This guide will help you import customs description from your Shopify product variants whether you already have them set up or not.
- Navigate to Metafields in Shopify Settings
In your Shopify store admin, go to Settings > Metafields and metaobjects > Variants > Add a definition. This is where you will create the custom metafield that Zenstores uses to read your customs descriptions.
- Create the customs_description metafield definition
Name the new definition "customs_description" and click the grey text below it that reads "custom.customs_description" to reveal the Namespace and key settings. Edit the namespace and key to read "zenstores.customs_description" — this exact value is required for Zenstores to recognise the field.
- Configure the field type and validation rules
Set the field type to "Single line text" (single value). Set the minimum character count to 1 and the maximum to 100. Under the regular expression field, paste the following pattern to ensure only valid characters are accepted: ^[a-zA-Z\s\(\)]+$. Hit Save at the top of the page.
- Populate customs descriptions on your product variants
You can now fill in the customs description per product variant using the product variant edit form in Shopify. Navigate to a product, open a variant, and enter the appropriate customs description in the new Zenstores field.
- Migrate existing customs descriptions using bulk edit (if applicable)
If you already have customs descriptions stored in a different Shopify metafield, navigate to the Inventory tab in your Shopify admin and select all product variants. Click Bulk Edit, then use the columns selector to display both your existing customs description metafield and the new Zenstores one. Select the values in your original column and paste them into the new Zenstores column. Save when done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the namespace need to be set to "zenstores.customs_description"?
Zenstores looks for a specific metafield namespace and key when pulling customs descriptions from Shopify. If the namespace is not set to "zenstores.customs_description" exactly, Zenstores will not be able to find or import the value. Make sure to edit the default namespace from "custom" to "zenstores" when setting up the definition.
What happens if I don't fill in the customs description for a product variant?
If a product variant has no customs description populated in the Zenstores metafield, Zenstores will not be able to include a customs description for that item when generating international shipments. This could cause delays or issues at customs. It is best practice to populate the field for all variants you ship internationally.
What characters are allowed in the customs description?
The regular expression ^[a-zA-Z\s\(\)]+$ restricts the field to uppercase and lowercase letters, spaces, and parentheses. Numbers, special characters, and punctuation other than parentheses are not permitted. This ensures the description is compatible with customs declaration requirements.
Can I use bulk edit to populate customs descriptions for all my variants at once?
Yes. Navigate to the Inventory tab in your Shopify admin, select all product variants, and click Bulk Edit. Add the Zenstores customs description column using the column selector and fill in values for each variant. This is the most efficient approach if you have a large product catalogue.
Does this setup work for all international shipments, or only specific carriers?
The customs description metafield is used by Zenstores across all carriers that require customs declarations for international shipments. Once the metafield is correctly configured and populated in Shopify, Zenstores will automatically pull the value through when you create international shipments regardless of carrier.
