hello @fcapatina
When referring to "Collections within Collections" in Shopify, it generally means organizing products into hierarchical groupings for better navigation and structure within your online store.
While Shopify doesn’t natively support nested collections (or collections within collections) as a direct feature, there are several ways to achieve similar functionality to help organize your products and improve your store's user experience.
What are Shopify Collections?
Collections in Shopify are groups of products organized by a common theme, category, or feature. For example:
- Seasonal Collections like Summer or Winter
- Product Type Collections like Jackets, Pants, Shoes
- Brand Collections for showcasing specific brands
- Sale or Discount Collections
How to Mimic Collections Within Collections in Shopify
Since Shopify doesn’t support a hierarchical structure for collections by default (like subcategories), you can create the illusion of “collections within collections” by using several methods:
1. Tag-Based Filtering (Smart Collections):
You can use tags to filter products within a collection, essentially acting as sub-collections.
- Create a collection, e.g., "Winter Clothing."
- Tag products within that collection with relevant tags like “Jackets,” “Scarves,” or “Boots.”
- Use Shopify’s filtering options to allow customers to drill down into the collection using these tags. This helps them find exactly what they’re looking for within the broader collection.
2. Manual Collection Pages:
Another way to create a hierarchy is by manually organizing collections on a custom page. You can create a landing page with links to specific collections, simulating "sub-collections."
For example:
- Create a main page called "Men’s Clothing."
- Add links to different collections such as "Men's Shirts," "Men's Pants," "Men's Accessories."
- This allows users to browse through multiple categories under one larger category.
3. Using Shopify Menu & Navigation:
You can set up a multi-level menu in your Shopify store to create a nested navigation experience:
- Go to Online Store > Navigation in your Shopify admin.
- Create a Main Menu item, e.g., "Clothing."
- Under this item, add links to different collections like "Men's Clothing" and "Women's Clothing."
- Inside those, you can link to subcategories like "Shirts," "Jackets," or "Shoes," giving the feel of collections within collections.
4. Custom Themes or Apps:
Some Shopify themes and third-party apps allow you to extend the functionality of your store and introduce nested collections:
- Look for themes that support advanced collection layouts.
- Explore apps like Power Tools Filter Menu or Shopify’s Sub Collections App that provide advanced collection filtering, sub-collections, or nested collection functionality.
Benefits of Organizing Collections in Shopify
- Improved Customer Experience: With better product organization, your customers can easily find the items they’re interested in, leading to a smoother shopping experience.
- SEO Benefits: When products are categorized logically, it can also improve your search engine rankings by making your site easier to crawl.
- Increased Sales: Simplified navigation can encourage customers to explore more products, leading to higher sales.
Example Use Case
Let’s say you run a fashion store:
- You create a "Clothing" collection.
- Within this, you tag products or link collections like "Men’s Clothing," "Women’s Clothing," and "Kids' Clothing."
- Inside each of these, you can further categorize products like "Shirts," "Pants," "Jackets," etc., using tags or navigation menus.
Final Tips
- Smart Collections are great for dynamically grouping products based on conditions.
- Use manual collection pages and links in your menus to simulate hierarchical structures.
- Explore third-party apps for advanced filtering and better collection organization.
Would you like help setting up collections or advice on specific Shopify apps for managing them?
