Mastering BigCommerce Category Display: Eliminating 'No Products' Messages on Parent Categories

View original discussion by Big Migration Expert on GitHub →

Mastering BigCommerce Category Display: Eliminating 'No Products' Messages on Parent Categories

The 'There are no products listed under this category' message often appears on BigCommerce parent categories designed to showcase subcategories, not direct products. This can detract from a professional storefront and confuse customers. As e-commerce migration experts at Big Migration, we address these critical nuances for a seamless experience. This insight explores effective strategies from the BigCommerce forum to manage and eliminate this message.

The Problem: Empty Parent Categories and Subcategory Structures

Many BigCommerce stores use hierarchical category structures, where parent categories act as navigational hubs for subcategories (e.g., 'Clothing' containing 'Men's Apparel' and 'Women's Apparel'). When products are assigned only to deeper subcategories, navigating to the parent 'Clothing' category often displays the 'no products' message. This creates an impression of an empty section, undermining the user experience.

Solution 1: The Quick Visual Fix – Hiding with CSS

For a rapid visual solution without altering category product assignments, CSS offers a straightforward approach using display:none;.

  • Page Builder: Non-technical users can inject custom CSS via an HTML block with a