How to Create Dummy Data in Excel

Creating dummy data in Excel for your Shopify store is a valuable skill that lets you test and optimize your e-commerce business. This guide equips you to generate realistic datasets that mimic real-world scenarios.

Adeel Qayum writer profile picture
By Adeel Qayum
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Edited by Kim Weidemann
Joel Taylor
Fact-check by Joel Taylor

Updated October 9, 2024.

Stressed e-commerce merchant sitting in front of a laptop surrounded by floating spreadsheets of dummy data

As an e-commerce business owner or manager, you understand the importance of testing and analyzing your Shopify store's performance. One aspect of this process is working with data. However, using real customer data for testing purposes can be risky and potentially violate privacy regulations. This is where dummy data comes in handy.

In this article, we'll walk you through the process of creating dummy data in Excel for your Shopify store, ensuring you have a robust dataset for analysis and testing.

» Discover the benefits of using dummy data for your Shopify store



Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Dummy Data in Excel

These are the practical steps to create a useful set of dummy data for your Shopify store using Microsoft Excel. By following these steps, you'll have a spreadsheet from A1 to F10 filled with dummy data for a Shopify store.

» Read up on reasons to use dummy data for your e-commerce store

steps to create dummy data in excel for your shopify store


1. Set up the Spreadsheet

Start by opening Excel and creating a new blank workbook.

a screenshot of a spreadsheet in a computer screen


2. Create Column Headers

In the first row of your spreadsheet, enter the following column titles:

  • A1: Product Name
  • B1: Price
  • C1: Inventory
  • D1: Sale Date
  • E1: Customer Region
  • F1: Order Quantity
a screenshot of a spreadsheet in microsoft office


3. Generate Data for Each Column

Now, let's populate the spreadsheet with dummy data:

Product Names (Column A)

In cells A2 to A10, type in product names (e.g., "Vintage Tee", "Leather Wallet", etc.").

a table with a number of items on it


Prices (Column B)

In cell B2, enter the formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(15, 150)

Drag this cell's corner down to B10 to fill the column with random prices. Format the cells to display as USD currency.

a table that shows the price of different items


Inventory (Column C)

In cell C2, type the formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(0, 100)

Drag this cell's corner down to fill to C10.

a table with numbers and numbers on it


Sale Dates (Column D)

In cell D2, enter the formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(DATE(2024,1,1), DATE(2024,12,31))

Drag this cell's corner down to fill to D10.

After entering the formula, the cell might show a serial number because Excel stores dates as serial numbers. To display this as a date, you need to change the cell's format.

Change the cell format to display as a date:

  1. Select cell D2
  2. Right-click and choose 'Format Cells'
  3. In the 'Number' tab, select 'Date' from the category list
  4. Choose your preferred date format and click 'OK'
a table with numbers and numbers on it


Customer Regions (Column E)

Manually type in regions (like 'North America) in cells E2 to E10, or use a list/formula to randomize.

a table with the names of different countries


Order Quantities (Column F)

In cell F2, enter the formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(1, 5)

Drag this cell's corner down to F10 to fill the column.

an iphone screen showing the order quantity of a product


Generated Dummy Data Spreadsheet

If you followed the steps, your spreadsheet is now filled with dummy data from from A1 to F10.

a table with dummy data numbers and numbers on it


» For quick and easy dummy data generation, try Simple Sample Data to populate your development Shopify store with realistic products, orders, and customers.

Best Types of Dummy Data for Shopify Analysis

  • Products: Include items with various sizes, colors, and prices. This setup tests your store's response to a wide product range.
  • Orders: Create orders with varied statuses, like completed, pending, or returned. This ensures you test how your store processes different order types and customer interactions.
  • Customer profiles: Use customer data with diverse backgrounds, including different locations, order histories, and preferences. This helps in analyzing customer behavior and tailoring marketing strategies effectively.

To make your dummy data more realistic and useful for analysis, ensure variability by:

  • Using a wide range of values for numerical data (e.g., prices, quantities)
  • Including different categories and subcategories for products
  • Varying order statuses and customer information
  • Creating a mix of high-volume and low-volume products

» Understand customer behavior and make data-driven decisions with our product analytics guide



Dummy Data Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • Overlooking missing values: It's common to fill every cell, but real datasets often have gaps. Introduce some blank cells to realistically represent missing data.
  • Neglecting edge cases: Dummy data sets sometimes miss extreme or unusual values. Include these edge cases to ensure your analysis is comprehensive.
  • Uniform distribution: People often create dummy data with evenly spaced values in Excel. Vary the data more to mimic real-world randomness and irregularities.


» Learn more: Crucial data insights for testing your Shopify store

Leverage Dummy Data Benefits With E-Commerce Automation

Creating dummy data in Excel for your Shopify store is a valuable skill that empowers you to test, analyze, and optimize your e-commerce business. While Excel is a powerful tool, there are even more efficient ways to generate and manage data for your Shopify store.

Consider exploring our suite of automation apps to streamline your workflow and enhance your store's performance

» Save time and effort in data creation: Try Simple Sample Data to instantly populate your Shopify store with realistic dummy data.

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