geraldwasap32
Posts: 51
Joined: 15 Nov 22
Trust:
17 Nov 25 9:20 am
I’m working on a store with a big catalog, too, and what helped me is getting very clear on how real shoppers think. The comment above is already spot-on, but I’d add a few practical points.
When you do keyword research, don’t just look at search volume. Look at how people phrase things. Sometimes the way customers describe a product feels “wrong” from a branding angle, but that’s the wording they actually type, so it’s usually better to stick with it. Also, before finalizing your structure, try grouping products a few different ways and ask a couple of friends or past customers to find specific items. You’ll spot confusing sections pretty fast.
Another thing that comes up with larger stores is product discovery
outside the site. For example, if you’re planning packaging or promos later, QR codes can help send shoppers directly to the right category or even to a curated bundle. Some stores use them to link to “new arrivals” or seasonal collections, which keeps people from digging around too much.
For scalability, I keep a running list of future categories on a separate tab. As soon as a category looks like it’ll hit 60–80 products, I know it’s time to split or add filters.
It’s a bit of work upfront, but it saves a lot of cleanup later.
