If you plan to migrate from etsy to shopify uk, this checklist will help you assess the work involved, common pitfalls and whether to handle the move yourself or brief an agency. Expect a few days for a simple shop and several weeks if you need bespoke design, custom CSV mapping or stock reorganisation. Typical costs vary by complexity — design, apps and developer time are the main variables.

Why move from Etsy to your own Shopify store?

Moving off a marketplace gives you more control over branding, pricing and customer data. However, Etsy offers built‑in traffic and low setup effort. Consider the trade-offs below to decide whether to migrate, stay on Etsy or run both channels.

advantages and trade-offs: control, fees, discoverability

Control: Your store layout, checkout and email capture are fully customisable on Shopify.
Fees: Shopify has subscription and transaction costs, while Etsy charges listing and transaction fees — compare total costs before moving.
Discoverability: Etsy’s marketplace brings organic shoppers; you’ll need SEO, email marketing and social ads to replace that traffic.

when to stay on Etsy or run both channels

Keep Etsy if you rely on its traffic or have limited marketing resources. Running both channels is common: maintain high‑volume listings on Etsy while driving repeat customers to Shopify via packs, discounts or subscription offers.

key UK considerations: VAT, business details and payment options

UK sellers must configure VAT correctly on Shopify and keep compliant invoices for customers. Also consider which payment gateways you want to offer — Shopify Payments, Stripe and PayPal are common options in the UK. Get professional advice if you are unsure about VAT thresholds and invoicing requirements.

Pre-migration checklist (what to prepare before you begin)

Good preparation prevents data loss and launch delays. The items below are the pre-flight checks to complete before exporting anything from Etsy.

business and legal: VAT, company details and seller information

Confirm your VAT registration status and the VAT number to display on invoices.
Prepare business address, contact email and full company name for the store footer and legal pages.

inventory audit: SKUs, stock counts and discontinued items

Export current stock quantities and assign stable SKUs where missing.
Identify discontinued or seasonal listings to avoid importing obsolete data.

export customer and order data (what Etsy allows and alternatives)

Export your customer list and order history from Etsy. Etsy provides CSV exports for orders and listings but has limits; consider apps or manual exports for extra fields. Use the customer list to build an email audience before launch.

gather brand assets: logo, fonts, product photography and packaging

Collect high‑resolution logos, brand colours, typography files and packaged photography. Consistent assets speed up theme customisation and product page design.

SEO and content inventory: product descriptions, tags and high-performing listings

Identify your best‑performing listings (traffic and sales) and save their titles, tags and descriptions.
Decide which content needs rewriting for Shopify URLs and search engines.

How to migrate from etsy to shopify uk: Step-by-step migration process

exporting data from Etsy: CSVs, photos and reviews (what you can export)

Start by exporting listings and orders as CSVs from your Etsy shop. Download product images in the highest available resolution. Note that transferring reviews is not always supported directly; review migration often uses third‑party apps.

importing into Shopify: CSV mapping, required fields and common mapping issues

Shopify accepts a specific CSV format. Common issues include mismatched column names, missing handles (URLs) and variant formatting. Clean your Etsy CSV: ensure SKUs, prices and stock columns are present and map Etsy tags to Shopify collections or tags.

image handling and optimisation: file names, alt text and sizes

Rename image files to include product keywords (avoid spaces) and upload in JPG or WebP where possible.
Add descriptive alt text for accessibility and SEO.
Keep file sizes moderate to protect page speed — Shopify themes benefit from images optimised for 800–1600px where appropriate.

variants, SKUs and pricing: consolidating options and preserving stock levels

Map Etsy variations to Shopify variant fields carefully. Shopify requires variant SKUs and inventory policies for each variant to preserve stock counts. If you change product structure (for example, splitting a multi‑option listing), keep a record to reconcile orders.

handling reviews and social proof: options and limitations

Reviews often do not transfer automatically. Review migration apps exist but may have costs and limitations. Alternatively, display selected testimonials manually or ask recent customers to leave reviews on your new site.

Design and branding checklist for your Shopify store

A consistent, conversion‑focused design helps customers trust your brand immediately after leaving Etsy.

choose a theme that suits your product range and mobile shoppers

Pick a theme built for ecommerce and mobile. Prioritise product galleries, easy navigation and fast checkout. If you want a tailored approach, discuss a custom build with a specialist.

If you need professional help creating a conversion‑focused Shopify theme, we offer dedicated Shopify web design services.

ensure consistent branding: logo, colour palette and typography

Apply your logo, colours and fonts across the site, packaging pages and emails. If your logo needs refreshing for the new store, consider a new design — our Custom logo design service can help.

product page layout: images, descriptions, bullet points and CTAs

Use a clear product title, concise bullets for key features, a descriptive paragraph and a visible call to action. Include shipping info and a short returns summary near the price to reduce friction.

consider a custom Shopify web design for growth-stage shops

When you plan expansion, a custom design or functions such as wholesale pricing are worth the investment. For sellers moving into B2B or wholesale, our B2B web design experience can be relevant.

Product listings and SEO: how to avoid traffic loss

optimising titles, meta descriptions and URLs

Rewrite titles to match search intent on Google rather than Etsy’s internal search. Create concise meta descriptions and set clean URLs (handles) that reflect product keywords.

using tags and collections to replace Etsy categories

Shopify uses tags and collections. Map Etsy tags to Shopify tags and create collections to group similar products. This improves navigation and internal linking for SEO.

mobile-first product pages and quick-loading images

Ensure pages are responsive and images are optimised for speed. Our Responsive web design guidance and the mobile-first product page checklist will help refine product templates for conversions.

setting up 301 redirects and handling Etsy listing URLs

Shopify allows 301 redirects. If you have indexed URLs or shared Etsy URLs elsewhere, set redirects where possible. You cannot redirect Etsy domains, but you can update links in your profiles and marketing materials and notify customers of the new store.

For assistance with product page layout and conversion optimisation see our E-commerce store design services.

Payments, shipping and legal setup for UK sellers

choosing payment gateways and UK card processing notes

Enable payment gateways that support UK merchants and currency. Shopify Payments is an option for many businesses; alternatives include Stripe and PayPal. Check fees and dispute handling before committing.

shipping profiles, carriers and reliable fulfilment workflows

Create shipping profiles per product type, set rates for the UK and international zones, and consider tracked services for higher‑value items. If you use fulfilment partners, test label printing and order fulfilment in advance.

tax settings, VAT and invoicing considerations

Configure Shopify tax settings to collect VAT where necessary and ensure your invoices include required business details. Seek professional tax advice for VAT thresholds and overseas sales.

privacy, returns and terms pages (GDPR and consumer rights)

Publish clear privacy, returns and terms pages that satisfy GDPR and UK consumer rights. State your returns window, who pays return postage and how customer data is used.

Testing, launch and post-launch checklist

pre-launch testing: checkout, discount codes, mobile and performance

Place test orders through the live checkout and confirm tax and shipping calculations.
Test discount codes, gift cards and abandoned checkout emails.
Check mobile layout, page speed and image loading across devices.

DNS, domain setup and emailing customers about the move

Point your domain to Shopify and set up email forwarding. Notify your customer list about the move with incentives to visit the new shop.

post-launch monitoring: analytics, orders and customer enquiries

Monitor orders closely for the first few days and review analytics to see how traffic sources are converting. Be ready to respond to customer queries quickly to retain trust.

marketing on launch: email list, social, and paid campaigns

Run a launch campaign: email your customer list, announce on social channels, and consider a small paid campaign to replace marketplace visibility.

Working with an agency: when to brief help and what to expect

Agencies can manage CSV mapping, theme customisation, SEO migration and staff training. Typical deliverables include a migration plan, completed imports, tested checkout and documentation.

tasks agencies typically handle during Shopify migrations

Data cleaning and CSV mapping.
Theme customisation and responsive testing.
301 redirects and SEO checks.
Staff training and handover documentation.

what to include in a brief and required access

Provide an inventory CSV, image files, access to Etsy and Shopify admin, payment account details and a clear list of priorities. For sellers who also run WordPress sites, our WordPress web design experience can support integrated multi-channel projects.

handover checklist: training, documentation and support period

Request admin training, written step-by-step documentation and a defined support period after launch so you can make edits confidently.

For an example brief and handover checklist, see our article on how to brief an agency for a WordPress to Shopify migration.

Appendix: downloadable checklist and CSV field mapping examples

Below are concise examples to reduce errors during import.

two-page printable migration checklist

Export listings, orders and customers from Etsy.
Audit and assign SKUs.
Gather high‑res images and alt text.
Prepare VAT, shipping profiles and payment gateways.
Import CSV to Shopify, then test 5 representative orders.
Set 301 redirects and announce launch.

example Shopify CSV columns and how Etsy fields map to them

Common Shopify columns: Handle, Title, Body (HTML), Vendor, Type, Tags, Published, Option1 Name, Option1 Value, Variant SKU, Variant Price, Variant Inventory Qty, Image Src. Map Etsy title to Title, description to Body (HTML), Etsy tags to Tags, and link local image file paths to Image Src.

FAQ

How long does it typically take to migrate from Etsy to Shopify for a small UK shop?
For a straightforward shop with under 100 listings, expect a few days to one week. More complex shops with custom themes, many variants or bespoke integrations can take several weeks.
Will I be able to migrate my Etsy reviews to Shopify?
Reviews don’t always transfer natively. Some third‑party apps can import reviews but they may require manual work or costs. You can also showcase select testimonials manually on product pages.
Do I need to keep my Etsy shop open after launching my Shopify store?
Not necessarily. Many sellers keep Etsy running while they redirect customers to the new store. Consider keeping your top listings live while you build Shopify traffic.
Can I transfer product images and variants automatically from Etsy to Shopify?
Images and variants can be exported from Etsy and imported to Shopify, but expect to clean file names, assign alt text and check variant mappings to preserve stock levels.
What UK-specific things do I need to check (VAT, payments, shipping) when I move to Shopify?
Check VAT registration and invoicing requirements, choose UK-compatible payment gateways and configure shipping profiles for UK and international zones. Seek professional tax advice where necessary.

Request a free consultation with Logo Metic to discuss a migration plan or a custom Shopify design — we can advise on CSV mapping, brand consistency and launch support. Visit our Shopify web design page to start the conversation.