The five-point cleanup checklist
Run these five checks on every row before importing:
Common Scenarios:
- Titles: strip keywords, brand names and 'free shipping' claims down to a readable product title.
- Descriptions: remove inline styles and supplier links; rewrite promotional copy in your own words.
- Images: drop watermark-bearing supplier images or replace them with your own product photos.
- SKUs: generate clean, readable SKUs instead of reusing AliExpress item IDs.
- Prices: verify the margin after AliExpress fees and shipping before setting your retail price.
Validate before you import
ShopTools' validator catches the structural errors in AliExpress exports - broken image links, missing prices, duplicate SKUs - so you only rework the copy that actually needs it.
Features:
- Broken image detection: Flags dead URLs before they reach your store
- SKU deduplication: Collision-free SKUs for every imported row
- UTF-8 output: Clean re-export that Shopify accepts first time
A practical import workflow
- Export your chosen products to CSV and open it in a text editor.
- Rewrite titles and descriptions row by row - this is the part that affects conversion.
- Check every image URL loads and has no watermark.
- Run the CSV through a validator before uploading to Shopify.
Before and after
Who runs this checklist
- Dropshippers starting a store: Import without shipping bad data
- Sellers building a real brand: Replace marketplace copy with storefront copy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Can I import AliExpress products automatically?
- Yes, but the automated result needs manual cleanup - titles, images and descriptions are written for AliExpress, not your store. This guide covers the cleanup.
- Do AliExpress images hurt my store?
- Watermarked supplier images look unprofessional and can hurt conversion. Replace them or remove the watermark before importing.
- What price should I set?
- Factor in AliExpress item price, shipping, platform fees and your target margin. A common starting point is 2.5-3x landed cost.
- Does ShopTools upload my data?
- No. Every tool runs locally in your browser; your CSV never leaves your device.