The Professor Commerce Blog

Shopify Horizon Drive — The Hidden Game Inside Summer Editions If you’ve ever needed a quick break from managing your Shopify store, this one’s for you. Shopify quietly added a fun, interactive game called Horizon Drive to the bottom of its Summer Editions 2023 page — and it’s surprisingly good. In case you missed it, Shopify Summer Editions is the company’s massive semi-annual update series that showcases over 100 new tools, features, and design upgrades for merchants. Buried among the serious updates, you’ll find a fully playable browser racing game built right into the site. It’s called Horizon Drive , and it’s part of Shopify’s new Horizon design system — the same visual framework that powers the modern Shopify admin and online store editor. The game itself isn’t designed to teach you about eCommerce or boost conversions, but it does showcase how far Shopify’s front-end development tools have come. Smooth animations, liquid mercury effects, and colorful UI themes all ...

How to Start a Shopify Store: Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide Are you ready to start your Shopify journey but don’t know where to begin? This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through how to start a Shopify store from scratch, step by step. Whether you’re launching a dropshipping business, an online boutique, or your first e-commerce venture, this guide will help you set up your store correctly and avoid common mistakes. Why Shopify is Great for Beginners Shopify is one of the easiest platforms for beginners to build an online store. It offers: User-friendly interface Integrated payments and shipping options Customizable themes and apps Scalable options for growth Many people ask, “ Is Shopify good for beginners? ” — the answer is yes, especially with structured guidance like this blog and the 30-Day Beginner’s Shopify Program . Step 1: Sign Up for a Shopify Account To start your Shopify store, go to shopify.com and click “Start free trial.” Enter your email,...

Where Is the Best Place to Learn Shopify for an Absolute Beginner? If you’re an absolute beginner trying to learn Shopify, you’ve probably noticed how overwhelming it can be to figure out where to start. With thousands of YouTube tutorials, guides, and AI-generated advice out there, finding the right, beginner-friendly path is harder than ever. That’s exactly why ProfessorCommerce.com exists — to make learning Shopify simple, affordable, and genuinely educational. Why It’s So Hard to Learn Shopify Online Shopify is one of the most powerful eCommerce platforms in the world — but for beginners, it can feel confusing. Most videos and blog posts assume you already know what you’re doing. Others are outdated or created by people who haven’t actually built successful stores themselves. As a result, new learners get lost in conflicting advice, clickbait content, and tool overload. Every time a new app, feature, or AI tool launches, things get even more complicated. Tutorials contrad...

Why Your Shopify Products Aren’t Showing on Your Store (Fix Publishing Settings) Missing products on your Shopify store? You’re not alone — this is one of the most common beginner issues in Shopify. In this tutorial, we’ll fix it in just a few steps so your products finally appear where they should. So, you’ve added your products to Shopify — they’re active, they have inventory, and yet they’re not showing on your live website. The good news? The problem isn’t your theme or code. It’s your publishing settings . Every product in Shopify needs to be published to specific sales channels . These channels include your Online Store , the Shop app , and your Point of Sale (POS) device if you have one. If a product isn’t toggled on for your Online Store, it simply won’t appear on your site. Here’s how to check it: Go to Products in your Shopify admin. Select the product that’s missing (for example, your “Beanie”). Scroll down to Publishing and click Manage . Make ...

Shopify Launch Check App — Full Walkthrough & Setup Shopify just released a brand new app — and it’s one every store owner should know about. The Shop Launch Check is a free, Shopify-made tool that scans your entire store setup before you go live, showing what’s ready, what needs attention, and what might cause problems at launch. For anyone preparing to launch a new Shopify store, this is a huge time saver. Once installed, the app analyzes your store data, admin settings, online storefront, POS configuration, and B2B settings if you’re on Shopify Plus. You’ll instantly see color-coded results: green for ready, orange for needs attention, and manual checks for areas requiring review. Each scan comes with business impact notes, developer documentation, and Help Center links. For example, the app identifies issues like missing sender emails, inactive payment gateways, or default placeholder text left on your storefront. It’s like having a built-in pre-launch consultant...

Shopify October 2025 Updates — Launch Check App, Sidekick Voice Mode & Key Removal October 2025 brought a surprisingly calm batch of Shopify updates — but hidden inside are some powerful new tools and a rare feature removal that every store owner should know about. Shopify continues to evolve month by month, and this October’s changelog focuses on smarter automation, AI-driven store readiness, and better customer experience tools. Here’s what’s new, what’s gone, and what it all means for you as a Shopify entrepreneur. 1. Launch Check App — Scan Your Store with AI The brand-new Shopify Launch Check app is designed to help beginners know when their store is truly ready to go live. In under two minutes, it scans your setup and provides AI-powered recommendations, checking items like domain setup, refund policies, products, and shipping rates. It’s powered by Shopify’s AI assistant, Sidekick — the same system that already helps merchants analyze data and answer admin qu...

Shopify Winter Editions 2025 — Why the “Boring” Update Actually Matters Shopify’s Winter Editions 2025 just dropped — and it’s being called the most “boring” update yet. But as you’ll see in this breakdown, boring can actually mean *brilliant* when it comes to long-term stability and merchant growth. This edition of Shopify focuses on infrastructure, performance, and real-world usability. It doesn’t shout about new shiny tools — it quietly fixes the foundations. In this post, we’ll go through the biggest updates from the Winter Editions 2025 release and why they matter for your business. Online Store and Flex Sections Shopify continues to refine the drag-and-drop customization experience. The new Flex Sections allow merchants to build layouts with greater freedom and responsive alignment — finally matching the simplicity of Wix and Squarespace without losing Shopify’s backend power. If you’re just starting your store, check out the 30-Day Beginner’s Shopify Program for a...

What Is Shopify Semantic Search? AI Search Explained for 2024 Merchants Shopify’s new Semantic Search feature is one of the most powerful AI updates for merchants in 2024. It uses artificial intelligence to understand what customers actually mean when they search — not just the exact keywords they type. This post breaks down how it works, how to turn it on, and what it means for your Shopify store. In Shopify Summer Editions 2024, a small but significant update introduced Semantic Search to more plans — expanding from Shopify Plus down to Advanced and beyond. The feature first appeared in Winter Editions 2024 as an exclusive Plus-only feature. Now, it’s rolling out to more merchants, signaling Shopify’s growing investment in AI-powered store improvements. So what exactly is semantic search ? The term “semantic” means “relating to meaning in language or logic.” In practical terms, it means Shopify’s AI can now interpret the intent behind what customers type into your s...

What Is a Shopify Chargeback? How to Handle and Prevent Disputes Chargebacks can be one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of running an online store. If you’re new to Shopify, it can feel like the end of the world when a customer disputes an order — but it’s actually a normal part of eCommerce. In this post, I’ll explain what Shopify chargebacks are, why they happen, and how you can handle them confidently using my own real experiences. When a customer buys from your Shopify store and later disputes the charge with their credit card company, this starts a process called a chargeback . The customer’s bank temporarily removes the transaction amount from your account while it investigates. In Shopify, this will appear in the Orders section, where you’ll see the chargeback reason, amount, and deadline to submit evidence. In my own experience running multiple Shopify stores, chargebacks usually happen for three reasons: (1) the customer didn’t receive the product, (2)...

Shopify Blog Posts Moved to Content Menu — New Admin Update Explained Shopify has quietly rolled out another change inside the admin — and this one’s easy to miss if you’re managing your store every day. The Blog posts section has officially been moved from the “Online Store” sales channel into the new Content menu. No email, no changelog, and no announcement. Previously, store owners could manage their blogs under Online Store → Blog posts . That menu is now gone. Instead, you’ll find it under Content → Blog posts in your Shopify admin sidebar. The Content menu now includes Meta objects , Files , Menus , and now Blog posts . This follows last month’s move of the Menus item from Online Store into the same section — suggesting Shopify is reorganizing creative and structure tools under one unified “Content” hub. For beginners, this can be confusing if you’re still learning your way around the Shopify dashboard. Many tutorials and screenshots online will still show “Blog po...

Shopify’s New Trade Theme — B2B or Retail? Full Breakdown Shopify has just introduced its first brand new theme in years — and it’s called Trade . If you’ve been running a Shopify store for a while, this is big news. The Trade theme was released in Shopify Summer Editions 2024 and is designed primarily for B2B (business-to-business) stores. But after exploring it in depth, I found it’s also surprisingly useful for retail merchants . The Trade theme is a free Shopify Online Store 2.0 theme designed for wholesale and bulk-order merchants. Shopify markets it as an “out-of-the-box” theme for repeat and bulk purchasing — meaning it comes preloaded with all B2B features right inside the design. These include quantity selectors, SKU-based quick order lists, and sections to display partner logos. It’s Shopify’s way of giving Plus merchants an immediate B2B setup without needing custom development. However, what’s interesting is that the Trade theme shares a lot of DNA with the ...

How to Create a Shopify “Under Construction” or “Coming Soon” Page (Password Protection Tutorial) If your Shopify store isn’t quite ready for customers or you’re planning a big relaunch, setting up a password-protected “coming soon” page can help protect your brand while keeping visitors engaged. In this guide, we’ll go over how to enable password protection, customize your message, and even collect emails during downtime. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Preferences . Scroll down to the section labeled Password Protection . Here, you can enable the password page, create a custom message for visitors, and enter a password that allows staff or select customers early access. Once the password page is enabled, head over to Online Store → Themes → Customize . At the top of the editor, select Other → Password Page . This brings up your default “coming soon” page, where you can fully customize your heading, colors, fonts, and even add a branded background image. Writ...

How to Add Store Policies in Shopify (Refund, Privacy, Terms of Service Setup) Adding store policies like refund, privacy, and terms of service pages is one of those critical steps that makes your Shopify store look professional and trustworthy. In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up your policies, connect them to your footer, and make them visible on your live store. When you first launch your Shopify store, you’ll notice there are no refund or privacy policy links visible in your footer by default. That’s because you first need to create those policy pages and then connect them manually through your navigation settings. Let’s go step-by-step. Step 1: Locate Your Shopify Policy Templates Go to your Shopify Admin → Settings → Policies . Here you’ll find blank spaces for your return policy, privacy policy, terms of service, and shipping policy. If you’re eligible, Shopify will offer a Create from Template button that automatically gene...

Shopify’s Geolocation App Is Being Removed — What It Means for Your Store Shopify has officially announced that its popular Geolocation app will be sunset and uninstalled from all stores on December 1st, 2024 . This major update affects thousands of merchants who’ve relied on the app for automatic currency, language, and market detection across international customers. The Geolocation app, developed by Shopify, was designed to give customers a popup to confirm their country, currency, and language when visiting a store. It worked by detecting IP addresses and giving shoppers the choice to continue with recommended settings or switch markets. While this feature was helpful, Shopify’s platform has evolved to provide these localizations automatically — no popups required. According to Shopify’s official changelog, this removal comes as part of ongoing efforts to streamline international selling and reduce reliance on customer consent. The platform now includes built-in tools ...

How to Add Your Logo or Remove Your Store Name on Shopify Packing Slips Want to make your Shopify packing slips look more polished and professional? In this guide, we’ll walk through how to add your logo, adjust its size, or even replace your store name entirely using a few simple lines of Liquid code — all without needing to be a developer. Customizing your Shopify packing slip is a small change that makes a big branding difference. It’s part of how your store looks and feels to every customer, from checkout to delivery. And the best part? You can do it directly in your Shopify admin with zero extra tools. To get started, open your Shopify admin and go to Settings → Shipping and Delivery → Packing Slips → Edit Template . This will show you the Liquid code that controls your printed packing slips. The line {{ shop.name }} is what prints your store name — and this is where we’ll add or replace your logo. Before editing, upload your logo in Content → Files . Once uploaded,...

Why Google Says “Your Shopify Website Needs Improvement” — Full Fix Guide If you’ve ever connected your Shopify store to the Google Sales Channel and received the dreaded notice that your “website needs improvement,” don’t panic — you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues merchants face when submitting products to Google, and thankfully, it’s very fixable. Google sends this warning when your store doesn’t meet their minimum content or quality guidelines for being displayed across their platforms. This includes missing legal pages, broken links, placeholder images or text, or incomplete product descriptions. Essentially, Google only wants to promote complete and trustworthy stores. 1. Why You’re Seeing This Warning When you apply your Shopify store to Google’s Sales Channel, your website is being reviewed by Google as if it’s part of their own product ecosystem. Since Google wants to ensure customers only interact with high-quality stores, any sign of incompl...

How to Use the Shopify Fraud Filter App to Block Fraudulent Customers If you've ever had to deal with fraudulent orders, chargebacks, or repeat problem customers, you know how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, Shopify offers a simple and free solution: the Shopify Fraud Filter App . In this post, we’ll walk through how it works, why you should use it, and a few expert tips for protecting your store. Shopify’s Fraud Filter app is built and maintained by Shopify, which means it’s fully compatible with your store and doesn’t add any hidden costs or tiered pricing plans. Once installed, the app allows you to create custom filters to block, flag, or cancel orders based on details like email addresses, IP addresses, or order history. To get started, go to your Shopify Admin → Apps → Shopify App Store and search for “Fraud Filter.” You’ll recognize it by its yellow icon. Once installed, open the app, click Create Rule , and enter your conditions — for example, an email add...

Fixing the Shopify Chase Payment Gateway Error — Switch to the JP Morgan Chase App If your Shopify checkout suddenly stopped working with the Chase PaymentTech Orbital gateway, you’re not alone. Many U.S. merchants saw this issue appear overnight — and it caused major stress when customers couldn’t pay. The good news? It’s an easy fix. The Chase PaymentTech Orbital app was officially deprecated in Shopify’s system, meaning it’s no longer supported. When this happens, Shopify automatically disables that gateway, which breaks checkout. Customers will see a warning like “No available payment methods” when trying to complete their purchase. Here’s what to do. Log into your Shopify admin and go to Settings → Payments → Add payment method . Search for JP Morgan Chase — this is the new gateway replacing the old Chase Orbital integration. Install the new app, connect your Chase account, and activate it. Once you do this, your checkout will immediately start working again. If yo...

How Shopify’s New “Buy With Prime” Integration Works Shopify just announced one of the most unexpected and exciting updates in recent memory — Amazon’s Buy With Prime button is officially being added to Shopify checkout. For the first time ever, Shopify merchants will be able to let Prime members purchase through their store using their Amazon credentials, fast shipping, and easy returns — without losing control of customer data. This is a major step forward for merchants who want to give their customers more flexibility at checkout while maintaining 100% ownership of their brand experience and data. Essentially, this integration connects Shopify Payments with Amazon’s fulfillment network , giving sellers the best of both worlds. As explained by Shopify, merchants in the U.S. will soon be able to activate Buy With Prime directly within the Shopify Admin. Once enabled, a button will appear at checkout — just like PayPal or Apple Pay — but this one will say “Buy With Prime....

How to Fix Shopify Product Page Gaps (Enable Sticky Content in Dawn Theme) If your Shopify product page looks awkward with a massive white space beside your product description — don’t panic. This issue happens to a lot of beginners, and the fix is much simpler than it seems. When you write a great product description, only to find it looks broken or stretched on your online store, it can be discouraging. But Shopify’s built-in customization tools inside the Dawn theme make it easy to fix this layout issue. Enable Sticky Content on Desktop To start, go to Online Store → Themes → Customize . Then, open your Default Product Page and click on the Product Information block. In the right-hand panel, toggle the setting labeled “Sticky content on desktop.” Once enabled, this locks your product images in place as visitors scroll down your description. It prevents that massive right-side gap that can make your product page look empty or broken. This layout instantly looks more...

How to Buy a Domain on Shopify — Step-by-Step for Beginners Buying a domain for your Shopify store can feel intimidating when you’re just getting started. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to buy a domain directly from Shopify — so you can skip the confusion of DNS records, A records, and CNAME settings. When you first launch your Shopify store, you’ll automatically be given a default domain that looks something like yourstorename.myshopify.com . But for branding and professionalism, you’ll want to connect your own custom domain — like yourbrand.com . Inside your Shopify admin, head to Settings → Domains . Here, you’ll find two key options: Connect Existing Domain and Buy New Domain . The first is used if you’ve already purchased a domain elsewhere (like GoDaddy or IONOS). The second lets you purchase directly from Shopify — which I personally recommend for simplicity and reliability. When you choose “Buy New Domain,” simply type in your preferred name...

How to Create Shopify Collections (Manual & Automated) Shopify collections are one of the most important ways to organize your store and guide customers toward the right products. In this post, we’ll break down how to create both manual and automated collections , how the conditions work, and how to use them to save time as your inventory grows. Collections are the backbone of your Shopify storefront — they make navigation easier and help customers find what they’re looking for faster. To create one, head to your Shopify Admin → Products → Collections . You can then choose between a manual collection or an automated collection . Manual vs. Automated Collections Manual collections are perfect for new stores or small catalogs. You simply choose which products belong in the collection — no conditions required. For example, you can create a “Featured Products” collection and manually add your top sellers. Automated collections use Shopify’s built-in condition system...

Why Your Shopify Products Aren’t Showing on Your Store (Fix Publishing Settings) If your Shopify products aren’t showing up on your online store — even though they’re active, have inventory, and look ready — you’re not alone. This guide explains exactly why this happens and how to fix it fast. When your products don’t appear on your Shopify storefront, it’s almost always related to their publishing settings . Even though your products exist in your admin, they may not be published to the correct sales channels — which means your online store doesn’t know to display them. To fix this, open your Shopify admin and go to Products . Click on any product that’s not showing on your store. On the right-hand side, you’ll see a section called Publishing or Sales Channels and Apps . Click the three-dot menu, then choose Manage Sales Channels . Here’s where the issue usually appears — if “Online Store” isn’t selected, that product won’t display on your live site. Check the box besi...