How To List Shop By Brand In Woocommerce

How to List Shop by Brand in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, providing a seamless and intuitive shopping experience is crucial for success. One effective way to enhance your WooCommerce store’s navigation and usability is to implement a “Shop by Brand” feature. Allowing customers to easily browse products based on their preferred brands not only improves their shopping journey but also boosts your brand visibility and sales. This article will guide you through different methods to list shop by brand in WooCommerce, empowering you to create a more organized and user-friendly online store. Whether you’re a coding novice or a seasoned developer, this guide offers solutions for all skill levels.

Implementing “Shop by Brand” in WooCommerce

There are several approaches to listing shop by brand in WooCommerce, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We’ll cover the most popular and effective methods.

Method 1: Using Product Attributes (The Manual Way)

This method leverages WooCommerce’s built-in product attribute functionality. It requires manual setup but provides a simple and direct way to organize your products by brand.

1. Create a “Brand” Attribute:

• Go to Products > Attributes in your WordPress admin panel.
• Add a new attribute named “Brand” (or whatever you prefer).
• Important: Ensure the “Enable Archives?” option is checked. This allows each brand to have its own archive page.
• Click “Add attribute”.

2. Add Brand Terms (Values):

• Click “Configure terms” next to the “Brand” attribute.
• Add each of your product brands as terms. For example, “Nike”, “Adidas”, “Samsung”, etc.
• Add a description and/or image if you want your brands to appear visually appealing.

3. Assign Brands to Products:

• Edit each product and go to the “Product data” section.
• Click on the “Attributes” tab.
• Select the “Brand” attribute from the dropdown.
• Choose the appropriate brand term for that product from the “Value(s)” dropdown.
• Click “Save attributes” and then “Update” the product.

4. Displaying Brands:

• Using the “Product Brands” Widget: WooCommerce includes a “Product Brands” widget (Appearance > Widgets). Add this to your sidebar or any widget area. This will display a list of brands that link to their respective archive pages.
• Creating a Custom Page: For more control, you can create a custom page and manually link to the brand archive pages. Each brand archive page will automatically list all products assigned to that brand.

Pros:

• No plugin required.
• Utilizes native WooCommerce functionality.

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming, especially for large product catalogs.
• Limited customization options for the brand display.
• Requires manual entry for each product.

Method 2: Using a Dedicated “Shop by Brand” Plugin

Several WooCommerce plugins are specifically designed to simplify the “Shop by Brand” process and offer more advanced features. Here are a few popular options:

• YITH WooCommerce Brands Add-on: A comprehensive plugin with features like brand sliders, brand logos, and advanced filtering options.
• WooCommerce Brands: Another popular choice that provides easy brand management and display options.
• Product Brands for WooCommerce: Offers a simpler approach with a focus on ease of use.

General Steps for Using a Plugin:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Search for the desired plugin in the WordPress plugin directory or upload it manually and activate it.

2. Configure Plugin Settings: Go to the plugin’s settings page (usually found under WooCommerce or a dedicated menu item) and configure options like brand display style, image sizes, and archive page settings.

3. Add Brands: The plugin will typically provide a dedicated interface for adding and managing brands.

4. Assign Brands to Products: The plugin will often add a “Brand” meta box to the product edit page, allowing you to easily select a brand for each product.

5. Display Brands: The plugin will usually offer widgets, shortcodes, or blocks to display the brands on your site. Refer to the plugin’s documentation for specific instructions.

Example using YITH WooCommerce Brands Add-on:

Once installed and activated, you’ll find a “Brands” menu item in your WordPress admin panel. Here you can add brands, assign images, and configure their appearance.

Then, when editing a product, you will see a brand selection option.

Pros:

• Simplified brand management.
• Enhanced display options and customization.
• Often includes features like brand sliders and filtering.

Cons:

• Requires installing and configuring a third-party plugin.
• May come with associated costs (especially for premium features).
• Plugin compatibility issues are possible.

Method 3: Custom Code (For Developers)

If you’re comfortable with PHP and WordPress development, you can create a custom solution to list shop by brand. This offers the most flexibility but requires technical expertise.

<?php
/**
Custom function to display product brands
*/
function display_product_brands() {
$taxonomy = 'product_brand'; // Replace with your brand taxonomy if different
$terms = get_terms( array(
'taxonomy' => $taxonomy,
'hide_empty' => true, // Only show brands with products
) );

if ( ! empty( $terms ) && ! is_wp_error( $terms ) ) {

echo ‘

‘;

foreach ( $terms as $term ) {

$brand_link = get_term_link( $term );

echo ‘

• ‘ . esc_html( $term->name ) . ‘

‘;

}

echo ‘

‘;

} else {

echo ‘

No brands found.

‘;

}

}

// Hook the function to a template location (e.g., in your sidebar.php or a custom page template)

// Example:

?>

Explanation:

• The code retrieves all terms (brands) from the `product_brand` taxonomy (you may need to adjust this based on your setup).
• It loops through each brand and creates a list item with a link to the brand’s archive page.
• The code is wrapped in a function that you can call in your theme’s template files or using a shortcode.

To create a shortcode for this function:

You can then use `[product_brands]` in your pages or posts.

Remember to add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.

Pros:

• Maximum flexibility and customization.
• No reliance on third-party plugins.
• Optimal performance (when coded efficiently).

Cons:

• Requires PHP and WordPress development skills.
• Can be time-consuming to implement.
• Maintenance and updates require technical knowledge.

Conclusion

Implementing a “Shop by Brand” feature in your WooCommerce store can significantly enhance the user experience and boost sales. Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills, budget, and desired level of customization. If you are comfortable using the default WooCommerce, then the attributes feature could be enough. For simpler brand management and display, a dedicated plugin is a good option. And if you’re a developer who wants complete control, custom code provides the ultimate flexibility. No matter which approach you choose, remember to prioritize a clear, intuitive, and visually appealing brand display that makes it easy for customers to find their favorite brands and products. Always test thoroughly after implementation to ensure proper functionality and a seamless shopping experience. By investing time into this enhancement, you can create a more engaging and profitable WooCommerce store.