How to Exclude Collections from Sales in Shopify Store

In the world of e-commerce, running sales and promotions is a crucial strategy to attract customers and boost revenue. However, there are times when you might want to exclude certain products or collections from these store-wide discounts. This article will explore how to effectively exclude a particular collection, such as “new products,” from a coupon sale in your Shopify store.

Understanding the Challenge

The Limitations of Shopify’s Native Features

Shopify’s built-in discount functionality is robust, but it does have some limitations. One common challenge store owners face is the inability to easily exclude specific collections from store-wide sales. This can be particularly frustrating when you want to keep new or premium products at full price while offering discounts on other items.

The Importance of Flexible Discounting

Having the ability to selectively apply discounts is crucial for several reasons:

Protecting profit margins on high-value or new items
Creating a sense of exclusivity for certain products
Managing inventory by encouraging sales of specific items

Solutions to Exclude Collections from Sales

The Tag-Based Workaround

The most effective solution to this problem involves using product tags creatively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to implement this workaround:

Export Your Products: Start by exporting all your products, excluding the collection you want to keep at full price.
Add a Special Tag: In the exported CSV file, add a new tag (e.g., “discount-code-applies”) to all products that should be included in the sale.
Reupload the CSV: Import the modified CSV back into your Shopify store, overwriting the existing product data.
Create a New Collection: Set up a new collection in your Shopify admin panel.
Set Collection Rules: Configure the collection to automatically include products with the tag “discount-code-applies”.
Generate the Discount Code: When creating your coupon code, select the newly created collection as the target for the discount.

This method effectively excludes your desired collection (e.g., “new products”) from the store-wide sale while applying the discount to all other eligible items.

Using Third-Party Apps

While the tag-based solution is effective, it can be time-consuming for stores with large inventories. Fortunately, there are third-party apps available in the Shopify App Store that can simplify this process:

Advanced Custom Collections App

This app allows you to create collections by excluding specific tags. Here’s how it works:

Install the app from the Shopify App Store.
Create a new collection that excludes products with a certain tag (e.g., “new” or “sale”).
Use this collection when setting up your discount code.

The app automatically syncs your collections, eliminating the need for manual updates when you add or modify products.

Best Practices for Managing Exclusions

Regular Inventory Review

To ensure your exclusion strategy remains effective:

Regularly review your product catalog
Update tags and collections as needed
Consider automating the process with apps or scripts

Clear Communication with Customers

When running sales with exclusions:

Clearly state which products or collections are excluded from the sale
Use banners or pop-ups to highlight sale terms
Ensure your customer service team is aware of the exclusions

Testing Your Setup

Before launching a sale:

Create a test order to verify the discount applies correctly
Check excluded products to ensure they remain at full price
Review your store from a customer’s perspective to identify any confusion

Advanced Techniques for Large Inventories

Bulk Editing with Shopify’s Bulk Editor

For stores with extensive product catalogs:

Use Shopify’s bulk editor to quickly add or remove tags
Create smart collections based on product criteria
Utilize Shopify’s API for more complex inventory management

Leveraging Shopify Scripts (Shopify Plus)

Shopify Plus merchants can use Shopify Scripts to:

Create complex discount rules
Automatically exclude products based on various criteria
Implement dynamic pricing strategies

Conclusion

Excluding specific collections from store-wide sales in Shopify may require some creative problem-solving, but it’s entirely achievable. By leveraging product tags, custom collections, and potentially third-party apps, you can create a flexible discounting strategy that meets your business needs. Remember to regularly review and update your setup to ensure it continues to work effectively as your inventory and sales strategies evolve.

By following the methods outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to run targeted promotions while protecting the pricing of your new or premium products, ultimately leading to a more strategic and profitable approach to sales and discounts in your Shopify store.