Big Cartel is a popular eCommerce platform designed for artists, makers, and small-scale sellers. Its simplicity and affordability make it ideal for getting started — but as your business grows, you may find it limiting. That’s where Big Cartel migration comes in.

Whether you're looking for more advanced features, better customization, or scalable performance, migrating from Big Cartel to another eCommerce platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce can be a game-changing decision. In this guide, we’ll explore why and how to migrate from Big Cartel, the challenges involved, and how to make the transition smooth with the help of tools like Cart2Cart.

Why Migrate from Big Cartel?

1. Limited Features for Growth
Big Cartel keeps things simple — but sometimes too simple. Features like advanced inventory control, automated marketing, and multi-channel selling are minimal or missing altogether.

2. Better Customization on Other Platforms
Platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify offer far more design flexibility, themes, and integrations, allowing you to truly tailor your store to your brand.

3. Scalability
As your product catalog, customer base, and sales volume grow, Big Cartel may struggle to keep up. Other platforms provide robust infrastructure for high-volume operations.

4. Third-Party Integrations
Many business owners migrate to access a wider range of apps, tools, and integrations — from accounting and CRM to fulfillment and dropshipping.

Common Big Cartel Migration Destinations

  • Shopify: Popular for its user-friendly interface and rich app ecosystem.

  • WooCommerce: A powerful, flexible solution for WordPress users.

  • BigCommerce: Ideal for growing businesses needing more advanced features.

  • Squarespace or Wix eCommerce: Suitable for creative sellers who want visual design freedom.

Challenges of Big Cartel Migration

1. Data Limitations
Big Cartel does not provide native export options for all types of data. Manual exports may be limited to product info, requiring third-party tools for customer and order data.

2. SEO Considerations
Changing your platform could impact your URLs, metadata, and rankings if not managed carefully.

3. Theme Rebuilding
Big Cartel themes are not portable. You'll need to choose or build a new theme on your target platform.

4. Risk of Downtime or Errors
Any store migration runs the risk of disruptions. Without proper planning, you could lose sales or confuse customers.

How to Migrate from Big Cartel Successfully

1. Backup Your Current Store Data

While Big Cartel doesn’t offer full data export tools, be sure to save all product information, images, and customer communications manually or through available reports.

2. Choose a Destination Platform

Identify your business needs (scalability, budget, control, features) and pick the platform that aligns best.

3. Use a Tool Like Cart2Cart for Automated Migration

Cart2Cart supports Big Cartel migration to platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and more. It automates the transfer of:

  • Products (with variants and images)

  • Categories

  • Customers

  • Orders

  • SEO data (where possible)

A demo migration lets you preview how your data will appear in the new store.

4. Rebuild Your Theme and Customize Your Store

Install a new theme on your target platform, replicate your branding, and reconfigure key pages like homepage, product pages, and checkout.

5. Test Everything

Verify data accuracy, test the checkout process, ensure payment and shipping methods work, and check mobile responsiveness.

6. Go Live and Monitor

Once you’re confident everything works, point your domain to the new store. Monitor traffic, performance, and customer feedback closely in the first few weeks.

Benefits of Using Cart2Cart for Big Cartel Migration

  • Quick Setup: Migrate data in a few clicks — no coding required.

  • Secure: Data is transferred via encrypted channels, minimizing risk.

  • Supports Many Platforms: Seamlessly migrate from Big Cartel to Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and more.

  • Minimizes Downtime: Keep your current store running while you migrate.

Best Practices for Big Cartel Migration

  • Perform a demo migration to preview results and fix mapping issues.

  • Time the migration during off-peak hours or sales lulls.

  • Notify customers of any temporary service interruptions.

  • Set up 301 redirects to preserve SEO and avoid broken links.

  • Keep a backup of your Big Cartel data until everything is confirmed.

Conclusion

Outgrowing Big Cartel is a sign your business is ready for bigger and better things. With the right tools and preparation, your Big Cartel migration can be a seamless move that opens the door to more features, better performance, and greater growth potential. Services like Cart2Cart can take the complexity out of the process, helping you switch platforms without losing precious data — or sleep.