Creating and Managing Categories
Categories help you organize your products and make it easy for customers to browse your store. A well-organized store with clear categories leads to more sales.
To manage your categories, go to Products in your sidebar and click the Categories tab. You can also manage categories from the dedicated Categories page in your sidebar.
Why Categories Matter
Think of categories like sections in a physical shop. Instead of dumping everything on one table, you group similar items together:
- Customers find what they want faster
- Your store looks more professional
- Browsing by category encourages discovery — customers might find something they didn't know they wanted
On your storefront, customers can browse by category and sort products within each category by popularity, price, or newest arrivals.
Default Categories
When you create a new store, Strawlo sets up five default categories to get you started:
- Caps
- T-Shirts
- Sweaters
- Accessories
- Shoes
You can edit, delete, or add to these defaults to match what you actually sell. They're just a starting point.
Creating a New Category
From the Categories Page
- Go to the Categories tab on your Products page
- Click Create Category
- Enter the category name
- Click Save
From the Product Form
You can also create categories on the fly while adding a product:
- Open the product create or edit form
- Click the Category dropdown
- Click Create new category
- Type the name and save
- The new category is automatically selected for your product
This is handy when you realize you need a new category while adding products.
Category Slugs
Strawlo automatically creates a URL-friendly slug from your category name:
- "T-Shirts" →
t-shirts - "Home & Garden" →
home-garden - "Women's Clothing" →
womens-clothing
Slugs are used in your store's URLs. For example: yourstore.strawlo.com/category/t-shirts
You don't need to set slugs manually — they're generated automatically.
Editing a Category
- Go to the Categories tab
- Find the category you want to edit
- Click the Edit button
- Change the name
- Click Save
The slug is automatically updated to match the new name. Any products in this category keep their association — they'll just appear under the new name.
Deleting a Category
- Go to the Categories tab
- Find the category you want to delete
- Click the Delete button
- Confirm the deletion
What happens to products in a deleted category?
Products that were in the deleted category become uncategorized. They're not deleted — they stay in your store, they just don't belong to any category. You can assign them to a different category by editing each product.
Before deleting, Strawlo shows you how many products are affected so you can decide if you want to reassign them first.
Product Count
On the Categories page, each category shows a product count — the number of products assigned to it. This helps you see:
- Which categories are well-stocked
- Which categories might need more products
- Empty categories you might want to delete
How Categories Appear on Your Storefront
When customers visit your store, they can browse products by category:
- Categories are listed for easy navigation
- Clicking a category shows all products in it
- Within a category, customers can sort by:
- Most Popular — Best-selling products first
- Price: Low to High
- Price: High to Low
- Newest — Most recently added products first
A well-organized category structure makes your store feel professional and easy to shop.
Quick Tips
1. Keep Category Names Short and Clear
"T-Shirts" is better than "T-Shirts and Short Sleeve Tops Collection." Short names look cleaner in navigation.
2. Aim for 5–10 Categories
Too few categories and everything is lumped together. Too many and it's overwhelming. For most stores, 5–10 categories is the sweet spot.
3. Think Like Your Customer
Name categories based on how customers think, not how you organize your inventory. "Dresses" is more intuitive than "Product Line B."
4. Don't Leave Categories Empty
Empty categories make your store look incomplete. If you don't have products for a category yet, don't create it until you do.
5. Review Categories as You Grow
As your product range expands, revisit your categories. You might need to split a broad category into more specific ones.
6. Use Categories for Seasonal Organization
Create categories like "New Arrivals" or "Best Sellers" to highlight specific products and keep your store feeling fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a product be in multiple categories?
No, each product belongs to one category at a time. Choose the most relevant category for each product.
Is there a limit to how many categories I can create?
There's no hard limit on categories. However, keeping your list manageable (5–10 categories) provides the best customer experience.
What happens if I delete all my categories?
Your products will become uncategorized. Customers can still find them through search or by browsing all products, but category-based browsing won't be available.
Can I reorder my categories?
Categories are displayed in the order they were created (newest first). To change the display order, you can delete and recreate categories in your preferred order.
Do categories affect SEO?
Yes! Each category has its own URL on your storefront (e.g., yourstore.strawlo.com/category/t-shirts). Clear, descriptive category names help search engines understand your store structure.
Can I add a description or image to a category?
Currently, categories have a name and auto-generated slug. Category descriptions and images are not available yet.
Need Help?
If you have questions about managing categories:
- Email us — support@strawlo.com
- Join our community — Connect with other sellers in our WhatsApp group
- Watch tutorials — Check out our YouTube channel for video guides