How to Create a Vendor/Brand-Based Alphabetical Filter in Shopify?

How to Create an Alphabetical Vendor Filter in Shopify

Creating an intuitive and user-friendly navigation system is essential for any successful eCommerce platform. For Shopify store owners, one effective way to enhance user experience is by implementing a vendor or brand-based alphabetical filter. This filter allows customers to easily browse products by their favorite brands or vendors, listed alphabetically. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to create this type of filter in your Shopify store.

Step 1: Understand Your Shopify Theme

Before you begin, it’s crucial to understand the structure and capabilities of your Shopify theme. Different themes have different customization options. If your theme doesn’t support vendor-based filtering natively, you might need to edit your theme’s code or use a third-party app.

Step 2: Collect Your Vendors

Your first task is to gather a list of all vendors or brands present in your store. Shopify’s shop.vendors object can be utilized for this purpose. This object automatically compiles a list of all the vendors associated with the products in your store.

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Step 3: Edit the Theme Code

Access your Shopify Admin, go to Online Store > Themes, then click Actions > Edit code.

Create the Alphabetical Navigation

Add a new snippet (e.g., alphabet-nav.liquid) and include the following code to create the alphabetical navigation:

{% assign alphabet = 'A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z' | split: ',' %}
<ul class="alphabetical-filter">
  {% for letter in alphabet %}
    <li><a href="#{{ letter }}">{{ letter }}</a></li>
  {% endfor %}
</ul>

List Vendors under Each Letter

In the same snippet or a new one (e.g., vendor-alphabet-filter.liquid), use this logic to group vendors under each alphabet letter:

{% assign alphabet = 'A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z' | split: ',' %}
{% for letter in alphabet %}
  <div id="{{ letter }}" class="vendor-list">
    <h3>{{ letter }}</h3>
    <ul>
      {% for vendor in shop.vendors %}
        {% if vendor.first == letter %}
          <li><a href="/collections/vendors?q={{ vendor | url_encode }}">{{ vendor }}</a></li>
        {% endif %}
      {% endfor %}
    </ul>
  </div>
{% endfor %}

Step 4: Include the Snippet in Your Theme

To display the alphabetical filter, include your snippet where you’d like it to appear, such as in a custom page or collection template:

{% include 'vendor-alphabet-filter' %}

Step 5: Add Styling

Style your alphabetical filter via your theme’s CSS file. Here’s a basic style to get you started:

.alphabetical-filter {
  list-style: none;
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  gap: 10px;
}
.alphabetical-filter li a {
  padding: 5px 10px;
  border: 1px solid #ddd;
  text-decoration: none;
}
.vendor-list {
  margin-top: 30px;
}
.vendor-list h3 {
  border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
  padding-bottom: 5px;
}

Step 6: Test the Filter

After implementing the filter, test thoroughly. Ensure each letter navigates to the correct section and that all vendors appear under the correct alphabet group.

Optional Step 7: Add Search Functionality

For stores with a large vendor list, consider adding a search input using JavaScript or a plugin to make it easier for users to find a specific brand.

Conclusion

Implementing an alphabetical filter for vendors or brands in Shopify enhances the shopping experience by making it easy for customers to find products from their preferred brands. While the process requires some familiarity with HTML, Liquid, and CSS, the effort can significantly pay off in terms of improved user engagement and sales.

Reminder: Always back up your theme before making code changes. If you’re unsure about editing your theme, hire a Shopify expert to handle the customization safely and effectively.

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