Transforming "Add to Cart" into "Email Me" for High-Value Items on Shopify

You know that electric tingle of anticipation you feel before trying something new or slightly out of your comfort zone? Like when you’re about to jump off a diving board for the first time, eyes wide with both apprehension and excitement. Well, that’s the same buzz I felt when I decided to tweak the "Add to Cart" button on my Shopify store. Let me tell you, it wasn’t just about changing a piece of text. It was about reinventing the way my customers interact with my art — paintings that aren't just swabs of color but personal narratives wrapped in canvas.

For those of us who revel in creative chaos but nonetheless find ourselves tangled in the web of e-commerce, here’s the lowdown on how you can switch up your Shopify game, particularly on the Origin theme. Let’s dive into this—without needing a lifeguard.

Finding the Spark: Why Change the Button?

Before we get into the technicalities, let’s chat a bit about why you’d opt to change the "Add to Cart" button to an "Email Me" option. It's about reimagining that customer touchpoint, especially when your products hold significant value — maybe even priceless in sentiment. It’s almost like extending a hand through a screen, inviting them into a conversation instead of a cold transaction. Just like how I did with that timid gentleman who hesitated over a purchase, only to send him an email and spark a wonderful exchange that led him to buy three paintings.

Step-by-Step: Crafting a Personal Touch

Let’s get into the nuts and studs of it, shall we? Here's how we turn the "Add to Cart" into "Email Me" for those star-studded paintings.

Dive into Shopify’s Liquid: Start by accessing your Shopify admin. Head over to Online Store > Themes, find the Origin theme you're using, and hit Actions > Edit code. Sounds intimidating? Fear not. It's no different than the first time you tried to figure out your taxes. Just poke around a bit, and it’ll start to make sense.
Locate the correct file: In the left sidebar, look for Sections and click on product-template.liquid. That’s where your elusive cart button resides.
Snip and Tweak the Code: Search for the code line that looks like this:
```
<button type="submit" name="add" class="btn--primary btn--large">Add to cart</button>
```
Now, it’s time to give it a makeover. Let’s introduce some new HTML and Liquid magic:
```
{% if product.price > 1000 %}
  <a href="mailto:youremail@example.com?subject=Inquiry about {{ product.title }}" class="btn--primary btn--large">Email me for more info</a>
{% else %}
  <button type="submit" name="add" class="btn--primary btn--large">Add to cart</button>
{% endif %}
```
What’s happening here? We’re telling Shopify to check the product price. If it’s beyond a set limit (fancy stuff, like a thousand dollars in this example), it’ll show “Email me for more info” instead, linking directly to your email with the product name in the subject. Otherwise, keep calm and carry on with “Add to Cart”.
Save and Test: Whoosh! Save your changes and head over to your storefront. Clicky Clicky. Navigate to a product page and behold the transformation. Make sure it swaps seamlessly between the button and link based on product value.

Experiment, Test, Iterate

Just like when I accidentally cooked an exquisite chicken curry from a recipe meant for fish—sometimes you get unexpected delicious results, and sometimes... not so much. Don’t be afraid to experiment and tweak the code above — maybe even tweak it further to fit your brand voice and aesthetics. Reserve some time to test how it looks on mobile, desktop devices, and even within various browsers.

The Ripple Effect: Building a Human Touch

Remember when we weren't just selling stuff, but crafting narratives? That's what changing a button can do, inviting potential buyers to ask more, perhaps even unfold a story behind your creations. Like when a college student emailed to ask about an ambient piece for his dorm and ended up sharing a sunset photo that inspired my next artwork.

We’ve de-jargonized the cut-and-dried e-commerce journey and turned it into a lovely conversation starter — a story just waiting to unfold. Because at the end of the day, it’s about connecting, sharing, and letting people explore the stories our art tells. So go ahead, take that leap. We’re here cheering you on from the shore.