How to Create Multiple Shopping Carts by Category in WooCommerce

Want to offer your customers a smoother, more organized shopping experience on your WooCommerce store? Imagine a shopper browsing your extensive collection of electronics. Instead of juggling multiple items across a single cart, they could have separate carts for “Laptops,” “Smartphones,” and “Headphones.” That’s the power of having multiple shopping carts categorized by product type! This article will guide you through achieving this, even if you’re new to WooCommerce.

Check out this post: How Does Woocommerce Order Note To Customer Work

Why Multiple Shopping Carts Are Beneficial

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand *why* you’d want multiple shopping carts. Think about a large online retailer like Amazon. They don’t force you to cram everything into one cart. This is because:

• Improved User Experience: Customers find it easier to manage their selections when items are grouped logically. Less confusion means more sales!
• Reduced Cart Abandonment: A cluttered cart can overwhelm shoppers, leading them to abandon their purchase. Separate carts help keep things organized and less daunting.
• Better Order Management: For you, the store owner, separate carts can make order fulfillment and inventory tracking more efficient.

The Limitations of WooCommerce’s Built-in Functionality

Unfortunately, WooCommerce doesn’t offer a native feature for multiple shopping carts based on product categories. This means we need to leverage plugins or custom code. For beginners, plugins are the easiest and safest route.

The Plugin Approach: The Simplest Solution

The most straightforward method is to use a WooCommerce plugin designed to manage multiple shopping carts. Many options are available; however, choosing the right plugin is crucial. Always check reviews and ensure the plugin is compatible with your WooCommerce version and theme.

Here’s a general process:

1. Find a suitable plugin: Search the WordPress plugin directory for “WooCommerce multiple carts” or “WooCommerce category carts.” Read reviews and compare features.

2. Install and Activate: Once you’ve chosen a plugin, install it through your WordPress dashboard. Simply upload the plugin file or search for it within the “Plugins” section.

3. Configure the plugin: Most plugins will have settings to customize how multiple carts behave. This might include selecting which categories get their own cart and whether users can switch between carts seamlessly.

4. Test thoroughly: After setup, thoroughly test the functionality on your store, adding items to different categorized carts and checking the checkout process.

Example: A Bookstore with Multiple Carts

Let’s say you own an online bookstore with categories like “Fiction,” “Non-Fiction,” and “Children’s Books.” With a multiple-cart plugin, a customer browsing “Fiction” can add items to a dedicated “Fiction” cart. When they move to “Non-Fiction,” they can add items to a separate “Non-Fiction” cart without affecting their fiction selections. This significantly improves the buying experience.

Important Considerations When Choosing a Plugin

• Compatibility: Ensure the plugin is compatible with your WooCommerce and WordPress versions.
• Reviews and Ratings: Check user reviews to get an idea of the plugin’s performance and reliability.
• Features: Look for features that suit your specific needs, like the ability to merge carts, save carts for later, or integrate with other plugins.
• Support: Make sure the plugin developer provides adequate support in case you encounter any issues.

Conclusion

Implementing multiple shopping carts by category in WooCommerce can significantly improve your customer’s shopping journey and boost your sales. While WooCommerce doesn’t natively support this, utilizing a well-chosen plugin is a relatively simple and effective solution for even the most novice WooCommerce users. Remember to choose a plugin carefully, test it thoroughly, and always back up your site before installing any new plugins.