I’m currently using Supply Theme version 2.0.5 and need to update to the latest (9.5.3)… wow, it looks like it will take a ton of work to update the look. Is there an easy way to do this? Everything in 9.5.3 appears to need to be re-done from scratch if I update it. What are the pros and cons of updating? What would it cost to have someone do this for me?
Hi there!
I just took care of a theme update for one of my clients, they use Out of the Sandbox’s / Turbo Theme. We have a number of custom features on the site and it required about 10 hours of development time with testing and troubleshooting included.
However, an update to 2.0.5 is significant and I think it would be worth just looking at the approach of just starting from scratch in a fresh theme. Don’t worry…it’s not as bad as it sounds. Have you customized your theme significantly and if so, do you want to migrate those customizations to the updated theme?
Greetings, @Renee_Harris .
Thank you for reaching out and posting this question!
The latest version of the Supply theme uses a different theme structure, so updating the theme will require you to start over with the customizations in the Theme editor. While some of the contents (eg. navigation, collections, pages, blogs, etc.) won’t need to be recreated, you will need to reinstall any third-party app coding that was manually installed to your theme’s code. Updating your theme can be a complex process, so we’d recommend considering whether your current theme meets your needs before deciding to update your theme or move to a new theme. If you need help with updating your theme, then please take a look at our guide here: Updating themes.
The easiest way to update your theme would be to install it from the Shopify Theme Store. As previously mentioned, this method will require redoing the customizations in the Theme editor and reinstalling any third-party coding. Alternatively, you can also upgrade to Online Store 2.0 by manually migrating your theme using our developer’s guide, Shopify .dev - Online Store 2.0. However, this method will require you to have an understanding of coding languages (eg. HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Liquid) and if this is something you’re not comfortable with, then we’d encourage you to consider hiring a developer to help with updating your theme. Though I can’t say for sure what the cost would be for this task, Shopify Experts is a great place to look for a certified developer in your area/region if you need help finding one for your store and they’ll be able to give you a quote for the task.
That being said, since the Supply theme is a vintage theme and will be sunset in the near future, we don’t have release notes that can help breakdown each of the versions. While we will continue to support merchants using the Supply theme, the scope of support for vintage themes may be more limited down the road. To better understand the pros and cons between your current version and the latest version, we’d recommend installing a new copy of the Supply theme as an unpublished theme on your store. This way, you can get a feel for the latest version, see if you’re missing anything, and decide whether or not your current version meets your needs.
I can see that you’re a new member of our Shopify Community! After you’ve decided on whether to update the theme or not, I’d love to hear more about your experience so far and share some resources to help you get started!