Managing Categories

Viewing All Categories

To see all your categories:

1. Click Categories in the sidebar
2. View all categories in a sortable table

The categories table shows:

• Category name (clickable link to view the category page)
• Category code (used in the URL)
• Status badge (Active or Inactive)
• Action buttons (Edit, Activate/Deactivate, Delete)

Editing Categories

To edit an existing category:

Activating and Deactivating Categories

You can temporarily disable categories without deleting them. This is useful for seasonal categories or categories you're reorganizing.

Deactivating a Category

To hide a category from your store:

1. Go to Categories
2. Find the category in the table
3. Click the Deactivate icon (X with circle) in the Actions column
4. Confirm deactivation in the popup
5. Status changes to "Inactive" (yellow badge)

What happens when a category is inactive:

• The category remains in your dashboard
• Products assigned to it stay assigned
• The category doesn't appear on your store
• The category page URL returns a 404 error
• Products in the category may not be discoverable by customers
• You can reactivate it at any time

Reactivating a Category

To make an inactive category visible again:

1. Go to Categories
2. Find the inactive category (yellow "Inactive" badge)
3. Click the Activate icon (checkmark with circle) in the Actions column
4. Confirm activation in the popup
5. Status changes to "Active" (green badge)

The category and its products are now visible on your store again.

Reassigning Products Between Categories

For Individual Products

To change a product's category:

1. Go to Products in the sidebar
2. Click the Edit icon for the product
3. Change the selection in the Category dropdown in the Basic Information section
4. Click Save

Planning Category Changes

Before reorganizing categories:

1. List affected products: Note which products are in the category
2. Choose new categories: Decide where products will move
3. Update products: Reassign each product to its new category
4. Test navigation: Browse your store to verify products appear correctly

Deleting Categories

To permanently remove a category:

Category Pages

Each active category has its own dedicated page on your store.

Viewing Category Pages

To see how a category page looks:

1. Go to Categories
2. Click on the category name in the table
3. The category page opens in a new tab

Category Page URL Structure

e2c.store/your-store-name/categories/category-code

For example:

• e2c.store/demo/categories/clothing
• e2c.store/demo/categories/home-decor
• e2c.store/demo/categories/digital-downloads

What's on Category Pages

Category pages display:

• Category name as the page title
• All active products assigned to that category
• Product grid with images, names, and prices
• Standard store navigation header and footer
• Responsive design optimized for mobile and desktop

Category Organization Strategies

By Product Type

Group products by what they are:

├── Clothing
├── Accessories
├── Electronics
├── Home Decor
└── Books

Best for: General stores with diverse product types

By Use Case

Group products by how customers use them:

├── Workout Gear
├── Office Supplies
├── Travel Essentials
├── Party Supplies
└── Gift Ideas

Best for: Stores targeting specific customer needs

By Customer Type

Group products by who they're for:

├── For Him
├── For Her
├── For Kids
├── For Pets
└── For Home

Best for: Gift shops or stores with products for different audiences

By Price Range

Group products by affordability:

├── Under $20
├── $20-$50
├── $50-$100
└── Premium ($100+)

Best for: Stores emphasizing value and budget-friendly shopping

Hybrid Approach

Combine strategies as makes sense:

├── New Arrivals
├── Best Sellers
├── Clothing (by type)
├── Accessories (by type)
├── Sale Items (by price)
└── Gift Ideas (by use case)

Best for: Larger stores with extensive catalogs

Best Practices

Naming Conventions

• Be consistent: Use all singular or all plural (e.g., "Shirt" vs "Shirts")
• Keep it short: You have 25 characters—make them count
• Use customer language: Name categories with terms customers search for
• Avoid abbreviations: Unless universally understood (e.g., "DIY" is fine)

Organization Tips

• Start simple: Begin with 3-7 main categories
• Avoid overlap: Each category should be distinct
• Think like customers: Organize how people naturally shop
• Test with others: Ask friends to navigate your categories

Maintenance

• Review quarterly: Check if category structure still makes sense
• Monitor empty categories: Deactivate or delete categories with no products
• Update for growth: Add categories as your product line expands
• Seasonal adjustments: Create temporary categories for holidays, then remove

When to Add New Categories

Add a new category when:

• You have 5+ products that don't fit existing categories
• A product type is selling well and deserves its own category
• Customer feedback suggests confusion about where to find items
• You're expanding into a new product line

When to Remove Categories

Remove or consolidate categories when:

• A category has fewer than 3 products
• Two categories are too similar and confusing
• A product line has been discontinued
• You're simplifying your store structure

Troubleshooting

"Category Name is required"

• Category name cannot be empty
• Maximum 25 characters allowed
• Fill in the field before saving

"Category Code is required"

• Category code cannot be empty
• Maximum 25 characters allowed
• Click Generate or manually enter a code

"Category Code already exists"

• Category codes must be unique
• Click Generate to create a unique code automatically
• Or manually add numbers/letters (e.g., "clothing-2")

"Category Code contains invalid characters"

• Only letters, numbers, and hyphens allowed
• No spaces, underscores, or special characters
• Valid: "home-decor", "electronics", "art"
• Invalid: "home_decor", "electronics!", "art prints"

Category Not Showing on Store

• Verify status is Active (not Inactive)
• Ensure category has at least one published product
• Empty categories don't appear in navigation
• Clear browser cache and refresh

Category Page Shows 404 Error

• Check that category status is Active
• Verify the category code in URL matches exactly (case-sensitive)
• Ensure category wasn't accidentally deleted
• Try accessing from store navigation instead of direct URL

Can't Delete Category

• Confirm deletion in the popup
• Categories can be deleted even with products assigned

Products Missing After Category Change

• Verify products are still published ("Display on Store" enabled)
• Check that products were successfully reassigned
• Ensure new category is active
• Clear browser cache

Can't Add More Categories

• E2C Store limit: 25 categories per store
• Delete unused categories to add new ones
• Consider deactivating instead of creating new categories
• Consolidate similar categories

What's Next?

With your categories organized and managed:

1. Add products and assign them to categories
2. Manage existing products to keep them updated
3. Customize your homepage to feature key categories
4. Monitor your analytics to see which categories perform best

A well-organized category structure makes your store easier to shop!