A CSV is a useful starting point, but a reliable workflow includes a review before and after export. Use this checklist to avoid common catalog mistakes.
1. Define the job
Decide whether you need a working catalog copy, a research spreadsheet or a file for importing. Those tasks require different fields and levels of cleanup. A public storefront export is not a complete backup of your store: it does not include orders, customers or private admin data.
2. Check access and permission
Use publicly accessible data you are entitled to work with. A product being visible online does not automatically authorize copying its images or descriptions into another business’s store.
3. Inspect a small sample
Choose a few products with different structures: a simple product, one with several variants and one with multiple images. Confirm that the fields you need are present and understandable before processing a larger catalog.
4. Preserve identifiers
Open SKU and other identifier columns as text in your spreadsheet application. Otherwise, leading zeros can disappear and long numeric identifiers may be converted into scientific notation. Keep an untouched copy of the exported file.
5. Match the destination
Compare your columns with the destination platform’s current import requirements. Check how it represents variants, handles existing products and processes image URLs. Start with a small test import and review the result.
6. Keep a record
Record the source, export date and any transformations you made. That context helps you understand the file later and compare it with a future export.
Explore ShopFetch’s export features or walk through the export workflow.