Ecommerce Ops Kit

Shopify Template Modification & Customization

Custom theme development, template customization, and Liquid code optimization. Make your store look and function exactly how you need it.

The Problem

Off-the-shelf Shopify themes rarely fit your exact needs. Common issues:

Theme limitations blocking key features
Custom code breaking after theme updates
Performance issues from bloated themes
Mobile responsiveness problems
Liquid code complexity causing bugs

You need custom functionality, but don't know where to start or how to maintain it.

Common Customization Scenarios

Adding custom product fields

Need to display custom product information? Use metafields and Liquid to add custom fields without breaking theme updates.

Steps:

Create metafield definitions in Shopify admin
Add metafield values to products
Use product.metafields.namespace.key in Liquid templates
Style with CSS in theme customizer

Custom checkout modifications

Want to add custom fields or modify checkout flow? Use checkout extensions, not theme edits.

Options:

Checkout UI extensions for custom fields
Checkout post-purchase extensions for upsells
Script Editor for discount logic (Shopify Plus)

Theme updates break customizations

Causes:

Editing theme files directly instead of using theme app extensions
No version control or backup strategy
Hard-coded customizations in theme files

Fix:

Use theme app extensions for custom functionality
Create a duplicate theme before major changes
Document all customizations in a changelog
Test updates on a development store first

Liquid Code Best Practices

Optimize Loops

Bad: Looping through all products without limits

{% for product in collections.all.products %}

Good: Limit iterations and use pagination

{% for product in collections.all.products limit: 12 %}

Use Filters Efficiently

Tip: Chain filters instead of multiple loops

{% assign featured = collections.all.products | where: 'tags', 'featured' | limit: 4 %}

Prevention Checklist

☐Use version control (Git) for all theme changes
☐Test customizations on development store first
☐Document all custom code and modifications
☐Use theme app extensions when possible
☐Regular performance audits and optimization
☐Mobile-first responsive design testing

Version Control Strategy

Never lose your customizations. Set up proper version control:

1. Use Shopify CLI

Download your theme locally and track changes with Git:

shopify theme pull && git add . && git commit -m "Theme update"

2. Create Theme Duplicates

Before major changes, duplicate your theme in Shopify admin. This gives you a rollback point.

3. Document Changes

Keep a changelog file in your theme noting what was changed, why, and when. Future you will thank you.

Quick Wins

Use theme app extensions

Create reusable app extensions instead of editing theme files directly. They survive theme updates and can be reused across themes.

Optimize Liquid loops

Limit loop iterations, use pagination, and avoid nested loops. Your store will load faster and perform better.

Set up a development store

Test all changes on a development store before pushing to production. Prevents costly mistakes and downtime.

Use metafields for custom data

Instead of hard-coding values, use metafields. They're flexible, searchable, and don't break with theme updates.