How to Track Sales by Product Category in Shopify

Learn how to track sales by product category in Shopify using built-in analytics, key metrics, and third-party apps for smarter decision-making.

Tracking sales by product category in Shopify helps you make smarter inventory and marketing decisions. Here’s a quick summary of how to do it:

  • Use Shopify Analytics: Access built-in reports like "Sales by Product" or "Sales by Collection" to monitor revenue, units sold, and trends.
  • Track Key Metrics: Focus on Total Sales, Average Order Value (AOV), Conversion Rate, and Return Rate to understand category performance.
  • Export Data for Custom Reports: Download CSV files from Shopify to analyze sales by category in Excel or Google Sheets.
  • Leverage Third-Party Apps: Use tools like Better Reports or Polar Analytics for advanced tracking and automation.

Start with Shopify’s built-in tools for basic insights, then expand to custom reports or apps for deeper analysis. Regularly review your data to optimize inventory, marketing, and sales strategies.

Understanding Shopify Analytics and Sales Metrics

Shopify

Shopify Analytics Overview

Shopify Analytics serves as a central hub for tracking how your product categories perform. It offers detailed reports like Sales by Product and Sales by Collection, which allow you to monitor inventory, spot sales trends, and make informed decisions about your product offerings.

Here’s what Shopify Analytics provides:

  • Real-time sales updates to track performance as it happens
  • Historical sales trends to understand past performance
  • Category comparisons to see which products are excelling
  • Inventory updates to stay on top of stock levels

These insights become even more useful when paired with key sales metrics, which we’ll dive into next.

Key Metrics to Track

Certain metrics, like Total Sales, AOV (Average Order Value), and Conversion Rate, are essential for understanding category performance. Here’s a closer look:

Metric Description Why It’s Important
Total Sales Revenue by category Highlights which categories bring in the most money
Average Order Value (AOV) Average spend per order in the category Pinpoints high-value product groups
Conversion Rate Percentage of visitors who buy Shows how likely visitors are to purchase from a category
Return Rate Percentage of products returned Indicates product quality and customer satisfaction

To prioritize your efforts, consider using ABC Analysis. This method helps you focus inventory and marketing on categories that contribute the most to revenue.

For the best results, set up a regular review schedule:

  • Monthly for tracking basic metrics
  • Quarterly for deeper analysis

This routine helps you spot seasonal trends and fine-tune inventory levels for each category.

Next, we’ll look at how to set up sales tracking by product category using Shopify’s tools.

Setting Up Sales Tracking by Product Category

Using Shopify’s Built-in Reports

Head over to Analytics > Reports in your Shopify admin to find reports like ‘Sales by Product’ or ‘Sales by Collection.’ These give you a snapshot of how each category is performing.

While the customization options are limited – you can’t group categories or combine certain data points – these reports still provide key metrics like revenue, units sold, and refund rates for each product category.

Need more flexibility? You can export the data and dig deeper.

Exporting Data for Custom Reports

From the Shopify admin, export data from the Orders or Products sections. Use filters like date range or collection to narrow down your data, then download the CSV file for analysis in Excel or Google Sheets.

To calculate category sales, match SKUs from the product and order exports. You can use functions like COUNTIF in your spreadsheet tool to make this process easier.

If doing this manually feels like too much work, consider automating with third-party apps.

Using Third-Party Apps

Shopify’s built-in tools and manual exports work well for basic tracking. But if your store has more complex needs, third-party apps can simplify the process and offer advanced features.

App Name Key Features Best For
Better Reports Custom category groupings, automated reporting Stores needing detailed category analysis
Polar Analytics Advanced filtering, real-time tracking Stores with multiple categories

Apps like Better Reports and Polar Analytics are available in the Shopify App Store. Once installed, you can connect your store data and set up automated category tracking for more efficient insights.

For highly specialized needs, companies like E-commerce Dev Group can create custom reporting solutions tailored to your store’s unique structure.

Analyzing Sales Data

Examining Key Metrics

When assessing your Shopify store’s performance by product category, pay attention to these important metrics:

  • Total Sales: Keep an eye on both gross and net sales for each category. This helps you understand how much revenue each category generates and uncover trends.
  • Average Order Value (AOV): Look for categories that lead to higher AOV. These can be great opportunities for promotions or product bundles.
  • Conversion Rate: Evaluate how well each category converts visitors into buyers. For categories with lower conversion rates, focus on improving product pages, descriptions, or pricing.
  • Return Rate: Monitor return rates by category. High returns could point to quality issues or unclear product descriptions that need attention.
Metric What to Watch For Suggested Actions
Total Sales Revenue contribution by category Focus inventory on top-performing items
AOV Categories boosting cart values Plan promotions for these categories
Conversion Rate Low-performing categories Enhance product pages and descriptions
Return Rate High return rates Revise product details and photos

By diving into these metrics, you can uncover patterns and pinpoint areas for improvement.

  • Seasonal Patterns: Analyze how categories perform during different seasons. This insight helps you plan inventory and promotions more effectively.
  • Cross-Category Insights: Use data from multiple categories to refine navigation, suggest related products, or create promotions that span categories.
  • Optimizing Inventory: With trends in mind, adjust your stock levels:

    • Prioritize high-performing categories.
    • Scale back on underperforming items.
    • Use sales data to forecast reorder needs.
  • Refining Marketing Efforts: Leverage category data to better allocate ad budgets, target specific campaigns, and create segmented email lists for more personalized outreach.

Advanced Sales Tracking Strategies

Customizing Reports for Detailed Insights

Shopify’s built-in reports are a great starting point, but tweaking them can reveal much more about how your product categories are performing. For example, applying filters like ‘Product Variant’ helps you track which attributes – like size or color – are driving sales. Similarly, the ‘Traffic Referrer’ filter shows which marketing channels are bringing in the most traffic for specific categories.

Filter Type Purpose Key Insights
Product Variant Measure performance by product traits Identify size/color trends, top variations
Traffic Source Evaluate marketing channel impact See which channels work best per category

On top of customizing reports, combining sales data with Shopify’s other tools can give you a more complete picture of your store’s performance.

Integrating Sales Data with Other Shopify Features

Linking your sales data to Shopify’s other features can help you better manage your store and make smarter decisions.

Inventory Management Integration:

  • Use sales data by category to set precise reorder points and avoid running out of stock.
  • Automate stock alerts and fine-tune reorder levels for your most popular categories.
  • Adjust safety stock levels based on seasonal demand for specific categories.

Marketing Analytics Integration:

  • Design campaigns that focus on your best-performing categories.
  • Reallocate ad budgets to prioritize categories with higher returns.
  • Create personalized email campaigns using purchase history from specific categories.

For stores with unique needs, customized solutions might be the way to go. For instance, E-commerce Dev Group can develop tailored tracking systems to match your store’s category performance goals.

Shopify Reports and Analytics Walkthrough

Conclusion and Next Steps

Now that your sales tracking systems are in place, it’s time to turn those insights into action. Tracking category sales in Shopify helps you make smarter decisions and improve your store’s performance in areas like inventory, marketing, and operations.

Here’s how to get started:

  • Review performance data regularly to spot trends and find opportunities.
  • Connect insights across inventory and marketing systems for a more unified approach.
  • Adapt strategies based on category-specific patterns to stay ahead.
  • Upgrade tracking methods over time as your analysis becomes more detailed.

As your store expands, you might need advanced tracking systems or custom solutions to keep up. Specialized tools or professional services can help you create systems that align with your business goals.

Key reminders:

  • Set clear tracking goals that match your business objectives.
  • Use data to guide decisions in inventory management and marketing.
  • Evaluate and refine your tracking methods regularly to stay effective.

For more complex needs, custom reporting solutions can ensure you’re capturing the data that matters most for growing your business.

FAQs

How do I pull sales data or get a sales report in Shopify?

  • Navigate to Analytics > Reports > Sales by Product in your Shopify Admin.
  • Choose the date range you want to analyze.
  • Use the Filter and Column options to adjust the view.
  • Export the report if you need to dive deeper into the data.

For more detailed insights:

  • Build custom reports centered on specific metrics.
  • Use Shopify’s tools to analyze product performance.
  • Filter data by categories, variants, or time periods to refine your results.

Pro tip: Reviewing your sales data regularly can highlight patterns and help fine-tune inventory and marketing strategies. Keep in mind that access to historical data depends on your Shopify plan, so double-check your plan’s features.

What if my sales reports aren’t showing accurate data?

Here are some quick fixes:

  • Double-check your date range settings.
  • Ensure products are correctly categorized.
  • Confirm all sales channels are connected properly.
  • Clear your browser cache and refresh the page.
  • If the issue persists, reach out to Shopify support.

Backing up your reports and cross-referencing data from various report types can help maintain accuracy. For more complex reporting or custom setups, consider consulting Shopify experts to implement advanced tracking and analytics tools. These steps will help you stay on top of your store’s performance and make informed decisions to grow your business.

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