Streamlining Your Shopify Bulk Editor: How to Customize Columns and Get Your Feature Requests Noticed

Hey fellow store owners! As a Shopify migration expert, I spend a lot of time diving into the community forums, and it's always great to see merchants helping each other navigate the platform. Recently, I stumbled upon a thread titled "Feature request" that offered some really valuable insights on how we, as a community, can actually get our voices heard when we want to see new features or improvements in Shopify.

The discussion kicked off with PaulNewton, a helpful voice in the forums, laying down some essential groundwork about where to direct feature requests. He highlighted a common misconception: that the peer-to-peer forums are the primary channel for getting Shopify staff to notice and act on new ideas. Paul made it clear, "These are the peer to peer forums, shopify staff pulled stakes long ago."

Paul's core message was about being effective. He explained that just posting in the forums without taking the right steps is akin to "screaming into the void AND encouraging other merchants to do the same instead of being effective at seeking change." This really resonated with me because it's so important to channel our feedback correctly to make a real impact.

Your Direct Path to Shopify Feature Requests

So, what exactly is the "effective" way to submit a feature request to Shopify? Paul outlined a clear, two-part strategy that maximizes your chances of being heard:

1. Contact Shopify Support Directly:

   This is the absolute first step. Shopify support advisors have direct internal channels to log, track, and escalate feature requests to the product development teams. This is their official feedback mechanism, and it's where your request will be formally recorded and considered.

   To do this, head over to https://help.shopify.com/. Paul specifically mentioned looking for options like "chat with human" or a question mark button next to the chat (keep in mind, the exact UI might shift over time, but the goal is to connect with a live support agent). Once you're connected, clearly and concisely explain your feature idea. The more detail you can provide about why this feature is important and how it would benefit your store or workflow, the better.

2. Then, Share Your Experience in the Community (and Reiterate!):

   After you've officially contacted support, Paul suggests, "THEN make a post AND reiterate that you’ve done that." This step is powerful for building collective momentum. When you post in the forums and mention that you've already submitted the request through official channels, you're doing a few things:

   • You're informing others: You're letting fellow merchants know that this is a valid request and that there's a proper way to pursue it.
   • You're encouraging collective action: Other merchants facing the same issue are more likely to follow your lead and submit their own requests, which amplifies the signal to Shopify's product team. They definitely pay attention to the volume of requests for similar features.
   • You're fostering discussion: It opens up a space for the community to discuss potential workarounds or the broader impact of the proposed feature, even while it's being considered by Shopify.

A Perfect Example: Customizing Your Bulk Editor Columns

Right after Paul's helpful guidance, another community member, VV21, posted a feature request that perfectly illustrates the kind of improvement many of us are looking for. VV21 voiced a common frustration: "In the Product Bulk Editor, stop adding default columns like Category and Channels. Either let us change the defaults, or save our preferences. We should not have to pay for an app for this."

Sound familiar? How many times have you opened the Product Bulk Editor, ready to make a quick update, only to spend precious seconds removing unwanted default columns like "Category" and "Channels" just to get to the data you actually need? It's a small inconvenience, but it adds up, especially for stores with large product catalogs or frequent updates. And VV21's point about not wanting to pay for an app for what feels like a basic preference setting is absolutely valid.

This is precisely the kind of thoughtful feedback that Shopify needs to hear directly. While there might not be an immediate, built-in solution to save your custom column preferences without an app today, following Paul's advice is the most effective way to advocate for this change. If enough of us follow these steps for this specific request, it sends a strong message to Shopify that this is a high-priority improvement that would significantly streamline our workflows.

Ultimately, the Shopify community is a fantastic resource for peer support and shared knowledge. But when it comes to influencing the platform's development, understanding and utilizing the official channels is key. Don't just wish for a feature; take the proactive steps to request it effectively. Your feedback, combined with the collective voice of other merchants, truly has the power to shape a better Shopify experience for everyone!