Why Add a Wishlist to Your Shopify Store?
A wishlist (or favorites) feature lets your customers save products they're interested in and come back to them later. It's one of the most requested features by online shoppers, and for good reason:
- Reduce cart abandonment — Customers don't feel pressured to buy immediately
- Increase return visits — People come back to check on their saved items
- Boost conversions — Wishlisted items convert at significantly higher rates
- Enable gift giving — Shared wishlists make gift shopping effortless
- Gain customer insights — Understand which products generate the most interest
Wishlist vs. Favorites: What's the Difference?
You might see these terms used interchangeably. In Shopify's context:
- Wishlist — A list of products a customer wants to buy or receive as gifts
- Favorites — Products a customer has "hearted" or marked as liked
Both serve the same core purpose: letting customers save products for later. Lyst supports both approaches — you can configure the button as a heart icon (favorites style) or a list-based wishlist.
Step-by-Step: Adding a Wishlist with Lyst
Step 1: Install Lyst from the Shopify App Store
Head to the Shopify App Store and search for "Lyst" or "wishlist". Click Install and authorize the app for your store.
The installation is completely automatic — no code changes needed.
Step 2: Configure Your Wishlist Button
Once installed, Lyst automatically adds a wishlist button to your product pages. You can customize:
- Button style — Heart icon, text button, or both
- Position — Next to Add to Cart, floating, or custom placement
- Colors — Match your store's brand colors
- Animation — Choose how the button responds to clicks
Step 3: Set Up the Wishlist Page
Lyst creates a dedicated wishlist page where customers can view all their saved products. Customize the layout:
- Grid or list view
- Number of products per row
- "Add to Cart" button on each item
- Share buttons for social media
Step 4: Enable Social Sharing
One of the most powerful features is wishlist sharing. Customers can:
- Share their wishlist via a unique link
- Send wishlists through email, WhatsApp, or social media
- Create separate lists for different occasions (birthday, wedding, holiday)
Step 5: Review Analytics
After a few days, check your Lyst dashboard to see:
- Most wishlisted products
- Wishlist-to-cart conversion rates
- Customer engagement metrics
- Revenue influenced by wishlists
Tips for Maximizing Wishlist Impact
Place the Button Prominently
The wishlist button should be visible without scrolling on product pages. The best position is near the "Add to Cart" button — this is where customers are already making purchase decisions.
Use Wishlists for Email Marketing
Send customers reminders about their wishlisted items, especially when:
- Products go on sale
- Stock is running low
- New items are added in the same category
Encourage Gift Registries
Promote wishlist sharing during gift-giving seasons. A shared wishlist is essentially a gift registry — a feature that many customers actively look for.
Monitor and Act on Data
Products with high wishlist counts but low purchases might need:
- A price adjustment
- Better product photos
- More detailed descriptions
- A promotional push
Common Questions
Does adding a wishlist slow down my store? Not with Lyst. The app is built for performance and loads asynchronously, so it has zero impact on your page speed scores.
Do customers need to create an account? No. Lyst works for both logged-in and guest customers. Guest wishlists are saved in the browser.
Can I see what customers are adding to wishlists? Yes. The Lyst analytics dashboard shows you the most popular products, trends over time, and conversion data.
Does it work with my Shopify theme? Lyst works with all Shopify themes — no theme modifications required.
Get Started Today
Adding a wishlist to your Shopify store takes less than 5 minutes with Lyst. Install the app, customize the appearance, and start turning browsers into buyers.