Shopify Collections Best Practises: Sell More in 2025

In the world of eCommerce, especially as we roll into the Black Monday (nowadays for the whole November..) and the holiday season of 2025, organizing your products well is just as important as the products themselves. Shopify collections are a powerful way to group items together so customers can find what they’re looking for faster – and buy more while they’re at it. But just tossing products into a category won’t cut it anymore. To really boost sales, you need to follow a few smart strategies that go beyond the basics. Let’s dig into the Shopify collections best practises that can help you sell more this year and beyond..

What is a shopify collection and what are collections used for in shopify

A Shopify collection is simply a way to group related products together. You might have a collection for “Winter Jackets,” “Gifts Under $50,” or “Best Sellers.” Customers land on these pages and see only the products that match the theme or criteria you’ve set.

There are two types of collections in Shopify:

• Manual collections – where you hand-pick the products
• Automated collections – where products are added based on conditions like tags, price, or type

Both have their place. Manual collections work well for tight, curated groups. Automated ones are great for efficiency and keeping things fresh.

The most common ways to do the grouping are with tags (read our article here), vendors, prices or product types. For example, if you have some products tagged with “summer-sale-2025” you can then group them together to create a collection and show the Summer Sale 2025 collection on your site. As simple as that.

Those collections can and should also be used to create your product hierarchy (women -> jackets -> winter jackets). Having a well planned and executed product hierarchy is a must if have a lot of products that can be divided into categories. This is a separate topic which we’ve covered in this post.

Why collections matter in 2025

Customer attention spans are short. If your store doesn’t guide them toward what they want, they’ll bounce. Collections simplify the browsing process. Instead of scrolling endlessly through a huge catalog of random items, shoppers land on a page that makes sense to them. That’s the difference between “just looking” and “checking out.”

More importantly, Shopify is constantly evolving, and the tools available to merchants keep getting smarter. If you aren’t using collections the right way, you’re leaving money on the table.

Shopify collections best practises

Here’s where things get interesting. These tips will help you build collections that not only look good but actually drive conversions. By understanding why are collections used for in Shopify you will be much more likely to create the types of collections (and thus, categories) that your potential clients are looking for and increase sales and conversion. And the customers get what they needed.

1. Create collections based on customer intent

Don’t just create categories based on what you sell. Think about how people shop. “Summer Travel Essentials” is way more compelling than just “Bags and Accessories.” Seasonal, lifestyle-based, or problem-solving collections convert better because they speak directly to a need or desire.

2. Use automated collections to stay updated

Manually adding and removing products is a pain, especially if your inventory changes often. Automated collections are your friend here. Use product tags, types, vendors, or price to automatically sort items into the right buckets. This keeps your collections fresh without lifting a finger.

3. Keep your collection pages clean and visual

People don’t want to read walls of text when shopping. Your collection pages should be light, visual, and scannable. Use high-quality images, clear pricing, and if possible, highlight things like free shipping or best sellers directly on the product thumbnails.

Also – don’t crowd the page. Showing too many items at once can be overwhelming. Stick to 20-40 products per collection page max.

4. Write unique collection descriptions

This is one of the most overlooked SEO wins. A good collection description helps your page rank on Google, explains what the collection is about, and adds some personality to your brand. Keep it short, but don’t just copy/paste a generic sentence.

Here’s a trick: write your collection description like you’re talking to one person who needs exactly what you’re selling. Make it feel natural, not robotic. SEO isn’t about keyword stuffing anymore.

Find the best performing collections

Shopify native reports only show which product belongs to which collection. If you want to see how each collection as a whole sells, install Portfolytics and with zero setup you will be able to easily see the collection sales and other KPIs. Remember that we have a 30-day free trial.

5. Highlight collections in your navigation and homepage

No one will click into a collection if they can’t find it. Feature your top-performing or seasonal collections right in your main nav menu or homepage banner. Use bold, action-driven language like “Shop Fall Essentials” or “Explore Eco-Friendly Picks.”

You’re not just helping customers find what they need – you’re steering them toward what you want to sell.

6. Use a Shopify collection app to add smart features

Sometimes Shopify’s native collection features aren’t enough, especially if you want filters, dynamic sorting, or advanced layouts. That’s where a Shopify collection app comes in.

There are plenty of Shopify collection app options to start with, and many offer upgrade paths as you grow. Look for apps that:

• Let users filter by size, color, price, etc.
• Offer custom sort orders (e.g. best selling first)
• Allow drag-and-drop product reordering
• Improve mobile navigation

Some popular ones to check out: Collection Sort & Category |KX, Power Tools Filter Menu, and Boost AI Search & Filter. Always read reviews and test a few to see what fits your store best.

7. Promote collections in marketing and ads

Don’t just send people to your homepage. If you’re running email campaigns, social media posts, or paid ads, link directly to specific collections. It feels more intentional and gives people a place to shop right away instead of wandering around your site.

If you’re pushing “Gifts for Runners” in your ad, don’t link to your shoe category – send them to a curated gift collection with shoes, accessories, and water bottles. It’s subtle, but it works.

8. Analyze what collections perform best

This part is simple but crucial: check your analytics. Look at which collections drive the most traffic, have the highest conversion rates, and keep people on the page longer. Double down on what works. Retire or improve what doesn’t.

Try using tools like Shopify’s built-in analytics or Google Analytics to monitor behavior and adjust your strategy over time. Bear in mind that the Shopify native reports only show which product belongs to which collection.

If you want to see how each collection as a whole sells, install Portfolytics and with zero setup you will be able to easily see the collection sales and other KPIs. Remember that we have a 30-day free trial.

Bonus: make mobile a priority

In 2025, mobile shopping is dominating. Your collections need to load fast, scroll easily, and work flawlessly on phones. Check how your collections display on a small screen and make sure filters, images, and buttons are all tap-friendly.

Sometimes themes look perfect on desktop but messy on mobile. Don’t assume – always test.

Final thoughts

Shopify collections aren’t just a way to organize your products. When done right by following these Shopify collections best practises, they guide your customers, boost your SEO, and most importantly, increase your sales. In 2025, it’s not about having more collections – it’s about building smarter ones. Focus on customer intent, make things easy to browse, use the right tools, and stay flexible. That’s the real secret to selling more.