⚠️Limitations
Plain Jane Starter is intentionally designed as a simplified version of the Plain Jane theme family. This guide explains what's not included and your options for upgrading when you need more features.
Philosophy Behind Starter
Why Limitations Exist
Simplicity First - Easier setup and maintenance
Lower Cost - Essential features at budget-friendly price
Quick Launch - Get online faster with fewer decisions
Foundation Building - Solid base you can grow from
Design Approach
Plain Jane Starter focuses on core e-commerce functionality while excluding:
Complex customization options
Advanced marketing features
Interactive elements
Sophisticated design systems
What's Missing in Starter
🎨 Advanced Design Features
Missing Theme Options
Animation Controls - No motion settings or scroll effects
Cursor Customization - No custom cursor styling
Advanced Color Systems - Limited color options
Theme Color Controls - No main theme color settings
Skip Home Screen - No advanced navigation options
Missing Layout Options
Cart Drawer - No slide-out cart styling
Global Menu System - Basic navigation only
Advanced Typography - Limited font controls
Responsive Breakpoints - Basic responsive design only
🎵 Media & Interactive Features
Missing Media Integration
Music Player - No audio integration
Video Sections - No advanced video features
Image Galleries - Basic image display only
Interactive Elements - No hotspots or interactive zones
Missing Advanced Sections
Hero Sections - No advanced homepage headers
Marquee Text - No scrolling text effects
Image Streams - No advanced image layouts
Video Spotlights - No video integration
FAQ Sections - No collapsible Q&A
Email Popups - No advanced email capture
Product Carousels - Basic product display only
Blog Integration - No blog feed sections
👥 Customer Features
Missing Account System
Customer Registration - No account creation
Customer Login - No user authentication
Account Dashboard - No user profiles
Address Management - No saved addresses
Order History - Basic Shopify only
Missing Advanced Commerce
Size Charts - No product size guides
Color Swatches - No color variants
Model Information - No sizing details
Pre-order System - No pre-order functionality
Advanced Product Options - Basic variants only
🌍 International & Marketing
Missing Multi-language
Language Files - No locale management
Multi-language Support - English only
Regional Settings - Basic timezone only
Currency Controls - Shopify defaults only
Missing Marketing Tools
Email Marketing Integration - Basic signup only
Advanced SEO - Essential SEO only
Social Media Integration - Basic links only
Analytics Integration - Basic tracking only
Comparison Table
Core E-commerce
✅ Full
✅ Full
✅ Full
Basic Customization
✅ Essential
✅ Advanced
✅ Advanced
Customer Accounts
❌ None
✅ Complete
✅ Complete
Advanced Sections
❌ None
✅ 15+ Sections
✅ 15+ Sections
Interactive Elements
❌ None
❌ None
✅ Full System
Animation Controls
❌ None
✅ Advanced
✅ Advanced
Multi-language
❌ None
✅ Full Support
✅ Full Support
Advanced SEO
❌ Basic
✅ Complete
✅ Complete
Marketing Tools
❌ Basic
✅ Advanced
✅ Advanced
When to Upgrade
Upgrade to Plain Jane When You Need:
Customer Experience
Customer accounts for user profiles and order history
Advanced product features like size charts and swatches
Enhanced navigation with global menu systems
Professional design controls with advanced customization
Marketing & Growth
Email marketing integration beyond basic signup
Advanced SEO controls for better search visibility
Social media integration for marketing campaigns
Analytics integration for detailed insights
Content & Design
Advanced sections for homepage and content pages
Animation controls for modern user experience
Blog integration for content marketing
Multi-language support for international sales
Upgrade to Plain Jane Interactive When You Need:
Interactive Experiences
Interactive hotspots for immersive product showcases
Advanced animations for premium brand experience
Interactive spaces for engaging customer journeys
Complex product presentations with multiple interaction layers
Premium Branding
Sophisticated design systems for luxury brands
Advanced customization for unique brand expression
Interactive storytelling for brand narrative
Complex user interactions for memorable experiences
Upgrade Process
Planning Your Upgrade
Assess Current Needs
What features are you missing?
What's limiting your growth?
What customer feedback are you getting?
Choose Your Version
Plain Jane: Advanced features, customer accounts, more sections
Interactive: All Plain Jane features + interactive elements
Prepare for Migration
Back up current theme and settings
Document your customizations
Plan content migration strategy
Technical Considerations
Content Migration
Most content transfers automatically
Some settings may need reconfiguration
Custom code may need updates
Test thoroughly before going live
Timeline Planning
Simple upgrade: 2-4 hours
Complex customizations: 1-2 days
Content restructuring: 3-5 days
Full redesign: 1-2 weeks
Working Within Limitations
Maximizing Starter Features
Design Optimization
Use typography effectively - Your main design tool
Leverage color strategy - Limited but powerful options
Optimize image quality - Visual impact with basic layouts
Focus on content - Great copy can overcome design limitations
Marketing Workarounds
Use footer newsletter - Basic but effective email capture
Leverage announcement bar - Prime marketing real estate
Optimize SEO settings - Make the most of basic SEO tools
External integrations - Use apps for missing features
Growth Strategies
Start simple, upgrade later - Build audience first
Focus on product quality - Great products sell themselves
Leverage Shopify apps - Add functionality without theme changes
Plan for scalability - Know when you'll need to upgrade
Common Questions
"Can I add missing features with apps?"
Yes, many features can be added:
Customer accounts (Customer Account apps)
Email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
Reviews (Yotpo, Judge.me)
Advanced SEO (SEO apps)
However, some require theme-level integration:
Interactive elements
Advanced animations
Complex layout systems
Deep customization options
"When should I upgrade vs. use apps?"
Use apps when:
Feature is standalone (reviews, email)
Budget is limited
Need quick solution
Feature may change frequently
Upgrade theme when:
Need integrated experience
Want consistent design
Planning major growth
Multiple missing features
"Can I upgrade later without losing content?"
Yes, content is preserved:
✅ Products and collections
✅ Pages and blog posts
✅ Customer data
✅ Order history
May need reconfiguration:
⚠️ Theme settings
⚠️ Custom styling
⚠️ App integrations
⚠️ Menu structures
Next Steps
If Staying with Starter
Optimize current setup - Make the most of available features
Learn best practices - Maximize effectiveness
Use apps strategically - Fill functional gaps
If Ready to Upgrade
Compare versions - Understand differences
Contact support - Get upgrade guidance
Plan migration - Prepare for transition
Remember: Plain Jane Starter is designed to be a stepping stone, not a limitation. Start here, grow your business, and upgrade when you're ready for more sophisticated features.
Need Help?
💬 Join our community on Discord: https://discord.gg/hcc2GvgZc6
📧 Email us at: [email protected]
💻 Live chat with us: Available Monday–Friday, 10AM–6PM EST, directly on our website
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