Upgrading Your eCommerce Experience: How to Upgrade your Shopify 1.0 Store to Shopify 2.0?

Shopify has been a leading player in the world of eCommerce platforms, providing businesses with the tools they need to manage their online stores efficiently and effectively. At MarbGroup Digital Commerce, we specialize in offering a myriad of digital solutions, including Shopify customization to businesses seeking a cutting-edge eCommerce experience. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to upgrade your Shopify 1.0 store to the newer, more feature-packed Shopify 2.0.

What is Shopify? Understanding Shopify 1.0 and Shopify 2.0

Shopify is a comprehensive eCommerce platform that allows businesses to create an online store, manage inventory, process payments, and much more. Essentially, it’s a one-stop-shop for all your eCommerce needs.

Shopify 1.0 has been a reliable platform for many businesses over the years. However, as the digital landscape advances, so does the need for more robust and versatile eCommerce solutions. Enter Shopify 2.0.

Shopify 2.0, also known as Shopify Online Store 2.0, is an upgraded version of the platform. It brings a host of new features and improvements that aim to enhance the user experience and offer more customization options. It boasts a more flexible and dynamic theme architecture, more powerful product and store management tools, and better integration options.

Why Should You Upgrade to Shopify 2.0?

Upgrading to Shopify 2.0 comes with a plethora of benefits:

1. Enhanced Customization: Shopify 2.0 offers more flexibility when it comes to customizing your online store. This includes the ability to modify all aspects of your website without having to mess with the code.
2. Improved User Experience: Shopify 2.0 is designed to enhance the user experience, with faster load times, better navigation, and a more intuitive interface.
3. New Features: Shopify 2.0 introduces several new features such as sections and blocks, which give you more control over the layout and design of your store.

Migrating process from Shopify 1.0 to Shopify 2.0

Now, let’s talk about how you can transition your store from Shopify 1.0 to Shopify 2.0.

Option 1: Downloading an Online Store 2.0 Theme from the Shopify Store

The first option in migrating your store to Shopify 2.0 is to download a compatible theme. Shopify 2.0 has a variety of themes available in its theme store that are specifically designed for the new platform.

1. Go to the Shopify Theme Store and filter the themes by “Online Store 2.0”.
2. Review the themes and select one that aligns with your brand and business needs.
3. Click “Add theme” to download and install the theme to your Shopify store.

Option 2: Add a New Version of Your Current Theme to Your Store

You can add a new version of your current theme to your store. This is to ensure that your store’s current look and feel are preserved while you make the transition to Shopify 2.0.

Option 3: A Comprehensive Guide to Upgrade Your Theme to Shopify 2.0

Install the Required Software

Before starting the migration, you’ll need to install some tools that will help in the process:

1. Theme Kit: This is a command-line tool that allows you to download, upload, and watch for changes in your Shopify themes. You can download it from the official Theme Kit page.
2. Git: This is a version control system that you’ll use to manage your theme code. It will help you keep track of the changes you make during the migration process. Download and install it from the official Git website.
3. A text editor: You’ll need a text editor to modify your theme code. Some popular options include Sublime Text, Atom, and Visual Studio Code.

Migrate Your Theme Code

Now that you have the necessary software installed, you can begin the process of upgrading your theme code to Shopify 2.0.

1. Backup Your Theme: Before making any changes, go to “Online Store > Themes” in your Shopify admin, click on “Actions > Duplicate” to create a backup of your live theme.
2. Download Your Theme Code: Using Theme Kit, you can download your theme code to your local machine. Open your command line, navigate to your desired directory, and run the following command:

   theme get –password=[your-api-password] –store=[your-store.myshopify.com] –themeid=[your-theme-id]

   Replace the placeholders with your actual API password, store URL, and theme ID.

3. Initialize a Git Repository: Navigate to your theme directory in your command line, and run ‘git init’ to initialize a new Git repository. This will allow you to track changes to your theme code.
4. Update Your Theme Files: Shopify 2.0 introduces several new files and folders. You will need to update your theme files accordingly. This includes updating your ‘theme.liquid’ file, adding a ‘settings_data.json’ file, and creating new ‘sections’ and ‘templates’ directories.
5. Test Your Changes: Use Theme Kit’s ‘theme watch’ command to upload your changes to your Shopify store and preview them. If you notice any issues, you can use Git to revert your changes.
6. Commit Your Changes: Once you’re satisfied with your changes, use Git to commit them. Run ‘git add .’ to stage your changes, and then ‘git commit -m “Migrated to Shopify 2.0”’ to commit them.
7. Upload Your Theme: Finally, use Theme Kit’s ‘theme deploy’ command to upload your updated theme to your Shopify store.

Finalize Your Upgrade

Once you’ve updated and uploaded your theme, you can finalize your upgrade:

1. Navigate to “Online Store > Themes” in your Shopify admin.
2. Click on “Actions > Preview” on your newly updated theme to see how your store looks.
3. If everything looks good, click “Actions > Publish” to make your new 2.0 theme live.

Upgrading to Shopify 2.0 can provide your business with a wealth of new opportunities and features to enhance your eCommerce experience. While the migration process may seem daunting, with careful planning and execution, you can make the transition smoothly and efficiently.

However, should you need professional help, MarbGroup Digital Commerce is here to assist. Our team of experts specializes in providing customized Shopify solutions, including hassle-free migration to Shopify 2.0. With us, you can focus on running your business while we take care of the technical details.

Why not book a free appointment with our team of experts today? We can guide you through the upgrade process, answer any questions you may have, and ensure your transition to Shopify 2.0 is seamless. Schedule your free consultation now.

Take the step today to upgrade your eCommerce experience. Let MarbGroup Digital Commerce be your trusted partner in navigating the digital landscape.