· Open Bulk Editor · Catalog quality · 3 min read
Shopify catalog cleanup checklist
Nine checks for images, price, inventory, SKU, titles, descriptions, and ALT text, plus a workable order for fixing them.
Catalog cleanup is easier when you separate finding problems from fixing them. Start with a read-only report. Decide which rules matter to the store, assign the work, then build focused edits.
Here are nine checks that catch common product-data problems without pretending to be a complete merchandising strategy.
1. Products without images
A missing image is usually easy to spot in the storefront and easy to miss in a spreadsheet. Confirm whether the product is intentionally hidden, a draft in progress, or ready for an image assignment.
Do not attach the same generic image to every match just to remove the warning. A correct missing-image report is better than misleading product media.
2. Zero prices
A zero price may be intentional for a quote-only or special product, but it deserves review. Separate actual mistakes from products whose selling flow is handled elsewhere.
Check compare-at price and market-specific pricing before changing the base variant price.
3. Zero inventory
Zero inventory does not always mean the product cannot sell. Inventory policy, tracking settings, preorder rules, and fulfillment setup can change the meaning.
Use the report to find the rows, then review the intended policy and location before writing inventory.
4. Low inventory
Choose a threshold that fits the business. Ten units may be urgent for a high-volume SKU and irrelevant for a made-to-order product.
Treat the threshold as a filter, not a universal definition of risk.
5. Missing SKU
Missing SKU values make supplier updates, fulfillment, analytics, and ad feeds harder to reconcile. Decide on a SKU scheme before filling gaps. Random values solve the empty field while creating a different maintenance problem.
6. Duplicate SKU
Duplicate SKU is especially important when CSV updates match variants by SKU. An automated update should block an ambiguous SKU instead of choosing one variant.
Fix duplicates before relying on SKU as an identity key.
7. Duplicate product titles
Duplicate titles can be legitimate, but they can also merge visually in reports and make product selection confusing. Compare handles, product IDs, status, vendor, and variants before renaming anything.
Use case-insensitive and whitespace-normalized matching for discovery, then inspect the original titles.
8. Missing descriptions
A blank description can hurt buyer understanding and leave product pages thin. The fix should come from accurate product information, not generated filler.
If descriptions are maintained by a supplier or content team, export the affected IDs and titles for that workflow rather than writing placeholders.
9. Missing image ALT text
ALT should describe the image in the product context. A template based on product title can be a useful starting point, especially for simple product photography, but review products with multiple detail images.
Filename cleanup and ALT updates are separate from image compression or format conversion. Do not assume an ALT tool changes the underlying image file.
A practical order for the work
Start with identity and matching problems: duplicate SKU, missing SKU, and duplicate titles. They affect later updates and reporting.
Then review commercial blockers: zero price, zero inventory, and low inventory. Bring in the operator who understands selling and fulfillment rules.
Finish with content coverage: missing images, descriptions, and ALT text. Those jobs often need input from photography or content teams.
Keep the scan result with a completeness flag. If the report stopped at a maximum product limit, do not describe it as a full-store audit.
Open Bulk Editor includes these nine checks in its read-only Store Health page and can export the findings to CSV. Use that file to assign owners by rule, record exceptions, and compare the next scan after cleanup.