BigCommerce Multi-Storefront How to Change the Theme

The eCommerce landscape is evolving rapidly, and businesses need to adapt to stay competitive. One such powerful tool for online retailers is BigCommerce's Multi-Storefront feature, which allows you to manage multiple storefronts from a single backend. This flexibility is a game-changer for businesses looking to diversify their product lines, cater to different customer segments, or expand into new markets. A key part of managing multiple storefronts effectively is the ability to customize each storefront’s appearance, which includes changing themes. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of changing the theme for a BigCommerce Multi-Storefront setup.

Understanding BigCommerce Multi-Storefront

Before diving into theme customization, it's essential to understand what BigCommerce Multi-Storefront is and why it’s beneficial. BigCommerce Multi-Storefront allows you to create and manage multiple online stores from a single BigCommerce account. Each storefront can have its unique domain, design, product catalog, and customer base. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that want to:

1. Target different customer segments.
2. Test different marketing strategies.
3. Sell diverse product lines without mixing them up on a single store.
4. Expand into different geographical regions.

With Multi-Storefront, you can provide tailored experiences to your customers, ensuring that each storefront aligns with the preferences and expectations of its target audience.

Why Change the Theme?

Changing the theme of a storefront is a crucial part of creating a unique shopping experience. The theme dictates the visual appeal, layout, and overall user experience of your store. Here are a few reasons why you might want to change the theme:

1. Brand Differentiation: If you operate multiple storefronts, each serving a different audience or selling different products, a unique theme for each store helps differentiate your brands.
2. Seasonal Promotions and Campaigns: You might want to change the theme to reflect seasonal sales, special promotions, or new product launches.
3. Improved User Experience: A new theme could offer a more modern, responsive, or user-friendly design, improving the overall shopping experience.
4. Mobile Optimization: With a significant portion of online shopping done on mobile devices, ensuring your theme is mobile-optimized is critical. Changing to a more mobile-friendly theme can help improve conversion rates.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing the Theme in BigCommerce Multi-Storefront

Changing the theme in BigCommerce Multi-Storefront is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Log in to Your BigCommerce Account

First, log in to your BigCommerce control panel. You need to have the necessary permissions to manage storefronts and make changes to the theme. Ensure that you have administrator access to avoid any permissions issues.

2. Navigate to the Storefront

Once logged in, navigate to the Storefront tab on the left-hand sidebar. This section is where you’ll manage the themes and design elements of your storefronts.

3. Select the Storefront You Want to Customize

If you have multiple storefronts, you will see a list of all your stores. Click on the storefront for which you want to change the theme. Each storefront operates independently, so you need to select the correct one before proceeding.

4. Access the Theme Marketplace

After selecting the desired storefront, click on Customize under the theme section. You’ll be redirected to the theme customization page. From here, click on Theme Marketplace to explore available themes. BigCommerce offers a variety of free and paid themes, each with different layouts, styles, and functionalities.

5. Choose a New Theme

Browse through the available themes in the Theme Marketplace. You can filter themes based on different criteria, such as industry, layout style, or feature set. Each theme has a demo option, allowing you to preview how it will look before making a selection. Take your time to explore and find a theme that aligns with your brand and business goals.

6. Apply the Theme to Your Storefront

Once you’ve selected a new theme, click Apply Theme. BigCommerce will prompt you to confirm your choice. Confirming this will start the process of applying the theme to your selected storefront.

It’s important to note that applying a new theme will overwrite the existing theme’s settings. If you have customized your current theme heavily, consider backing up or documenting these customizations before proceeding. See here for a list of fast and modern BigCommerce themes.

7. Customize Your Theme

After applying the new theme, you’ll be redirected to the theme editor. This editor allows you to customize various aspects of the theme, including:

Colors and Fonts: Adjust the color scheme and typography to match your brand identity.

Header and Footer: Modify the header and footer to include your logo, contact information, and social media links.

Homepage Layout: Customize the homepage layout to showcase featured products, promotions, or categories.

Product Pages: Adjust the product page layout to optimize for conversions.

Take advantage of the theme editor to create a unique and engaging storefront that resonates with your target audience.

8. Preview and Test Your Storefront

Before making your changes live, preview the new theme to see how it looks and functions. Check for any inconsistencies or issues, particularly with mobile responsiveness and cross-browser compatibility. Test the storefront on different devices to ensure a seamless user experience.

9. Publish Your Changes

Once you’re satisfied with the new theme and its customization, click Publish to make the changes live. Your customers will now see the new theme when they visit your storefront.

Best Practices for Changing Themes in BigCommerce Multi-Storefront

1. Backup Your Store: Always back up your store before making significant changes. This includes exporting product data, theme settings, and other customizations.
2. Test Extensively: After applying a new theme, test all functionalities, including the checkout process, product pages, and navigation. Ensure there are no broken links or errors.
3. Monitor Performance: Changing a theme can impact your store’s loading speed and performance. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to monitor and optimize performance after the theme change.
4. Gather Customer Feedback: After launching the new theme, gather feedback from customers to understand their experience. Use this feedback to make further improvements.

Conclusion

Changing the theme of a storefront in BigCommerce Multi-Storefront is a powerful way to differentiate your brands, enhance user experience, and stay competitive in a dynamic market. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth transition and create a visually appealing, user-friendly online store that caters to your customers' needs. Remember to keep testing and optimizing your storefront to ensure it performs at its best.