Mark Miller - Questions

To set up abandoned cart emails in WooCommerce, install an abandoned cart plugin like CartFlows Abandoned Cart, WooCommerce Recover Abandoned Cart, or AutomateWoo. After activation, enable cart tracking and choose when a cart is considered abandoned, like after 15–60 minutes of inactivity. Create an email sequence, such as 1 hour, 24 hours, and 72 hours later. Write short subject lines, add the customer’s name, and include a “Restore Cart” link. Offer a small discount if needed. Test the flow by adding items and leaving checkout. Monitor open rates, clicks, and recovered revenue regularly.

To convert WooCommerce to catalog mode, decide what you want disabled: pricing, Add to Cart, cart, or checkout. Then install a catalog mode or hide-purchase plugin and enable options like “Disable cart and checkout” and “Hide Add to Cart button.” If you want a manual method, you can redirect cart and checkout pages to another page and remove Add to Cart using custom code, but plugins are faster and safer. Add a CTA button like “Request Quote” to collect inquiries. After changes, test as a guest and logged-in user to ensure buying is blocked.

Catalog mode in WooCommerce is a setup where your store works like a product showcase instead of a shopping store. Customers can view products, categories, images, and descriptions, but they cannot add items to cart or complete checkout. Many store owners use catalog mode for wholesale inquiries, out-of-stock periods, B2B pricing requests, or pre-launch product displays. In catalog mode, you can hide prices, disable the cart and checkout pages, and replace Add to Cart with custom buttons like “Call Now,” “Get Quote,” or “Contact Us.” It helps you generate leads while still showing products professionally.

To enable catalog mode in WooCommerce, you need to disable buying features while keeping product browsing active. The easiest way is using a catalog mode plugin. Install a plugin like “WooCommerce Catalog Mode” or a “Hide Price/Add to Cart” plugin. After activation, open its settings and choose what to hide: Add to Cart button, price, checkout, or cart pages. You can apply changes store-wide or only for guest users. Some plugins also replace Add to Cart with “Request a Quote” or “Contact Us” buttons. Clear cache, test product pages, and confirm checkout is blocked.

To create a catalog in WooCommerce, first add your products normally in Products → Add New. Upload clear images, write short descriptions, and set categories and tags for easy browsing. Then create a “Shop” or “Catalog” page and set it as the shop page in WooCommerce → Settings → Products. If you want a catalog without checkout, install a catalog mode plugin and hide prices or the Add to Cart button. Also create category pages and add product filters for better navigation. Finally, add the Shop page to your main menu so visitors can browse easily.

You can send bulk email to WooCommerce customers using built-in tools or email marketing services. First, decide who you want to email, like all customers or recent buyers. In WordPress, you can use WooCommerce email plugins to select customers by order status, product purchased, or date range. For better delivery and tracking, use tools like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Brevo, or MailPoet. Export customers from WooCommerce, then import them into your email tool. Create a clean email template, add personalization, and include an unsubscribe link. Always test first, then send in batches to avoid spam issues.

For most stores, ThemeHigh’s Checkout Field Editor is a top pick because it lets you add, edit, remove, hide, and reorder WooCommerce checkout fields, plus set validations and control where fields display. If you want powerful conditional logic and easy drag-and-drop field ordering, WP Desk’s Flexible Checkout Fields is another excellent choice, with a strong free version and a feature-rich Pro upgrade. If you need a straightforward editor for billing and shipping fields with conditional rules, QuadLayers’ WooCommerce Checkout Manager is also popular. Note: WooCommerce’s official Checkout Field Editor extension is for the legacy checkout, not blocks, in many stores.

The “best” booking plugin depends on your needs. For service businesses that want an all-in-one system with a modern booking form, staff scheduling, reminders, and events, Amelia is a strong choice. For a widely used appointment plugin that’s highly configurable and supports options like Google Calendar integration and WooCommerce compatibility, Bookly is a popular pick. If you want something simple, quick to set up, and free to start, Simply Schedule Appointments works well for consultants and small teams. For rentals or store-style bookings, consider WooCommerce Bookings add-on too.