Shopify Migration: A Practical Checklist

Pick a product your team knows well, preferably one with two sizes, a special price and its own images. One item can show what's missing from the export.

Before importing: Who owns each field?

Download the sample field map. Its data is fictional. The columns show a source field, sample value, destination and acceptance check. It's a working document, not a Shopify product import file.

• Record each variant SKU. Its price and image must still point to the right variant after import.
• Agree when to freeze or reconcile stock, and which system owns it after launch.
• Count the expected variants. One product with two variants shouldn't arrive as two separate products.

Map old URLs, then test them

The sample redirect CSV has two fictional paths in Redirect from / Redirect to format. Replace them with your real paths before importing anything. A renamed product needs its relevant successor. A discontinued product with no suitable replacement needs a different decision.

Open the old path in the test environment. Expect one permanent redirect straight to a relevant destination that returns HTTP 200. Shopify redirects work only from paths that no longer serve a valid page; some paths are reserved. See Shopify's redirect guidance.

Before the switch

One person checks the data; another goes through a test order. Compare product, price, tax, shipping and the warehouse response. Note discrepancies and agree on who stops the switch if something fails. Only then run the last import.

See Shopify migration services for the parts I can take on.