Step-by-Step: Effortless Setup for Your Big Cartel Website

Creating an online store is a crucial step for small business owners and artists who aim to enhance their market presence. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 2.7 billion people engage in e-commerce, and this figure is expected to soar in the coming years. As a result, tapping into this growing consumer base and expanding your business through online sales has never been more important. If you’re seeking a platform to establish your e-commerce presence, Big Cartel is an excellent choice. It provides an intuitive interface designed to simplify the process, particularly for artists wanting to showcase and sell their artwork without the hassle of complex setups. However, building a successful Big Cartel store involves more than just listing products; it requires careful attention to branding, design, and user experience.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the key steps to set up your online store effectively. Ready to start? Let’s dive in and transform your vision into a thriving online business!

1. What is Big Cartel?

Big Cartel is a specialized online marketplace designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs looking to sell their products effortlessly. Tailored for small business owners, this platform streamlines the process of building an e-commerce website, eliminating unnecessary complexities. One of its key benefits is its user-friendly interface, which allows you to customize your store with unique themes and manage multiple products at no cost. As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your plan, ensuring seamless scalability and flexibility.

What sets Big Cartel apart is its commitment to fostering a supportive community and providing valuable resources to creatives striving to make their mark in a competitive market. This focus on ease, affordability, and a nurturing environment has made Big Cartel a favored choice for those looking to showcase a diverse range of creative products.

2. Essential Features of Big Cartel

Big Cartel provides a comprehensive suite of features that streamline the setup and management of an online store, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and independent creators. Its user-friendly interface allows for quick and easy store creation without the need for advanced technicayou tailor the appearance of your shop to match your brand’s unique identity.

Additionally, Big Cartel offers simple inventory management tools, allowing you to effortlessly track and manage your products.l skills. Key features include customizable store templates, which let  The platform supports various payment gateways, ensuring that transactions are smooth and secure. With built-in SEO tools, you can enhance your store’s visibility in search engines, driving more traffic to your site.

Furthermore, Big Cartel provides detailed analytics to monitor your store’s performance, helping you make informed business decisions. For those looking to expand their reach, the platform integrates with social media channels, enabling easy promotion of your products.

Overall, Big Cartel’s feature set is designed to support and grow your online business efficiently, catering specifically to the needs of small-scale entrepreneurs and creative professionals.

3. Big Cartel Website Setup Guide

Here is a step-by-step process to set up your Big cartel website easily, without any stress.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Big Cartel Account

1. Visit the Big Cartel Website:

First, navigate to the official Big Cartel website at bigcartel.com. You’ll see a button labeled “Open Your Shop” prominently on the homepage. Click on it to start the registration process.

2. Select a Pricing Plan:

Once you click on “Open Your Shop”, you’ll be redirected to the pricing section. Big Cartel offers different pricing plans, each with various features:

• Free Plan: You can list up to 5 products, ideal for those just starting or with a limited inventory.
• Paid Plans: These range from allowing you to list up to 50, 250, or 500 products, each plan coming with more customization options, themes, and advanced tracking tools.

Take your time to review the details of each plan to determine which one best fits your needs, then click on the “Select” button for your desired plan. If you choose the free plan, you can start building your store immediately.

3. Create Your Account:

Once you’ve chosen a plan, the next step is to provide basic information to create your account:

• Email Address: This will be used for logging in and receiving updates about your store.
• Shop Name: This is the name of your store that customers will see.
• Store URL: Big Cartel will generate a custom URL for your store in the format yourshop.bigcartel.com. You can change this later if needed.
• Password: Choose a strong password for your account, making sure it’s secure but easy to remember.

4. Custom Domain:

If you already own a custom domain (e.g., com), don’t worry! Big Cartel allows you to connect your domain later through the settings, so you’re not locked into using the default URL.

5. Confirmation:

After filling out all required fields, click on “Create Account” to complete the registration. Big Cartel will send a confirmation email to verify your account. Make sure to check your inbox and click on the link provided to activate your account officially.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll have access to your Big Cartel dashboard, where you can start customizing and building your online store.

Step 2: Set Your Store Location & Currency

After signing up for your Big Cartel account, you’ll be directed to your dashboard. Here, you’ll find a helpful checklist outlining the essential steps to get your store up and running.

1. Access the Setup Wizard:

On your dashboard, locate the setup wizard or checklist, which provides a structured guide to configure your store. This will ensure you don’t miss any crucial steps.

2. Provide Your Store Location:

Look for the option or link in the setup wizard to “Set Your Store Location”. Click on it to proceed.

You’ll be prompted to enter your business address, including:

• Country: Select the country where your business is based.
• State/Province: Enter your state or province if applicable.
• City: Specify the city where your business operates.
• Postal Code: Provide the postal code for your location.

Big Cartel uses this information to calculate taxes for your orders based on your location. This ensures that your customers are charged the correct amount of sales tax, complying with regional tax laws.

3. Set Your Store Currency:

After entering your location, you’ll need to set your store’s currency. This is essential for pricing your products and processing transactions.

Go to the “Settings” tab on your dashboard, then find and click on “Currency”.

Choose the currency that you want to use for transactions. Options typically include USD, EUR, GBP, and other major currencies. Select the one that matches your business needs.

4. Review and Save Changes:

After entering your location and setting the currency, make sure to review all the information for accuracy.

Click “Save” or “Update Settings” to apply these changes. This will ensure that your store is configured correctly for both tax calculations and financial transactions.

By setting your store location and currency, you help ensure that your store operates smoothly and complies with tax regulations. This setup is crucial for providing accurate pricing and tax information to your customers.

Step 3: Add Your Products

With your store location and currency set, you’re ready to start adding products. Here’s a detailed guide to help you through the process:

1. Access the Products Page:

From your dashboard, you can either click on “Products” from the top menu or navigate to the checklist that appears on your dashboard to find the product section.

2. Add a New Product:

Click on “Add Product” to start entering details for a new item.

You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Product Name: Enter a clear, descriptive name for the product.
• Description: Write a detailed description that highlights the features, benefits, and any relevant details about the product.
• Price: Set the price for the product.

3. Categorize Your Products:

If you have multiple types of products, it’s helpful to organize them into categories. This makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.

To add categories:

• Go to the “Categories” section.
• Create and name categories according to your product types (e.g., “T-Shirts,” “Accessories”).
• Apply these categories to your products by selecting the relevant category when adding or editing each product.

4. Set Up Product Variants:

If your product comes in different sizes, colors, or other variations, you can set these up to offer a range of options to your customers.

• Go to the product page and scroll down to the “Options” section.
• You will see an option to set up “Variations”. Click on “Add Variant Group” to create groups for different variations (e.g., size, color).
• Add the specific options for each group (e.g., Small, Medium, Large for size; Red, Blue, Green for color).

Big Cartel will automatically generate all possible combinations of the variations you’ve set up.

5. Review and Save:

After entering all the necessary details and setting up variations, review the product information to ensure everything is accurate. Click “Save Product” to add the product to your store.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to effectively add and manage products in your Big Cartel store, providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Step 4: Set Up Backend Tools

With your product catalog in place, it’s time to configure additional settings for your store to ensure smooth operations. This involves setting up payment options, creating shipping profiles, and adjusting checkout preferences.

1. Set Payment Options:

Accept Payments:

• Big Cartel supports payments through Stripe and PayPal. If you have accounts with both payment processors, adding them will give your customers more flexibility in how they pay.
• To set this up, navigate to “Accounts” from the main menu on your dashboard, then scroll down to “Payments”.
• Follow the prompts to link your Stripe and/or PayPal accounts. This process typically involves logging into your payment processor’s account and authorizing Big Cartel to access it.

2. Create Shipping Profiles:

Shipping Rules:

• You have two options for setting up shipping: you can either configure shipping rules directly while adding products or create and manage shipping profiles separately.
• To create shipping profiles: Go to the “Shipping” section in your dashboard. Here, you can set up different shipping profiles based on criteria such as country, weight, or order value.

3. Adjust Checkout Preferences:

Checkout Settings:

Customize the checkout experience by going to “Account” in the upper right corner of your dashboard. Here, you can adjust settings related to customer information during checkout:

• Phone Number Requirement: Decide whether to require customers to provide their phone number during checkout. This can be useful for shipping or customer service purposes.
• Order Notifications: Choose whether to receive an email notification each time an order is placed. This helps you stay updated on sales and manage orders promptly.

Customer Notifications:

Big Cartel automatically sends a confirmation email to customers when they place an order. This feature can be disabled if you prefer not to send automatic emails. You can find this setting in the “Notifications” section, where you can manage how and when notifications are sent.

By configuring these backend tools, you’ll ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers and streamline your order management process.

Step 5: Design Your Big Cartel Store

With your products added and backend tools configured, it’s time to focus on designing your Big Cartel store. While you can design your store at any stage, it’s often easiest to do so after setting up products and payment/shipping options.

1. Choose and Customize a Theme:

Select a Template:

• Big Cartel offers 18 free themes that you can choose from. To start, go to the “Customize Design” section of your dashboard.
• Browse through the available themes and select one that best matches your brand’s style and the look you want for your store.
• Click “Choose” or “Select” to apply the theme to your store.

Customize Your Theme:

Once you’ve selected a theme, you can further personalize it to fit your brand:

• Images: Upload and replace images with those that represent your brand and products. This includes your store’s logo and banner images.
• Fonts: Choose fonts that align with your store’s branding. You can select from available font options or upload custom fonts if the theme allows.
• Color Scheme: Update the color scheme to reflect your brand’s colors. Adjust background colors, text colors, and button colors to create a cohesive look.

2. Optional: Connect Your Domain

Add a Custom Domain:

• You have the option to connect a custom domain to your Big Cartel store for a more professional appearance.
• Go to your account settings by clicking “Account” in the upper right corner of your dashboard.
• Scroll down to the “Shop” section and look for the heading “+Add a custom domain”. Click on it to begin the domain connection process.

Purchase a Domain (if needed):

• If you don’t already have a custom domain, you can purchase one from domain providers such as GoDaddy, Squarespace, or others.
• Follow the provider’s instructions to purchase and register your domain. Once you have it, you can connect it to your Big Cartel store by following the instructions provided in the Big Cartel dashboard.

Designing your store is crucial for making a strong first impression and ensuring a pleasant shopping experience for your customers.

Step 6: Launch Your Big Cartel Store

After completing all the setup steps, you’re ready to launch your Big Cartel store! Here’s how to ensure everything is in order and officially open your shop:

1. Review Your Checklist:

Before launching, go through every item on the checklist provided in your dashboard to ensure all tasks are completed. This includes verifying that your products are correctly listed, payment and shipping options are set up, and design elements are finalized.

2. Preview Your Website:

Take the time to preview your website to make sure everything looks and functions as expected. Check product listings, navigation, and checkout processes to ensure a smooth user experience.

3. Disable Maintenance Mode:

• To open your shop, go to your account settings. Click on “Your Shop”.
• Look for the “Maintenance Mode” option. This is often used during setup to prevent customers from accessing your store before it’s ready.
• Toggle the switch to turn off Maintenance Mode. This will make your store live and accessible to the public.

4. Confirm Launch:

After turning off Maintenance Mode, a pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to open your shop. Click “Open Your Shop” or the equivalent button in the pop-up to officially launch your Big Cartel store.

By following these steps, your store will be live and ready for customers. Congratulations on launching your Big Cartel store!

4. Final Thoughts

Setting up an online store with Big Cartel can be a straightforward and effective process when you leverage the platform’s features to the fullest. However, if you’re seeking professional support and optimized solutions to enhance your online business, Onext Digital’s Web Development Services are the perfect choice.

With extensive experience in web development and design, Onext Digital can help you optimize your Big Cartel store, from crafting a visually appealing interface to integrating advanced features that improve user experience and boost sales performance. Our team of experts will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and implement tailored solutions, ensuring that your store not only stands out aesthetically but also operates smoothly and efficiently.

Contact Onext Digital today to discover how we can assist you in setting up and optimizing your Big Cartel store, helping you achieve outstanding success in the online marketplace.