Import 1688 to Shopify: The Complete Guide
Cut sourcing time by 90%. Manually importing a 50-SKU 1688 listing into Shopify takes 1–2 hours: saving images, renaming files, writing handles, and mapping variants. This guide shows you how to do it in one click with a local-first Chrome extension that exports SEO-ready handles, standardized JPG images, and a Matrixify-compatible CSV.
Bottom Line Up Front
- Why manual 1688-to-Shopify imports fail at scale.
- The 4-step EasyCatch workflow: link store, auto-handle, export package, upload.
- How variant images and Matrixify CSV columns are pre-matched.
- Free vs Pro limits and when to upgrade.
Manual Import vs. EasyCatch Automation
Shopify merchants who source from 1688 face the same bottleneck: product data is rich, but it is not formatted for Shopify. You must extract titles, prices, SKUs, variants, descriptions, and images — then rebuild them inside Shopify's rigid CSV schema.
| Task | Manual Workflow | EasyCatch Workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Save product images | Right-click 20–60 images, rename manually | Auto-download ZIP with standardized filenames |
| Format product handle | Manually edit supplier title to URL slug | One-click SEO handle generator |
| Map variants | Match color/size rows to images in Excel | Pre-matched variant image URLs in CSV |
| Image URLs | Upload to Files, copy CDN links one by one | 0-Click Shopify CDN sniffing pre-fills URLs |
| Total time per product | 45–120 minutes | Under 60 seconds |
The 4-Step 1688-to-Shopify Workflow
Step 1 — Link Your Shopify Store
Open your Shopify admin once. EasyCatch's 0-Click Shopify CDN sniffing reads your store's CDN prefix in ~0.02 seconds, so every image URL generated later already points to the correct host. No copy-pasting cdn.shopify.com paths.
Step 2 — Auto-Generate the SEO Handle
1688 titles are often stuffed with keywords, model numbers, and promotional phrases. The Auto SEO Handle Generator strips the noise and produces a clean Shopify URL slug. For example, "2024 New Summer Women Dress Casual Solid Color V-Neck" becomes women-casual-v-neck-summer-dress.
Step 3 — Capture and Review the 1688 Page
Click the EasyCatch extension icon on any 1688 product detail page. It extracts the title, price, SKU, variant options (color, size, material), description HTML, and full gallery. Review the data in the sidebar before exporting.
Step 4 — Export the Shopify-Ready ZIP
Hit Export. You receive a ZIP containing:
- A 57-column Matrixify-compatible CSV with pre-filled handles, variants, and image URLs.
- Standardized JPG images named
{handle}-variant-{option}.jpg. - A manifest file mapping each variant to its primary image.
Upload the images to Shopify Content > Files, then import the CSV into Matrixify. Because the URLs are pre-built, Matrixify matches images to products automatically.
Need advanced automation or Webhook/MCP dispatches? Check the EasyCatch Developer Gateway.
What Is Inside the Export Package?
| File / Data | Purpose | Plan Required |
|---|---|---|
| Matrixify CSV | Bulk import products, variants, and images into Shopify | Pro |
| Standardized JPGs | SEO-friendly filenames, WebP/AVIF/HEIC transpiled to JPG | Pro |
| Variant image map | Links every size/color combo to its correct image | Pro |
| Basic product data JSON | Title, price, SKU for quick reference | Free + Pro |
| SEO handle | Clean URL slug ready for Shopify | Pro (Auto); Manual in Free |
Free vs Pro for 1688 Imports
The Free plan is ideal for testing the workflow with up to 5 captures per day. To scale, upgrade to Pro for unlimited captures, auto-handle generation, and Matrixify ZIP export. See the full comparison on our pricing page.
Compare plansFrequently Asked Questions
Can I import 1688 products to Shopify without an app?
Yes, but it is slow and error-prone. You would manually download images, write SEO handles, build a 57-column CSV, and map every variant. EasyCatch automates the entire workflow in one click.
Does EasyCatch support Shopify's native CSV import?
EasyCatch exports a Matrixify-compatible 57-column CSV, which is a superset of Shopify's native product CSV. You can import it directly via Matrixify or convert it to the native format.
What image formats does EasyCatch export?
EasyCatch transpiles 1688 WebP, AVIF, and HEIC images into standardized JPG files with SEO-friendly filenames such as {handle}-variant-{option}.jpg.
How much does the 1688-to-Shopify workflow cost?
The Free plan includes 5 captures per day. Pro unlocks unlimited captures, multi-store switching, and Matrixify ZIP export for $9.90/month. See our pricing page for details.