Applies to: E-commerce inventory sync, Shopify only.
With Shopify inventory sync, every Kickflip variant you track must be linked to a Shopify variant. Shopify then tracks its stock. Pick the option that matches your catalog.
Choose how to link
Option | Use it when | What happens in Shopify |
1. Link to an existing variant | The item already exists in Shopify, often with stock and order history | Nothing new is created. Stock, reports and order history stay as they are. |
2. Add a new variant to an existing product | The Shopify product exists, but not this variant | Kickflip creates the variant under that product, with its own stock. The product must have only one option, like Size. |
3. Create an unlisted product | The item should only be sold through your customizer | Kickflip creates a Shopify product that customers can only buy through your customizer. |
NOTE
Every Shopify product has at least one variant. If a product has no options like Size or Color, Shopify creates a hidden Default variant. You may not see it in Shopify, but you can link to it. So you can link to any Shopify product, even one without variants.
Option 1: Link to an existing Shopify variant
Use this when you already sell the item outside Kickflip, or it already has stock and order history.
Open your product in Kickflip and go to Variants.
Click Not linked to Shopify on the variant.
Select the Shopify variant.
Click the save button.
No duplicate product is created. Your existing stock, reports and order history stay intact.
Several Kickflip variants can link to the same Shopify variant. They then share its stock.
Option 2: Add a new variant to an existing Shopify product
Use this to grow an existing product line, or to keep all variants grouped under one Shopify product.
Open your product in Kickflip and go to Variants.
Click Not linked to Shopify on the variant.
Select the Shopify product.
Choose Add new variant to product.
Click the save button.
This only works when the Shopify product has one option, like Size. Two or more options, like Size and Color? See Troubleshoot Shopify inventory sync.
Option 3: Create an unlisted product
An unlisted product is a Shopify product that Kickflip creates for you. It exists in Shopify for stock tracking, order processing, fulfillment and reporting. It doesn't need to appear in your collections, menus or search results. Customers can only buy it through your customizer.
Use it for:
Products with thousands of possible combinations.
Made-to-order products.
Items you only sell through your customizer.
Complex products that would clutter your storefront.
It keeps your storefront clean, tracks stock for custom combinations, and stops customers from buying an incomplete configuration outside the customizer.
Open your product in Kickflip and go to Variants.
Click Not linked to Shopify on the variant.
Choose to create an unlisted product.
Click the save button.
Link many variants at once
Bulk actions work with all 3 options.
On the Variants page, select variants with the checkboxes.
Click Bulk Actions.
Choose the action, then click Link.
Two examples with 3 selected variants and one Shopify product:
default: all 3 variants link to the product's default variant. They share its stock.
Add new variant to product: each variant becomes its own Shopify variant under the product, with its own stock.
Unlink variants
On the Variants page, select the variants to unlink. Select just one to unlink a single variant.
Click Bulk Actions.
Choose Unlink variants.
Unlinking only removes the link to Shopify. Nothing is deleted there. A Shopify variant, or an unlisted product that Kickflip created, stays in Shopify with its stock, orders and reporting data. The Kickflip variant's stock no longer syncs with Shopify.