How to Use Each Shopify Element to Drive Sales
As a founder who’s grown their brand from the ground up, you know every detail counts when it comes to your online store. Whether you’re displaying handcrafted goods, premium CPG products, or thoughtfully designed housewares, the way you present your products on Shopify can make all the difference. Two key tools you’ll be working with: product cards and product pages. While they serve different purposes, each plays a critical role in the customer journey—and ultimately, your bottom line.
Product Cards
Quick Wins for ATC, Upselling and Cross-Selling
Product cards are like your store’s first impression—a carefully curated teaser of what’s to come. These small but powerful snippets appear on collection or homepage grids, giving customers a snapshot of a product with minimal details: an image, a price, maybe a review star or two.
Ideally, your product cards also include a few high-value details: a "quick add" button, scrollable images on mobile or hover swap on desktop, color swatches when applicable, badges, star ratings, and cutlines. Depending on your Shopify Theme, some or all of these might need to be custom coded by a pro like us 😜
The beauty of product cards is that they make browsing easy and enticing. By presenting products side-by-side, you’re subtly encouraging your customers to explore more of what you offer. They're a prime opportunity for upselling and cross-selling. Got a customer eyeing that new ceramic piece? Why not show them a matching tray? This approach not only boosts average order value but keeps your site visually organized; we want customers to have a subliminal sense of understanding of everything we have to offer.
Product Pages
Where Stories—and Conversions—Are Made
Once a product card has done its job, it’s time for the product page to take center stage. This is where your product gets to shine and tell its full story. High-quality images, detailed descriptions, and customer reviews all work together to create a rich, immersive experience. If product cards are the appetizer, your product page is the main course—this is where you can satisfy the customer’s hunger for more details, product specs, and the emotional connection that will inspire them to hit “Buy Now.”
For your ideal customer, who’s likely discerning and selective about what they add to their cart, the product page needs to deliver on several fronts. It’s not just about listing features; it’s about telling the story of why this product matters and how it fits into their life. What makes it special? What problem does it solve? How does it align with your brand’s larger mission or values? You want to spark that aha moment where the customer sees themselves using the product and can’t imagine not having it.
The product page is also where trust is built. Customer reviews, detailed FAQs, and product comparisons help eliminate doubt, while compelling copy and high-quality visuals elevate the shopping experience from transactional to relational. This is where you’re not just making a sale—you’re creating a loyal customer.
So, Which One Should You Focus On?
The magic isn’t in choosing one over the other—it’s about how you use them together. Product cards are perfect for discovery, helping customers browse and find items they didn’t even know they wanted. Meanwhile, product pages are where the sale is made, providing all the details and emotional connection your customers need to complete their purchase. Together, they create a seamless customer journey that’s both engaging and conversion-focused.
At Alcove Studio, we help growing brands create these experiences by balancing both the strategic and aesthetic sides of e-commerce. Whether you’re looking to refine your product cards for better upselling or turn your product pages into conversion machines, we’re here to help you build a store that feels as thoughtful and curated as the products you sell.