Shopify just quietly rebuilt one of its core features from scratch — and most merchants have no idea it's coming.

Aima Shahzad — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:57:46 +0000

For years, you had two choices for organizing products: Smart Collections (rule-based) or Manual Collections (hand-picked). That split is gone.

Every collection is now a "source-based collection" — meaning you can mix manual products AND rules in the same collection. Include, exclude, layer conditions. No more choosing one system and living with its limits.

But the real story is variant collections.

Right now, if you sell a shoe in 5 colors and someone filters for "green," the whole product shows up — all 5 colors, whether they wanted them or not. Variant collections fix this. You'll be able to show only the green variant on the collection page and in filters, while the product page still shows every color.

That's not a small UI tweak. That's Shopify redefining what a "collection" actually means at the data level.

Subcollections are also finally native — no more faking category hierarchy with messy tag combinations that break the moment someone forgets to tag a product correctly.

Here's the catch: this is live in Shopify's developer API right now, not yet in the merchant admin. If someone tells you this is "rolling out to your store this week," that's not accurate yet — it's a preview, not a release.

If you run a Shopify store with a large or messy catalog, this is worth planning for now, before it hits admin. The stores that win here will be the ones who rebuild their collection structure deliberately — not the ones who wait and scramble.

Curious how many of you are still using tag hacks to fake subcollections — how deep does that rabbit hole go for your catalog?

Shopify #Ecommerce #ShopifyDevelopment #ProductDiscovery #WebDevelopment

AI now decides which local business gets recommended. Here's how to make sure it's yours.

Aima Shahzad — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:44:43 +0000

People used to search for websites. Now they ask AI a question and expect one answer.

If your business doesn't clearly answer these 5 questions, AI will recommend a competitor instead of you.

What problem do you solve?
Stop describing your service. Describe the result your customer wants.
Nobody wants "martial arts classes." They want a more confident kid.
Nobody wants "marketing." They want more qualified leads.
Who exactly do you help?
"We help parents" tells AI nothing. Name your exact customer.
The more specific you are, the easier it is for AI (and humans) to know when to recommend you.
Why should anyone trust you?
Trust needs proof, not claims.
Reviews. Case studies. Years in business. Certifications. Real numbers.
AI looks for evidence — give it some.
What makes your process different?
Anyone can say what they do. Few explain how.
Name your process. Turn it into a framework. A named system is easier to remember — and easier for AI to attach to your brand.
What result can someone expect?
Not vague promises — specific outcomes.
What does life look like after working with you? Back it up with real examples.

Answer these five questions clearly and consistently — on your website, social media, and Google Business Profile — and you give both people and AI a reason to pick you.

DEV Community: Aima Shahzad

Shopify just quietly rebuilt one of its core features from scratch — and most merchants have no idea it's coming.

Shopify #Ecommerce #ShopifyDevelopment #ProductDiscovery #WebDevelopment

AI now decides which local business gets recommended. Here's how to make sure it's yours.