Simple Mode

Simple Mode is the fastest way to sort a collection in SortLab. Pick a goal, flip a few toggles, and hit sort. No weights to configure, no parameters to tune. It is designed for merchants who want results without complexity.

Who Is Simple Mode For?

Simple Mode is ideal for:

• Merchants new to product sorting who want to see results quickly
• Stores on the Free plan that want to use goal-based presets
• Anyone who prefers simplicity and wants SortLab to handle the details

Simple Mode is available on all plans, including Free.

The Collection Detail Screen

When you open a collection in SortLab, you land on the collection detail screen in Simple Mode by default.

At the top you will see:

• Collection name and product count
• Status badge — "Active" means sorting is running on schedule; "Stale" means the collection has not been sorted recently
• Last sorted — when the collection was last sorted
• Action buttons — Pause, Start A/B Test, and Sort Now

The main area is split into two parts: the strategy and toggles configuration on the left, and a live product preview panel on the right.

Selecting a Strategy

Under the Choose Your Goal section, you will find seven sorting strategies. Each one is a preset that tells SortLab what to optimize for.

For a detailed breakdown of what each strategy does and when to use it, see Sorting Strategies.

Quick Toggles

Quick toggles let you apply common sorting rules on top of your chosen strategy. They act as modifiers that adjust the final product order without changing the core strategy.

Push Down Out-of-Stock

When enabled, products that are currently out of stock are pushed to the bottom of the collection. This prevents customers from seeing unavailable items in prominent positions.

When to use it: Almost always. Most stores benefit from pushing sold-out products down so customers see items they can actually buy. The only exception might be if you use out-of-stock products to drive "notify me" sign-ups and want them visible.

Boost New Products

When enabled, recently added products receive a temporary boost in the rankings. This gives new inventory a chance to be seen and generate initial sales data, even before they have a performance track record.

When to use it: Enable this if you add new products regularly and want them to get early visibility. This is especially useful for fashion, seasonal, and drop-based stores.

Exclude No-Image Products

When enabled, products without images are excluded from the sorted results (pushed to the very end). This ensures your collection looks polished and professional.

When to use it: Enable this if you have draft products or placeholder entries that do not yet have photos. Customers are unlikely to buy a product they cannot see.

Viewing the Results

The product panel on the right side of the screen shows you a numbered, ordered preview of how products will appear in your collection after sorting. Each product card shows:

• Position number — the product's rank in the sorted order
• Product image — the primary product photo
• Product name and price

After you click Sort Now, the product panel updates to reflect the new order. You can scroll through the entire list to verify the results before moving on.

When to Switch to Advanced Mode

Simple Mode works well for most use cases, but you may want to switch to Advanced Mode if you need to:

• Combine multiple sorting signals with custom weights (e.g., 60% sales + 40% margin)
• Set up automated schedules (frequency, schedule hour)
• Configure tag rules to push specific product tags up or down
• Adjust the lookback window or new product window
• Use custom sort parameters beyond the preset strategies

To switch, click the Want more control? link at the bottom of the strategy section. This takes you to Advanced Mode for the same collection.

What's Next?

• Sorting Strategies — Learn what each strategy optimizes for
• Advanced Mode — Build your own custom sorting configuration
• Scheduling — Set up automated sorts so your collections stay fresh