Big Cartel to CubeCart Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Migrate Your Online Store from Big Cartel to CubeCart

Transitioning your e-commerce store to a new platform is a significant undertaking, but with the right guidance, it can be a smooth and rewarding process. This expert guide will walk you through every step of migrating your Big Cartel store to CubeCart, ensuring your valuable data—including products, customer information, and order history—is transferred accurately and efficiently. While Big Cartel is an excellent platform for quick setup, CubeCart offers robust features, greater customization, and scalability for growing businesses. Let's dive into how you can make this vital switch.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating your store migration, certain preparations are essential to ensure data integrity and a smooth transition. Understanding these requirements will help you streamline the process and minimize potential issues.

For Your Big Cartel (Source) Store:

• Data Export: Since Big Cartel doesn't support direct API connections for automated migrations, your store data will need to be exported as CSV files. This includes essential entities like products, customers, and orders. Ensure all necessary data is accurately exported. For more details on this method, refer to our guide on CSV.File Data Migration.
• Data Integrity: Before export, conduct a thorough audit of your Big Cartel store data. Correct any inconsistencies, update product descriptions, and ensure all customer information is current. This step is crucial for maintaining data quality in your new CubeCart store.

For Your CubeCart (Target) Store:

• CubeCart Installation: Ensure you have a fresh installation of CubeCart (versions 3.0.0 through 4.2.0 are supported). It is highly recommended to start with a clean slate to avoid conflicts.
• Administrative Access: You'll need full administrative login details for your CubeCart store (admin login, password, and admin URL). This allows the migration tool to connect and write data to your new platform.
• FTP/SFTP Access: CubeCart migrations typically rely on a 'bridge' file, which requires FTP or SFTP access to your CubeCart server. You'll need to upload this bridge file to your store's root directory. If you're unsure about this, read our FAQ: What is a root folder and where can I find it?
• Plugin Requirements: For a successful connection, the Cart2Cart CubeCart Migration module is required on your CubeCart installation.
• Hosting Environment: Verify that your CubeCart hosting environment meets all the necessary technical requirements to support the influx of your Big Cartel data. Issues with hosting can sometimes interrupt migration. For more information, check Can my new hosting cause migration interruption?

For a comprehensive checklist, consult our FAQs on preparing your source store and preparing your target store.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

The migration process is streamlined through a user-friendly wizard. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful data transfer from Big Cartel to CubeCart.

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Begin by logging into your migration service account. If you don't have one, you'll need to create one. Once logged in, you'll be directed to the main migration wizard interface.

Step 2: Source Store Setup (Big Cartel via CSV)

In this step, you'll configure your source store. From the dropdown menu, select CsvToCart as your Source Cart. This is because Big Cartel data will be provided via CSV file export. You will then be prompted to upload the CSV files containing your Big Cartel products, customers, orders, and any other relevant data you exported. Ensure your CSV files are correctly formatted according to the tool's guidelines for optimal data recognition.

Step 3: Target Store Setup (CubeCart)

Now, it's time to connect your target CubeCart store. Select CubeCart from the list of target platforms. You will then be asked to provide your CubeCart store's URL, along with your administrator login and password. The system will guide you to download a unique 'bridge' file. Upload this file to the root directory of your CubeCart installation via FTP/SFTP. This bridge acts as a secure conduit for data exchange. The system will then automatically detect the bridge location and verify the connection.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This critical step allows you to choose exactly what data you wish to transfer from your Big Cartel CSVs to CubeCart. You can select all entities or pick specific ones like:

• Products (including SKUs, variants, images, descriptions)
• Product Categories
• Customers (including customer data, addresses)
• Orders (including order statuses, details)
• Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Invoices
• CMS Pages
• Coupons

The system will show the number of entities found in your CSV files, helping you confirm the scope of the migration.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

Tailor your migration with a range of additional options and ensure data consistency through mapping:

• Additional Options: Select options such as:
• Migrate Images in Description: Transfers product images embedded within descriptions.
• Clear Target: Removes existing data from your CubeCart store before migration (use with caution on live stores). Find out more: Clear current data on Target store before migration option.
• Preserve Product IDs, Orders IDs, Customers IDs: Maintains the original IDs from your Big Cartel data in CubeCart, which can be beneficial for historical record keeping and integration with third-party tools. Learn more: How Preserve IDs options can be used?
• SEO URLs / 301 SEO URLs / Create 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your search engine rankings and link equity. This option ensures that old Big Cartel URLs redirect to their new CubeCart counterparts, preventing broken links.
• Password Migration: Migrates customer passwords securely, allowing returning customers to log in without needing to reset their passwords.
• Skip Custom Attributes: Allows you to exclude custom product attributes if they are not relevant to your new CubeCart setup.



• Data Mapping: This step is where you align Big Cartel specific data fields with their equivalents in CubeCart. You'll map customer groups (e.g., general customer roles) and order statuses (e.g., 'Pending,' 'Processing,' 'Completed') to ensure consistency in your new store's backend.

Step 6: Run a Free Demo Migration (Highly Recommended)

Before committing to the full migration, run a free demo. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, and orders) to your CubeCart store. It's an excellent opportunity to preview how your data will look, check for any mapping issues, and ensure everything functions as expected. This step helps identify and resolve potential problems before the full data transfer.

Step 7: Initiate Full Migration

Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. This process will transfer all your selected data from your Big Cartel CSVs to your CubeCart store. During this time, your Big Cartel store can remain operational, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous service for your customers. Consider adding a Migration Insurance Plan for added peace of mind, offering options for remigrations if needed.

Post-Migration Steps: Securing Your CubeCart Store's Success

After the data transfer is complete, there are several crucial steps to finalize your migration and ensure your new CubeCart store is fully operational and optimized.

1. Thorough Data Review: Meticulously check your CubeCart store. Verify all products (SKUs, pricing, descriptions, images, variants), customer accounts, order histories, and CMS pages have migrated correctly. Ensure metadata is intact and looks as expected.
2. Functionality Testing: Perform comprehensive tests of all key functionalities. This includes the entire checkout process, user registration, login, contact forms, search function, and any custom features or installed plugins. Simulate various customer journeys.
3. Update DNS Records: Once you are completely satisfied with your new CubeCart store, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new CubeCart hosting. This will make your CubeCart store live to the public.
4. Configure SEO and Redirects: While the migration tool can create 301 redirects, double-check that all critical URLs from your old Big Cartel store redirect properly to their new CubeCart counterparts. This is vital for preserving your SEO rankings and link equity. Submit a new sitemap to search engines.
5. Install and Configure Essential CubeCart Plugins/Apps: Install any necessary third-party integrations, payment gateways, shipping modules, or marketing apps that you plan to use with CubeCart to enhance user experience and store management.
6. Notify Customers: Inform your customers about the transition. Provide them with any new login instructions (if passwords were not migrated) or highlight new features of your CubeCart store. Clear communication minimizes disruption.
7. Decommission Big Cartel: Only after your CubeCart store is fully tested, live, and performing optimally should you consider decommissioning or backing up your old Big Cartel store.

Migrating from Big Cartel to CubeCart is a strategic move that can unlock new growth opportunities for your e-commerce business. By following this detailed guide, you can navigate the replatforming process with confidence, ensuring a smooth transition and a powerful new foundation for your online store. Should you encounter any challenges or require additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact our support team for expert guidance.