The challenge of adding books to an existing non-book Shopify store is architectural: you want books available and discoverable, but you do not want them to dilute or clutter the navigation structure that your current customers already understand.
This is a solved problem. Here are the approaches that work.
Option 1: One "Books" Link at the End of Your Main Nav
The simplest approach: add a single "Books" or "Reading List" link at the end of your primary navigation menu. It sits alongside your product categories without overwhelming them.
For example, a fitness apparel store's navigation might read:
- Women | Men | Accessories | Sale | Books
This keeps books visible without repositioning your core identity. Customers who are not interested in books skip right past it. Customers who are interested have a direct path.
Option 2: Books as a Footer Navigation Section
If your main navigation is already compact and you do not want to add another item, add a "Books" section to your footer navigation instead. Footer navigation is actively checked by engaged customers looking for more of what a store offers. It is visible without cluttering the primary menu.
This is a good choice for stores with minimal book catalogs (10-30 titles) where books are clearly supplementary.
Option 3: Separate "Shop" Section in a Mega Menu
If your Shopify theme supports a mega menu - a dropdown with multiple columns - you can create a "More From Us" or "Also Available" column that includes books alongside other secondary categories (gift cards, accessories, bundles). This integrates books without giving them top-level menu status.
Option 4: Homepage Section, Not Navigation Item
Instead of adding books to your navigation at all, feature them as a dedicated section on your homepage: "Books Our Customers Love" or "Complete Your Practice - Our Reading List." This gives books visibility on the page where most traffic lands without adding a permanent navigation item.
This works well for stores with a small curated book selection that changes periodically. Update the homepage section whenever you add or feature new titles.
Option 5: Contextual Integration Only
The most subtle approach: do not create a standalone books collection at all. Instead, feature relevant books directly on product pages via a "Frequently Bought Together" or "Complete the Look" section. Customers encounter books when they are already engaged with a core product - the context makes the book recommendation feel natural rather than supplementary.
This approach works best when you have a small, highly curated book selection (5-15 titles) that directly complements your core products.
Choosing the Right Approach
| Book catalog size | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| 5-15 titles | Contextual product page integration or homepage section |
| 15-50 titles | Footer navigation or homepage section |
| 50-200 titles | Single "Books" link in main nav or mega menu column |
| 200+ titles | Full navigation item with sub-collections |
The goal is always proportionality: the navigation real estate you give books should reflect the role books play in your store's value proposition.