Worried about your eCommerce site performance and response?
It’s time to upgrade from Blueprint to Stencil theme.
What is Stencil?
Stencil is the latest theme framework engine from BigCommerce. Stencil helps build storefronts that engage shoppers and encourage checkouts on any device. Most of the BigCommerce’s new storefronts use Stencil as it comes armed with many new features and benefits.
5 reasons to upgrade from Blueprint to Stencil theme.
- Improved page speed
- Mobile Responsive
- SEO Friendly
- Easily Customizable
- High Availability Production Site
Moving from Blueprint to Stencil on BigCommerce will make your website better, faster, and more accessible. Stencil incorporates the latest design standards, best practices in technology, and SEO. The framework’s themes are optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop browsers.
If you are still using the legacy theme framework, Blueprint, it is highly recommended to switch to Stencil as it improves the storefront experience for both the merchants as well as customers.
A comparison between Blueprint and Stencil
| Feature | Stencil | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|
| Industry-specific themes |
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Theme Features
| All free and premium themes fully responsive |
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| Display payment icons in footer | Easily configured via Store Design | Requires HTML/CSS customization |
| Toggle ‘Powered by BigCommerce’ in footer | Easily configured via Store Design | Requires HTML/CSS customization |
| Add a GeoTrust SSL Seal to Your Store’s Footer | Easily configured via Store Design | Requires HTML/CSS customization |
| “On Sale” Buttons on Products |
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Only on select themes |
| Toggle select social media icons in footer |
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| Google AMP compatible |
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Theme Configuration
| In-browser access to theme template files |
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| Download and upload theme template files |
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| Fine-tune color palette |
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| Ability to choose custom fonts from available list |
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| Merchandising controls (listed below) saved on a per theme basis |
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| Support for Product Filtering (Faceted Search) |
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| – Number of featured products displayed on the home page | Easily configured via Store Design | Must be configured in Store Settings |
| – Number of most popular products displayed on the home page | Easily configured via Store Design | Must be configured in Store Settings |
| – Number of new products displayed on the home page | Easily configured via Store Design | Must be configured in Store Settings |
| – Number of blog posts displayed on the home page | Easily configured via Store Design | Must be configured in Store Settings |
| Preview storefront while customizing |
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| Cross-device preview (mobile, desktop, tablet) |
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| Preview checkout while adjusting theme configuration |
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Checkout Experience
| Access to checkout template files |
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| Customize checkout page colors and fonts |
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| Customize “Thanks for your order” page colors and fonts |
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| Store logo links to the homepage |
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| Ability to add trust seals to checkout page | Easily configured via Store Design | Must be configured in Store Settings |
| Ability to add Google Analytics tracking code |
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| Ability to add non-Google Analytics tracking codes to checkout page |
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Requires HTML/CSS customization |
| Ability to add tracking codes to “Thanks for your order” page |
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| Support for multiple shipping addresses |
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| Access to Digital Wallets, PayPal Credit and other payment methods |
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Only with Optimized One-Page Checkout |
Performance (Page Speed)
| Desktop | 90 (best in class) | 79 |
| Mobile | 74 | N/A |
| Akamai Image Manager |
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Theme Marketplace
| Ability to buy themes from 3rd party marketplaces |
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Blueprint is being phased out and Blueprint themes will no longer be supported or updated by BigCommerce. It is time to upgrade.
Connect with Arizon Digital to make a smooth transition from the Blueprint to Stencil framework.
