Product lists are the bridge between research and action. They let you curate products from multiple sources, customize them for your store, and export Shopify-ready CSV files. This comprehensive guide walks you through the complete list curation workflow.

Understanding Product Lists

In ShopifyMate, a list is a custom collection of products that you curate from your scraped stores. Unlike store-based views, lists can contain products from any source, organized however you prefer.

What Makes Lists Powerful

• Cross-store aggregation - Products from any store in one list
• Independent editing - Changes don't affect original store data
• Bulk operations - Edit, categorize, and export in batch
• Purpose-driven organization - Create lists for specific goals

The Complete List Workflow

1. Create

2. Curate

3. Edit

4. Export

Step 1: Creating a List

Start by creating a new list with a clear purpose:

Navigate to Lists in the main menu
Click "Create List"
Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Summer 2025 Collection")
Optionally add a description for context
Click "Create"

List Naming Best Practices

✅ Be specific: "Q1 Import Batch" not just "Products"
✅ Include purpose: "Price Comparison - Hoodies"
✅ Add dates for time-sensitive lists: "Black Friday 2025"
✅ Use prefixes for organization: "EXPORT - Winter Jackets"

Step 2: Curating Products

Add products to your list from the Catalog:

Individual Selection

Browse products in the Catalog
Click the "Add to List" button on any product
Select your target list from the dropdown
Product is added instantly

Bulk Selection

Use filters to narrow down products
Check the boxes for products you want
Use "Select All" for visible products
Click "Add to List" in the bulk actions bar
Choose your list and confirm

💡 Pro Tip: Filter First

Before adding products to a list, use filters to narrow down exactly what you want. Filter by store, vendor, product type, or price range. Then use "Select All" to add the filtered results in one action.

Step 3: Editing List Products

Once products are in your list, you can customize them without affecting the original store data:

Available Edits

Title - Rename products for your brand
Price - Set your selling price
Compare At Price - Set sale/original price
Vendor - Change to your brand name
Product Type - Recategorize products
Tags - Add your own tags
Description - Rewrite product descriptions

Bulk Editing

For efficiency, use bulk editing for common changes:

Select multiple products
Apply the same vendor to all selected
Add tags in bulk
Change product type for all selected

Step 4: Exporting to CSV

When your list is ready, export it for Shopify import:

Open your list
Review all products one final time
Click the "Export" button
Download the generated CSV file
Import into Shopify via Products → Import

Export Format

The exported CSV matches Shopify's import format exactly:

• Handle (URL-friendly product ID)
• Title, Body (HTML), Vendor, Type, Tags
• Variant Price, Compare At Price, SKU
• Image Src (product image URLs)
• Status (active/draft)

List Organization Strategies

By Purpose

Import Lists

Products ready for your store. Fully edited, priced, and categorized.

Research Lists

Products you're evaluating. Not yet ready for import.

Comparison Lists

Similar products from different sources for analysis.

Archive Lists

Past imports or products you may revisit later.

By Theme

Create lists around product themes:

"Summer Collection 2025"
"Holiday Gift Guide"
"Bestsellers to Clone"
"Under $20 Products"

Common Workflow Examples

Dropshipping Product Selection

1. Scrape 5 supplier stores
2. Filter for products with good margins
3. Add promising products to "Evaluation List"
4. Review, edit prices with markup
5. Move winners to "Import Batch 1" list
6. Edit vendor, tags, descriptions
7. Export and import to store

Competitor Product Mirroring

1. Scrape competitor's bestseller collection
2. Add all products to "Competitor Analysis" list
3. Analyze pricing and positioning
4. Select products to replicate
5. Create "My Version" list
6. Customize titles, descriptions, pricing
7. Export for your store

Managing Multiple Lists

As your research grows, you'll have multiple lists. Keep them organized:

Use clear naming conventions - EXPORT-, RESEARCH-, ARCHIVE-
Delete empty or obsolete lists - Keep the list view clean
Review lists periodically - Archive or delete stale lists
Document your workflow - Know which lists serve which purpose

Conclusion

Product lists are the key to organized, efficient product research and import workflows. By curating products from multiple sources, editing them for your brand, and exporting clean Shopify-ready CSV files, you streamline the entire product launch process.

Master the list workflow and you'll save hours on every product batch you import to your store.

Building Product Lists for Export: Complete Curation Workflow