and inventory sync if you will keep selling on Etsy for a while. Set up analytics (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel) and UTM parameters so you can track where traffic and sales are coming from immediately after launch.
Testing is essential. Run through these checks on desktop and mobile:
- Complete checkout flows with different payment methods and addresses.
- Place a test order and process it end-to-end to validate shipping labels, fulfillment workflow, and order notifications.
- Verify discount codes, abandoned cart emails, and customer account creation.
Consider a soft launch: open your new Shopify store to a small list of loyal customers or newsletter subscribers first. This lets you catch issues in a controlled environment and collect early testimonials to display once you fully promote the site.
Run a Phased Launch and Post-Migration Optimization
Execute the migration in phases to minimize disruption. Keep Etsy open as a fallback channel while you ramp up Shopify traffic and conversions. Use these tactics to transition customers gradually:
- Send segmented emails: VIPs, repeat buyers, and recent customers get different incentives and messaging.
- Offer an exclusive launch discount or bundle to drive initial purchases on Shopify.
- Promote the new store across social media, marketplaces, and your packaging inserts with a QR code to bring repeat buyers to Shopify.
After launch, monitor analytics and customer feedback. Track conversion rates, average order value, and cart abandonment. Optimize product pages for speed, continue improving SEO, and test promotional offers. If you still receive sales on Etsy, evaluate whether keeping listings active as a discovery channel is worthwhile — or if you should sunset that channel after a set period.
Finally, keep communicating. Announce updates, restocks, and exclusive products via an email list and social channels to re-engage customers who moved with you and to capture new ones.
Migration is a project, not a one-time task: plan carefully, prioritize your best listings and customers, test thoroughly, and use phased outreach to maintain momentum. Begin by exporting your Etsy data, setting up a mirrored Shopify structure, and crafting a communications plan — then launch with targeted incentives and measurement in place so you retain sales and customers through the transition.