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Sources & Importing

Preparing Your Data for Import

File format requirements, data structure best practices, and platform-specific export instructions for CSV import preparation.

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Preparing Your Data for Import

A little preparation before import goes a long way. This guide covers file format requirements, what makes a "good" import file, and how to export cleanly from common platforms.

File Format Requirements

Format: CSV (Comma-Separated Values)

Your file must be saved as a .csv file. If you're working in Excel or Google Sheets, you can export as CSV without losing data.

Encoding: UTF-8

UTF-8 is the standard character encoding for CSV files and ensures special characters, accents, and international text display correctly in Merchkit.

  • In Excel: File → Save As → Format: "CSV (Comma delimited)" → Tools → Web Options → Encoding: UTF-8
  • In Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv)
  • In LibreOffice/OpenOffice: File → Save As → Format: "Text CSV"

CSV Structure Requirements

Header Row (Required)

Your CSV must have a header row as the first line. The header names become column names during mapping. Without headers, Merchkit can't map your columns.

One Product Per Row

Each row represents one product. Do not merge cells, add blank rows between products, or put multiple products in a single row.

Clean, Consistent Values

  • No extra spaces at the beginning or end of values
  • Consistent formatting across the same column (all prices in the same format, all dates in the same format)
  • No leading/trailing commas in cells (they can confuse the CSV parser)

Quick Checklist

Before importing, make sure your file has: a header row with clear column names, one product per row, consistent value formatting, UTF-8 encoding, no merged cells, and a unique SKU for each product.

Exporting from Common Platforms

Shopify

  1. Log into your Shopify admin
  2. Products → All Products
  3. Click the Export button (top right)
  4. Choose your export settings (what columns to include)
  5. Download the CSV file

The resulting file is UTF-8 encoded and ready to import into Merchkit. No additional prep needed.

BigCommerce

  1. Log into your BigCommerce store admin
  2. Products → Export
  3. Select the products you want to export
  4. Choose your export format (CSV)
  5. Download the file

BigCommerce exports include product IDs, SKUs, names, descriptions, and prices by default. Check the encoding in your platform settings if you encounter issues.

Other PIM Systems or Spreadsheets

Most platforms offer a "Export to CSV" option. Before importing into Merchkit:

  1. Verify the file has a header row
  2. Make sure it's saved as UTF-8 (check your platform's export settings)
  3. Open the file in a text editor or spreadsheet app to visually inspect it for the issues listed above
  4. Delete any rows or columns you don't need

Field Type Detection

When you import, Merchkit automatically detects whether each column should be treated as text or number based on the values in that column.

  • Text fields are best for: titles, descriptions, categories, SKUs, URLs, brand names, tags
  • Number fields are best for: prices, quantities, dimensions, weights, ratings

Merchkit's auto-detection is usually accurate, but you can override it during the mapping step (Step 3) if needed.

Columns You Can Skip During Import

You don't have to import every column in your CSV. During the mapping step (Step 3 of the import flow), you can click the ✕ button to skip any columns you don't need.

Common columns to skip:

  • Internal notes or legacy IDs
  • Confidential pricing or supplier information
  • Test data or temporary columns
  • Columns with incomplete or inconsistent data

Skipped columns won't be imported into Merchkit, so feel free to include extra data in your CSV and selectively choose what to import.

Common Data Prep Issues

Duplicate SKUs

If your CSV contains duplicate SKUs, Merchkit will warn you during import. Each SKU should be unique. Decide:

  • Keep one SKU and remove the duplicate row
  • Rename the duplicate SKU to be unique
  • Create separate product records if they're genuinely different products

Missing or Null Values

Empty cells in your CSV are fine — Merchkit treats them as missing values and doesn't import them. This is normal and expected.

Example:

SKU,Title,Price,Brand
SKU001,Blue Shirt,29.99,Acme
SKU002,Red Shirt,,Acme

Here, SKU002 has no price — the price cell is left empty, which is okay.

Special Characters and Encoding Issues

If your CSV contains accented characters (é, ñ, ü) or other special characters, make sure it's saved as UTF-8. Other encodings may display garbled text.

Example of correct UTF-8:

SKU,Title
SKU001,Café Espresso Mug
SKU002,Piñata Decorations

Merged Cells from Excel

If you exported from Excel and see merged cells, they can cause import issues. Open the file and unmerge all cells:

  1. Select all cells (Ctrl+A)
  2. Right-click → Format Cells → Alignment
  3. Uncheck "Merge cells"
  4. Save as CSV

Ready to Import?

Once your CSV is prepared, head to Importing Your First Catalog via CSV for the step-by-step import walkthrough.

Questions about a specific platform or format? Check our How Data Gets Into Merchkit overview article for links to integration-specific guides.

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