How We Hid Product Descriptions on Shopify’s PLP in the Taste Theme

Once upon a time, in the erratic chronicles of online shopping, I discovered something odd—in fact, it was downright discombobulating. I had journeyed into the labyrinthine realms of a Shopify store, only to find myself ensnared in an untactful labyrinth of text, a virtual tapestry of verbosity some overzealous merchant had decided to slap across their product listing page (PLP). Long and winding paragraphs reared like unpruned jungle vines as one tried to make sense of the actual products. I realized then, the key to selling online was not just in what was said, but in the judicious silencing of superfluous details. It's high time we trimmed those pesky product descriptions down to size on the Taste theme.

The Overwhelm of Words

Every time I opened the PLP, it felt like drowning in a sea of information, with each product description serving as yet another wave crashing over me—a saga longer than War and Peace. Have you ever stared at a screen thinking, "I just want to buy socks?" We don’t need to read the entire history of cotton production before deciding if we want to make a purchase. A minimalist approach is what we need here—keep it simple and significant.

Our plan? Banish these verbose descriptions from the PLP altogether and let the products breathe in a neat four-column layout. Here's how we conquer this monstrous wall of text in bite-sized steps:

Step 1: Wielding the Mighty Theme Editor

First things first, let’s gallop over to the Shopify admin. Click on 'Online Store' and then 'Themes.' Next, we tap on 'Customize' to bring forth the theme editor. It's like pulling up a chair at the command center of our online universe.

Step 2: CSS – Our Minimalist Comrade

Now, back in the day, I had a mentor named Tom. Tom once said, "CSS is like duct tape, you can fix anything with it." Our hero in this tale is CSS, weaving its magic to tuck away those intruding descriptions. Head over to the bottom where you find 'Theme actions' and proceed to 'Edit code'.

.product-listing .product-description {
  display: none;
}

Pop this code snippet into the 'theme.scss.liquid' file. With this single line, we're telling the browser, "No more shall these verbose descriptions vex our sight!"

Step 3: Revisiting the Product Grid

Ah, the sweet sense of freedom when product descriptions no longer loom over us like ominous clouds of text. Now, onto loosening the layout into four equal columns. Back in the CSS file, we'll shape the limit with precision—akin to an artist carving a marble statue.

.collection-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  gap: 20px; /* Adjust the gap size depending on your preference */
}

This little trickery tells our dear webpage, "Hey! Make 'em four, stand tall, and stand together."

Step 4: Savour the New Look

Much like one might stand back from their freshly made culinary masterpiece, let’s take a moment to admire our handiwork. The products are now snuggled neatly into a bright and engaging grid, ready to charm any aspiring shopper without overwhelming them with walls of text. Shall we call it art?

Wrapping It Up

Job well done, pal! The PLP is now devoid of lengthy narratives and looking sharper than ever. We’ve kept the essence and stripped away distractions—a digital decluttering, if you will. Why not toast to this newfound clarity in design with—brace yourselves for irony—a cup of chamomile tea?

Remember, it's often the tiny adjustments that create the most profound impact in the digital realm. Here’s to more simple joys and streamlined shopping experiences. Let's leave those endless product descriptions in the past, like a forgotten subplot, while the main event commands the spotlight on center stage.

So the next time you dive into your PLP, rejoice in its concise allure, and pat yourself—along with that CSS magic—on the back for bringing balance back into your corner of the e-commerce cosmos.