Removing Vendor Information in WooCommerce: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
So, you’ve got a WooCommerce store and you’re using a multi-vendor plugin (like Dokan, WCFM Marketplace, or WC Vendors). Maybe you’re simplifying your store, consolidating to a single seller, or just need to tweak the way vendor info is displayed. Whatever the reason, you want to get rid of that vendor information. This guide is here to help, even if you’re new to WooCommerce!
Think of it like this: you’re a bookstore and you initially had sections dedicated to different independent authors. Now, you’re focusing solely on your own curated collection, so you need to remove the “Author’s Corner” signage. This is similar to removing vendor information in your online store.
We’ll explore various ways to achieve this, ranging from simple plugin settings to code snippets, ensuring you find the right solution for your situation. Understanding your specific setup (which multi-vendor plugin you’re using) is crucial.
Common Scenarios Where You Might Want to Remove Vendor Info:
- Transitioning to a Single-Vendor Store: You started with multiple vendors, but now you’re the only seller. The vendor information is now irrelevant and cluttering your product pages.
- Simplifying the Customer Experience: Too much vendor information might confuse customers. You want a cleaner product page focusing on the product itself.
- Rebranding or Restructuring: You’re changing the focus of your store and vendor information no longer aligns with your new branding.
- Specific Display Requirements: You want to customize the appearance of vendor information beyond what the multi-vendor plugin offers and decide to completely remove it to start fresh.
- Displaying the vendor name on product pages.
- Showing the vendor store link.
- Including vendor information in product excerpts.
- `single-product.php` (or a WooCommerce override of this file).
- `content-product.php` (for product listings).
- Files specific to your multi-vendor plugin (e.g., in Dokan, look for files within the `dokan` folder of your theme).
Step 1: Check Your Plugin Settings (The Easiest Option!)
The first and most straightforward approach is to check the settings of your multi-vendor plugin. Most popular plugins offer options to control the display of vendor information. This is the best place to start!
Example: Let’s say you’re using the Dokan plugin:
1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Dokan > Settings.
3. Look for tabs or sections related to “Vendor Settings,” “Product Display,” or “Appearance.”
4. You might find checkboxes or dropdowns to disable:
Reasoning: Plugin developers often provide built-in options to customize the display. This is the safest and easiest method as it doesn’t require coding.
Step 2: Using CSS (For Visual Tweaks – Hiding Elements)
If your plugin doesn’t offer a direct setting to remove vendor information, you can use CSS to hide specific elements. This doesn’t *remove* the data from the database, but it makes it invisible to visitors.
1. Identify the CSS Class or ID: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the element you want to hide and select “Inspect”) to find the CSS class or ID associated with the vendor information. For example, it might be `
` or `Visit Store`.
2. Add Custom CSS: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Write the CSS Code: Use the `display: none;` property to hide the element. For example:
.dokan-store-name {
display: none;
}
.wcfm-store-link {
display: none;
}
Reasoning: CSS is a quick and relatively safe way to hide elements without directly modifying the plugin’s code. This is useful when you want to temporarily hide something or if you’re not comfortable with PHP. However, be specific with your CSS selectors to avoid hiding unintended elements.
Step 3: Editing Theme Files (Requires Caution!)
Important: This method is more advanced and requires caution. Always back up your theme files before making any changes! Consider using a child theme to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
If you’re comfortable with PHP and your plugin doesn’t offer the customization you need, you can edit your theme’s template files to remove the vendor information.
1. Identify the Template File: You’ll need to figure out which template file displays the vendor information. Common culprits are:
2. Locate the Vendor Information Code: Open the template file and look for PHP code that outputs the vendor name, store link, or other vendor details. It will likely involve functions from your multi-vendor plugin (e.g., `dokan_get_store_name()`, `wcfm_get_vendor_store_url()`, `get_vendor_id()`).
3. Remove or Comment Out the Code: You can either delete the code entirely (after backing it up!) or comment it out using `/* … */`. Commenting is safer in case you want to restore the code later.
Example (Dokan on single-product.php):
Let’s say you find this code in your `single-product.php` file (likely within a `dokan` folder in your theme):
vendor->get( get_the_author_meta( 'ID' ) ); $store_info = $store_user->get_shop_info(); $store_name = $store_info['store_name'];
if ( ! empty( $store_name ) ) {
echo ‘
‘;
}
?>
To remove the vendor name, you could comment it out like this:
vendor->get( get_the_author_meta( 'ID' ) ); $store_info = $store_user->get_shop_info(); $store_name = $store_info['store_name'];
if ( ! empty( $store_name ) ) {
echo ‘
‘;
}
*/
?>
Reasoning: Directly editing theme files gives you the most control. However, it’s the most risky because:
- Errors can break your site: A small mistake in the code can cause serious problems.
- Updates can overwrite your changes: Theme updates will often replace your customized files, losing your modifications. This is why using a child theme is strongly recommended.
- Code understanding is required: You need to be able to understand the PHP code to modify it correctly.
Step 4: Using Hooks and Filters (The Recommended Approach for Developers)
For developers and those comfortable with PHP, using WooCommerce hooks and filters is the most flexible and maintainable way to remove or modify vendor information. This involves writing custom code in your (child) theme’s `functions.php` file or in a custom plugin.
Example (Dokan):
Dokan often provides hooks to modify the display of vendor information. Let’s say you want to completely prevent the display of the store name using the `dokan_store_name_template` filter.
function my_remove_dokan_store_name( $template_name, $store_user ) { return false; // Return false to prevent the template from being loaded. } add_filter( 'dokan_store_name_template', 'my_remove_dokan_store_name', 10, 2 );
Explanation:
- `add_filter(‘dokan_store_name_template’, ‘my_remove_dokan_store_name’, 10, 2);` This line adds a filter to the `dokan_store_name_template` hook. This hook is likely responsible for rendering the store name.
- `my_remove_dokan_store_name` is the name of your custom function.
- `10` is the priority of the filter (lower numbers run earlier).
- `2` is the number of arguments passed to the function.
- `return false;` Returning `false` often tells the hook to prevent the default template from loading.
Reasoning:
- Maintainability: Hooks and filters are designed to be updated and customized without directly editing the plugin’s core code. This means your changes are less likely to be broken by plugin updates.
- Flexibility: You can use hooks to modify existing information or add your own custom logic.
- Code Organization: Keeps your customizations separate from the core plugin code, making it easier to manage.
Important: The specific hooks and filters available depend on your multi-vendor plugin. Consult the plugin’s documentation or developer resources to find the appropriate hooks for your needs. You’ll need to research the specific hook to use.
Final Thoughts
Removing vendor information in WooCommerce involves understanding your specific setup (which multi-vendor plugin you’re using) and choosing the method that best suits your technical skills and requirements. Start with the simplest options (plugin settings and CSS) and only move to more complex methods (theme file editing and hooks) if necessary. Always back up your website before making significant changes! By following these steps, you can successfully remove vendor Check out this post: How To Change Woocommerce Shop Banner information and create a cleaner, more focused shopping experience for your customers. Good luck!
