Custom Collection Builder for Shopify: Create Curated Collections

Custom collections (also called manual collections) let you hand-pick which products appear. Unlike automated collections that use rules, custom collections give you complete control over product selection and ordering. This approach is ideal for curated selections where automation can't capture your intent.

When to Use Custom Collections

Manual curation makes sense for:

• Staff picks: Products your team personally recommends
• Gift guides: Hand-selected items for specific occasions
• Limited editions: Specific products that don't share common attributes
• Homepage features: Carefully chosen products for maximum impact
• Lookbooks: Products styled together that may not share tags
• Collaborations: Cross-category products from partnerships

Creating a Custom Collection

1. Go to Products > Collections in Shopify admin
2. Click Create collection
3. Enter a title and description
4. Under Collection type, select Manual
5. Click Save
6. In the Products section, click Browse or search for products
7. Select products to add
8. Click Add

Organizing Products in Custom Collections

Manual Sorting

Drag and drop products to set display order. Place your best-performing or most important products at the top.

Bulk Adding Products

Add multiple products at once:

• Use the search and filter options to find products
• Select multiple products using checkboxes
• Click Add to include all selected products

Custom vs. Automated Collections

Understanding the difference helps you choose the right approach:

Best Practices for Custom Collections

Keep Collections Focused

Avoid overly broad custom collections. A "Staff Picks" collection with 200 products loses its curated feel. Aim for 10-30 products per curated collection.

Update Regularly

Custom collections don't update themselves. Schedule regular reviews:

• Remove out-of-stock products
• Add new relevant products
• Refresh seasonal collections
• Remove discontinued items

Use Descriptive Titles

Custom collection titles should tell customers what to expect:

• "Holiday Gift Guide Under $50" vs. "Gifts"
• "Summer Essentials 2024" vs. "Summer Stuff"
• "Our Team's Favorites" vs. "Staff Picks"

Write Compelling Descriptions

Explain why these products are grouped together. This helps both customers and SEO:

• Describe the collection's theme or purpose
• Mention who the collection is for
• Include relevant keywords naturally

Common Use Cases

Featured Products

Create a collection for your homepage featuring your best products. Update it monthly to keep content fresh.

Seasonal Collections

Build collections for holidays or seasons. Archive them after the season ends rather than deleting—you can reuse them next year.

Influencer Picks

If you work with influencers, create collections of products they've featured. Link to these from your marketing campaigns.

Bundle Suggestions

Group products that work well together, even if they're from different categories. "Complete the Look" or "Works Well With" collections drive cross-selling.

Managing Custom Collection Growth

As your store grows, custom collections can become hard to manage:

• Document your collections: Keep a list of what each collection is for
• Set expiration dates: Know when seasonal collections should be retired
• Assign ownership: Make someone responsible for each collection's maintenance
• Review quarterly: Audit all custom collections regularly

Hybrid Approach

Consider combining custom and automated collections:

• Use automated collections for category pages
• Use custom collections for curated features
• Link between them for better navigation

Conclusion

Custom collections give you complete control over product curation. Use them when automation can't capture your intent—for staff picks, gift guides, featured products, and curated selections. Keep collections focused, update them regularly, and write descriptions that explain their purpose. The manual effort pays off in collections that feel intentional and curated.

Related Resources

• Shopify Help: Manual Collections
• What is a Shopify Collection?
• Shopify SEO Guide