Tools we trust for large catalogue Shopify stores

Written by

James Macnamara

July 01, 2025

6 min read

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These are the apps, platforms, and services the Blink team uses day in, day out to solve real problems for large catalogue Shopify stores. Every tool here has been tried and tested in live client projects. Some we have formal partnerships with (and may receive commission for), others we don’t - but all of them earn their place because we use them regularly and know they deliver.

Alongside these tools, we also build our own software - Macalytics for Search Console analysis, Macaroni for implementation, and a suite of custom Shopify modules built in Liquid that power content, UI, schema, breadcrumbs, and more. These in-house tools are core to how we work, but the apps below are the ones we consistently recommend from outside our own stack.

Elevar

What it does

Elevar helps merchants implement server-side tracking, improving the quality and reliability of data flowing into GA4 and ad platforms.

The problem it solves

Tracking on Shopify stores is notoriously unreliable - with issues caused by checkout extensibility, consent tools, browser changes, and attribution gaps. This makes it hard to trust GA4, report performance accurately, or optimise ads. Elevar provides a simple way to set up server-side tracking, ensuring cleaner, more accurate data.

Why we trust it

Tracking is one of the biggest pain points we face in client projects. While Elevar isn’t a magic bullet for every tracking issue, it consistently improves data quality, particularly for paid channels. We’ve seen first-hand how it leads to better optimisation signals in ad accounts and more trustworthy analytics data.

How we use it

• Implement server-side tracking across Shopify stores as a standard step
• Improve GA4 data flow for cleaner reporting
• Ensure ad platforms receive stronger optimisation signals
• Combine with other fixes (see our full blog: The problem with tracking and why it is hurting Shopify stores)

Addingwell

What it does

Addingwell enables server-side tracking, improving the accuracy of conversion and event data sent to GA4 and advertising platforms.

The problem it solves

Shopify’s tracking gaps don’t have a single solution, and merchants often need options. Addingwell provides a strong alternative to Elevar, with a slightly different implementation style and support model. 

Why we trust it

We’ve found Addingwell particularly useful for clients who want a more hands-on or customised approach. Their team is responsive, and the product keeps pace with changes in Shopify and GA4. Like Elevar, it doesn’t solve everything - but it’s a proven way to improve the baseline of tracking quality.

How we use it

• Recommend as an alternative to Elevar depending on merchant needs
• Set up server-side tracking to strengthen GA4 and ad data
• Use alongside broader attribution fixes for a more complete solution

Matrixify

What it does

Matrixify allows merchants to bulk import, export, and update products, collections, customers, orders, and more in Shopify using spreadsheets.

The problem it solves

Shopify’s native import/export tools are limited and slow. For large catalogue stores, making changes one by one is impractical. Matrixify makes it possible to restructure catalogues, migrate stores, or update thousands of products quickly and reliably.

Why we trust it

We work with stores holding tens of thousands of SKUs, where taxonomy updates or product changes need to be executed at scale. Matrixify is the tool we rely on to make those bulk updates without errors. It’s robust, well-supported, and has become part of our everyday workflow.

How we use it

• Bulk-update product data during taxonomy projects
• Restructure collections at scale without manual edits
• Migrate stores or clean product data efficiently
• Export large datasets for analysis or reporting

Listabl

What it does

Listabl gives merchants a flexible and centralised system to manage product data across Shopify and other channels.

The problem it solves

As catalogues grow, product data becomes messy, inconsistent, and hard to scale. Shopify’s native product editor isn’t designed to manage thousands of SKUs with complex attributes. A PIM like Listabl makes product data easier to enrich, structure, and distribute.

Why we trust it

We work with many PIM systems, and Listabl stands out for its flexibility and ease of use. It allows us to go deeper into product optimisation and ensures merchants can adapt their catalogue as strategy evolves. That flexibility is crucial when building taxonomies and attributes for SEO and discovery.

How we use it

• Centralise and clean product data before feeding into Shopify
• Enrich product attributes for taxonomy and tagging projects
• Keep catalogue data consistent across multiple sales channels
• Support large-scale product optimisation work

Optifi

What it does

Optifi uses data science to optimise product pricing for revenue and profitability.

The problem it solves

Most merchants set prices based on margin targets, competitor checks, or gut feel. At scale, this approach leaves money on the table. Pricing is one of the most powerful growth levers in e-commerce, but also one of the hardest to get right without proper modelling.

Why we trust it

Dan and the team at Optifi have deep expertise in data science and pricing. We’ve been impressed with how they apply advanced statistical models to such a specific but critical problem. It’s rare to find pricing tools that combine academic rigour with practical usability. Optifi does both.

How we use it

• Analyse existing price structures to identify uplift opportunities
• Run pricing optimisation tests on selected products or categories
• Incorporate pricing strategy into broader revenue growth models
• Support merchants with complex catalogues where manual pricing isn’t sustainable

Sort’d Collection Merchandiser

What it does

It combines drag-and-drop control, automated sorting, and performance analytics in one tool, giving merchants more control over how products are ordered in collections.

The problem it solves

Shopify’s native merchandising tools are clunky and limited. For large catalogue merchants, sorting products manually is slow and inconsistent. Fully AI-driven merchandising can be expensive, complex, and miss the human judgement needed to get the right products in the right place. Shopify also doesn’t allow you to merchandise filtered views - which is why we create dedicated subcategory collections as part of our taxonomy work. Sort’d gives merchants the ability to merchandise those subcategories with precision, keeping them relevant and high-converting.

Why we trust it

We work exclusively with large catalogue Shopify stores, where collection structure and product order directly affect SEO, ads performance, and user experience. This app hits the sweet spot between control and automation - giving merchants an intuitive drag-and-drop merchandiser, powerful automation rules, and data-informed sorting without unnecessary complexity. Once we’ve built out dedicated subcategory collections, it allows us to merchandise them in ways Shopify’s native tools can’t - keeping each page optimised for both users and search engines.

How we use it

• Use automation for the majority of collection pages, keeping them fresh without manual effort
• Apply drag-and-drop merchandising to high-value or high-traffic collections for precise control
• Blend rule-based sorting with manual adjustments to balance visual merchandising with performance data
• Merchandise dedicated subcategory collections (created as part of our taxonomy work) to keep top-page products relevant for SEO and shoppers

We’ll keep this list updated as our stack evolves. The tools here have earned our trust through real-world use on complex Shopify stores - and if we stop using something, you won’t see it here.

James Macnamara - Operations Director

James is a Cambridge graduate in English and Blink's Operations Director. His role is centred on not only making Blink a company delivering exceptional work for clients, but also a forward-thinking, innovative business, and a uniquely rewarding place to be an employee.