Personalisation Types
Product personalisation encompasses a wide range of customisation options. Understanding which types you need determines your implementation approach.
Custom Text
Names, dates, initials, or short messages engraved, embroidered, or printed on a product. The most common personalisation type, used by jewellers, homeware brands, and gifts.
Custom Images or Artwork
Customers upload a photo to be printed on a product. Common for photo books, phone cases, mugs, and canvas prints.
Configuration Options
Select specific attributes like wood type, thread colour, or engraving font. More complex than a text field but still manageable with the right approach.
Using Line Item Properties
Line item properties are custom key-value pairs attached to a specific item in the cart. They are Shopify's native way to capture per-item custom data without creating separate variants.
To add a line item property, add an input field to your product page form with the name attribute formatted as: properties[Engraving Text]. When the customer adds to cart, the entered value is attached to that line item and visible in the order.
This approach requires theme editing. Add the input field in your product form template, ideally with a character limit and a note about what is acceptable. Validation is handled client-side.
Line Item Property Field Types
- •Text input: Single line, good for names and short messages
- •Textarea: Multi-line, for longer messages
- •Select dropdown: For choosing from preset options like font styles
- •File upload: For image uploads, requires an app as Shopify does not natively handle file uploads via line item properties
App Options
For complex personalisation without custom development, several apps handle the entire process including live preview, file uploads, and order management.
- •Zakeke: Live product personalisation preview. Excellent for print-on-demand and custom text products. Higher price point but strong UX.
- •Infinite Options (ShopPad): Add unlimited custom fields to any product. Simple, reliable, and affordable at around £15/month.
- •Product Personalizer: Drag-and-drop design tool with live preview. Good for photo products.
Managing Personalised Orders
Personalised orders require manual attention during fulfilment. You cannot automate the production of a custom-engraved item in the same way as a standard product. Key operational considerations:
- •Set realistic lead times on product pages. "Ships in 3-5 working days" is better than "ships today" for personalised items.
- •Tag personalised orders automatically so they are easy to filter in your orders list.
- •Send a confirmation email that includes the personalisation details so customers can spot errors early.
- •Clarify your returns policy clearly: personalised items are typically non-returnable unless there is a manufacturing defect.
Pricing Personalisation
Adding a price uplift for personalisation requires creating a separate product variant or using an app that supports price modifiers per option. Native Shopify line item properties do not support automatic price additions.
Common approaches: create a "Personalised" variant priced £X more than the standard variant, or use an app like Infinite Options that supports price modifiers per field value. The latter is cleaner for complex configurations.
Common Mistakes
No character limit on text fields
Without limits, customers may enter more text than can fit on the product.
Fix: Add a maxlength attribute to all text inputs and display a visible character counter.
Personalisation details not visible in fulfilment
If line item properties are not showing on packing slips, orders get fulfilled incorrectly.
Fix: Customise your packing slip template to display all line item properties clearly.
Unclear returns policy for personalised items
Customers may assume the standard returns policy applies and request returns on personalised items.
Fix: Add a clear disclaimer on personalised product pages and in checkout notes.
