8 Must Haves to Sell More Custom Products on Your Shopify Store

Shopify is the most popular platform for launching and growing an online store. But manufacturers who sell custom products face very different challenges than those offering standard items. Cabinets, shelving systems, and furniture often involve thousands of possible combinations, and customers want the freedom to explore those options without feeling lost.

Out of the box, Shopify covers the basics of ecommerce. That’s why successful custom product stores combine Shopify’s built-in features with the right apps and integrations. From Shopify product configurators and augmented reality to AI assistants and delivery transparency, these add-ons transform complexity into a smooth buying journey.

What Are the Different Ways to Enhance Your Shopify Store?

Shopify is a powerful platform on its own but when you sell customizable products like cabinets, shelving systems or furniture the default setup is rarely enough. Shoppers want to explore options, visualize their choices and feel confident before they buy. To make that possible you need more than the basics.

There are three main ways to add extra power to your Shopify store. Native Shopify features give you tools such as discount codes, abandoned cart recovery and built-in analytics. The Shopify App Store offers more than 10,000 apps for everything from customer reviews to upselling and advanced search.

You can also add external integrations, such as advanced Shopify product configurators which connect seamlessly to Shopify even if they are not listed as apps. 

For stores with thousands of product combinations the challenge is to make the shopping journey simple and clear instead of overwhelming. The right add ons create that experience and help customers move from interest to purchase with confidence.

Here are 8 must haves every custom product manufacturer on Shopify should consider.

1- Shopify Product Configurator

A Shopify product configurator transforms the way customers interact with customizable products. Instead of choosing options from static menus, shoppers can explore finishes, dimensions, colors, and materials in real time and immediately see the results. This creates a hands-on shopping experience that feels personal and engaging.

The numbers confirm its impact. Research shows that 82% of product page visitors activate 3D view when it is available, proving that customers are eager to engage with interactive visualization before making a purchase.

For configurable furniture this capability is essential. Cabinets, shelving systems, and other made-to-order items often involve thousands of possible combinations. Without a configurator, buyers can feel lost in the complexity. With one, the process becomes intuitive. Customers can experiment freely, visualize every choice, and feel confident they are designing the right product.

Salsita’s Shopify product configurator brings this to life. It combines interactive 3D and AR with powerful parametric models that ensure every configuration is valid. Prices update instantly as options change, and customers can switch between a guided step-by-step flow or a free exploration mode. Once the design is complete, every selection maps directly to the correct SKU in Shopify, making checkout seamless.

2- Augmented Reality

Augmented reality allows customers to preview your products in their own environment using a phone or tablet. Shoppers can see a cabinet against their wall or test how a shelf fits into their living room before deciding whether to buy it.

AR is more than a nice-to-have. Studies show that it can reduce hesitation at checkout and increase conversion rates by up to 20%.

This is particularly powerful for custom products such as furniture, home décor, and appliances where placement in the real environment matters. A customer who can visualize the product in context is much more confident in their decision.

Shopify has built-in support for AR on product pages.  But you can go further with tools such as Salsita’s Shopify product Configurator, which combines AR with product customization. Customers can build their product and instantly preview it in their own space, all from your Shopify store.

3- AI Assistants

AI assistants guide shoppers through complex buying decisions using natural language. Instead of clicking through endless menus, customers can describe what they are looking for and get personalized suggestions that fit their needs.

This interactive support makes a difference. 76% of customers are open to AI assistants answering their questions. By reducing confusion and helping buyers explore options step by step, AI assistants create a smoother path to purchase.

For stores selling customizable products with thousands of possible combinations, this is especially powerful. Buyers can quickly feel overwhelmed when choosing dimensions, finishes, or materials. An AI assistant works like a knowledgeable salesperson, turning a potentially stressful process into a simple and engaging conversation.

Advanced options like Salsita’s AI assistant use product data, configurator rules, and company knowledge to provide accurate recommendations, respond to detailed questions, and make real time updates directly in the Shopify product configurator. More basic, chatbot-like solutions such as Tidio focus on answering common questions and providing customer support.

4- User Generated Content

User generated content (UGC)  is any review, photo, video, or testimonial that comes directly from your customers. Because it comes from real buyers, it is often more persuasive than polished advertising.

The impact is significant. Bazaarvoice’s Shopper Experience Index reports that shoppers who engage with UGC reviews convert 144% more often and generate 162% higher revenue per visitor. Power Reviews also found that 9 in 10 consumers are more likely to buy a product that has photo and video reviews.

For custom products, UGC carries even more weight. Buyers want to see how a shelving system looks in someone’s home or how a custom cabinet fits into a real kitchen before they commit to their own purchase. Seeing authentic experiences helps them feel more confident about investing in a made-to-order product.

Shopify apps like Loox, or Yotpo make it easy to collect, display, and manage customer reviews, including photos and videos, directly on your product pages.

5- Upselling and Cross-selling

Upselling encourages customers to choose a higher end version of the product they are already considering, while cross selling suggests complementary products that add value to their main purchase. 

Both strategies not only increase order value for the store but also improve the customer experience by helping shoppers discover better fits or additions they might not have thought of on their own. The results speak for themselves. McKinsey reports that cross selling can increase revenue by 20% and profits by 30%.

For custom product stores the potential is huge. A customer configuring a cabinet might be offered upgraded finishes through upselling, or matching shelves through cross selling. Both flows can be built directly into a Shopify product configurator, so the suggestions feel like part of the design process rather than an extra sales push. Shopify apps like ReConvert also make it easy to add these strategies to your store.

6- Estimated Delivery Time and Shipping Dates

When shoppers buy online they want to know exactly when their order will arrive. Delivery speed and transparency are among the biggest factors influencing purchase decisions, and unclear timelines are one of the top reasons for cart abandonment. Adding estimated delivery dates directly on product pages or in the cart makes them more likely to complete their order.

The numbers prove it. 75% of shoppers said that showing an estimated delivery date on the product page or in the cart positively influences their decision to buy.

For custom products this becomes even more important since production and delivery often take longer than standard items. A made to order cabinet or shelving system might take weeks to manufacture, and without clear delivery information customers can quickly lose confidence. Showing a realistic delivery window sets expectations, builds trust, and helps shoppers commit to higher value purchases.

Shopify makes this possible directly through its Shipping and delivery settings, which allow you to display delivery times and adjust them based on product type, customization, or customer location.

7- Advanced Search and Filtering

When a store has many products and variations, advanced search and filtering make it easier for customers to find what they want. Shoppers can narrow results by size, material, finish, or price instead of scrolling through dozens of irrelevant options.

Research shows that 80% of customers leave a site if the search experience is poor, underlining the importance of making products easy to discover.

For custom product stores this is especially valuable. Someone shopping for shelving might want to see only models that fit a specific width or depth. Without strong filtering they may give up and leave. A Shopify product configurator can also serve this role by guiding shoppers through choices step by step, ensuring they only see options that match their requirements.

On the Shopify side, apps like Searchanise make it simple to add advanced filtering and powerful search to your catalog.

8- Back in Stock Alerts

Even the best inventory planning cannot prevent temporary shortages. Back in stock alerts let customers subscribe to a product or option and receive a notification when it becomes available again.

The benefits are clear. Back in stock emails are opened at rates as high as 65%, making them one of the most effective ways to re-engage interested buyers.

For custom products, this ensures you do not lose a customer just because a particular finish or module is unavailable. Instead of leaving disappointed, they sign up for a notification and return ready to buy once it is back.

Shopify apps like Back in Stock: Restock Alerts make it simple to add this feature.

Conclusion

Shopify gives you the tools to sell, but selling custom products is about much more than adding items to a catalog. Customers want to shape something that fits their space, their style, and their needs. If your store cannot deliver that experience, they will go somewhere else.

The right add ons turn this challenge into an advantage. A Shopify product configurator lets shoppers design in real time. AR shows them exactly how the product looks in their home. AI assistants guide them through choices. Reviews, delivery estimates, upsells, and stock alerts build the trust that gets them over the finish line.

This is where Salsita makes the difference. Our Shopify product configurator combines 3D, AR, and AI in a seamless flow that adapts to your products and your business rules. It transforms complexity into clarity and creates a buying journey your customers will enjoy from start to checkout.

Want to learn more about our Shopify Product Configurator? Get in touch: