Product Viewing Before Launch

[yaelifineart]

Hello, I’m planning a collection launch on my Shopify store soon, similar to a "merch drop." I want my customers to be able to view the products online—see the specs and descriptions—but I don't want them to be able to add them to their cart or check out until the official launch day and time. I also have other products on my site that I want to remain active and available for checkout through this process.

Are there any apps that can block customers from adding products to their cart before the launch date?

[DaisyVo]

Hi @yaelifineart 

Yes, there are apps and methods in Shopify that can help you control how your upcoming collection is displayed while restricting customers from adding items to their cart until the official launch. Here's how you can manage this effectively:

Option 1: Use a Shopify App

Several apps are designed for situations like yours, allowing you to set up "view-only" product pages. Here are some reliable options:

1. Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software
   This app lets you display products as "coming soon" with a countdown timer and blocks the add-to-cart button until your specified launch date and time. It’s easy to configure and perfect for collection launches.
2. PreProduct Next
   While primarily used for pre-orders, this app allows you to showcase your upcoming collection without enabling purchases until you manually or automatically activate them.
3. Product Scheduler by Aperitive
   This app helps schedule product visibility and purchase availability. You can set specific launch times when the "add to cart" button becomes active.

Option 2: Manual Customization

If you prefer not to use an app, you can achieve this with some basic theme code adjustments:

1-Create a Product Tag for "Coming Soon" Items

• Go to Products in your Shopify admin and add a tag like coming-soon to the relevant products.

Modify the Theme Code Add a condition to your product page's liquid code to hide or disable the "add to cart" button for tagged products. Here's an example code snippet:

{% if product.tags contains 'coming-soon' %}

   <button class="btn" disabled>Coming Soon</button>

{% else %}

   <button class="btn" type="submit">Add to Cart</button>

{% endif %}

2-This ensures that "coming soon" items are visible but cannot be purchased until you remove the tag.

3-Add a Countdown Timer (Optional)
You can integrate a countdown timer for extra excitement. Apps like Ultimate Sales Boost or Countdown Timer by POWR make this simple to set up.

My Recommendation

If you’re not comfortable with coding or don’t want to risk breaking your theme, I suggest going with Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software. It’s straightforward, beginner-friendly, and aligns perfectly with what you need for your launch.

Let me know if you’d like step-by-step instructions for any of these methods!
If you need any other assistance, feel free to reply and I will try my best to respond.
Best regards,
Daisy