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Metal fabrication shops face a unique ecommerce challenge. Unlike retailers selling fixed products, fabricators often work from custom specifications, CAD files, and material selections that vary with every order. The question isn't just whether Shopify can handle metal fabrication sales, but how to structure your store for the level of customization your shop offers.
This guide covers how different types of metal fabrication businesses use Shopify, from shops selling standardized products to those handling fully custom CNC work.
Metal fabrication shops fall across a spectrum of customization complexity.
Some fabricators manufacture a defined product catalog. Havens Luxury Metals, for example, produces high-end residential metal products including kitchen sinks, fire pits, and outdoor fixtures. Their products have set designs with options like size, finish, and material. This model fits Shopify well because products can be configured with variants and options.
Many shops offer products that buyers customize within defined parameters. A railing manufacturer might let customers specify length, height, material, and finish. The fabrication process is standardized, but the final product varies based on selections.
CNC cutting shops and custom fabricators often price work based on uploaded specifications. A steel cutting operation might quote jobs based on surface area, material thickness, pierce count, and coating selection. Each job is unique, priced from a CAD file or drawing.
Your position on this spectrum determines how you'll structure your Shopify store.
If your shop produces defined products with selectable options, Shopify's native features handle the catalog well.
Use Shopify variants to represent the options buyers select:
Each variant combination can have its own price, SKU, and inventory level.
For options that don't affect pricing or inventory, use line item properties or product options apps. These capture buyer preferences without creating variant complexity.
Metal products photograph well, but lighting matters. Show:
For high-end fabricated products, imagery sells craftsmanship.
When products require custom dimensions within defined ranges, you need more than standard variants.
Apps like Infinite Options, Bold Product Options, or custom product builders let buyers:
These apps calculate pricing based on the selections and pass the specifications to your order.
Configure pricing that adjusts based on selections:
For detailed product configuration guidance, see Shopify Product Builder Implementation Guide.
Ensure orders include all fabrication details:
Your production team should receive complete specs without needing to contact the customer.
Shops offering custom CNC cutting, laser cutting, or waterjet services face the biggest ecommerce challenge. Pricing depends on uploaded files, and every job is different.
Custom fabrication typically prices based on:
Generating instant quotes from uploaded CAD files (.dxf, .svg, .ai, .step) requires specialized software that can parse files and calculate pricing.
Many custom fabrication shops use an RFQ approach rather than instant checkout:
This works well when jobs vary significantly or require review before committing to pricing.
For RFQ implementation, see RFQ Popups and Direct Sales Contact on B2B Shopify.
Some shops want automated quoting like SendCutSend or OSHCut offer. These services parse uploaded files and generate instant pricing.
Building this capability for a Shopify store requires:
Third-party quoting platforms exist (QuotationFactory, PaperlessParts, DXFQuote), though Shopify integration varies. Some shops build custom solutions or work with developers to create quoting tools specific to their operations.
Consider a middle path:
This lets you capture straightforward sales immediately while handling complex work through your quoting process.
Many fabrication shops serve other businesses: contractors, manufacturers, OEMs, and distributors. Shopify's B2B features support these relationships.
Set up wholesale customers as B2B companies with:
For B2B pricing configuration, see Customer-Specific Pricing on Shopify for B2B.
Fabrication pricing often depends on quantity:
Configure volume breaks that reflect your actual cost structure.
For volume pricing setup, see Volume-Based Pricing and MOQs on Shopify.
B2B customers often reorder the same parts. Make this easy:
For reordering features, see Quick Orders, CSV Uploads, and Effortless Re-Ordering for B2B Shopify.
Industrial buyers need specifications before purchasing.
Include detailed technical information:
Offer relevant documentation:
For technical documentation setup, see Spec Sheet and CAD Downloads for Shopify Product Pages.
Fabrication shops need more than a product catalog. Back-office operations matter.
Configure order workflows that work for fabrication:
For order review workflows, see How to Set Up B2B Order Review Workflows in Shopify.
Fabrication shops source materials, outsource finishing, and work with subcontractors. Managing vendor payments takes time. Shopify Bill Pay lets you upload invoices and schedule payments directly from your admin, eliminating manual check writing and invoice tracking.
Larger operations may need orders to flow into production systems:
For ERP connectivity, see Shopify ERP Integration - A Guide.
Metal products are heavy. Shipping requires special consideration.
Large or heavy items often require freight rather than parcel shipping:
Apps like ShipperHQ or FreightClub integrate freight carriers with Shopify checkout.
Many fabrication customers prefer pickup:
For pickup configuration, see How to Offer In-Store Pickup for B2B Customers on Shopify.
Metal products need appropriate packaging:
Factor packaging into your shipping costs and handling.
Begin with your highest-volume opportunities.
Start with products that:
You can add more complex offerings later.
Build your product catalog with:
For work that doesn't fit standard products:
As you learn what customers want:
For an overview of B2B capabilities, see Essential Shopify Features for B2B.
Selling railings, gates, screens, and decorative metalwork:
Offering laser, plasma, or waterjet cutting:
Making specific products (sinks, fixtures, enclosures):
Metal fabrication ecommerce requires matching your store structure to how your shop actually works. Start with what fits Shopify's native capabilities, add apps and custom solutions where needed, and build toward more sophisticated quoting as your online sales grow.
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