Automate Your Shopify Store

Learn about the best ways to automate your e-commerce business and manage your inventory across multiple Shopify stores.
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Multiple storesManaging Multiple Shopify StoresThere are various considerations to make before setting up a new Shopify store, from choosing the right plan to the best inventory management options. If you want to run multiple shops on Shopify, it’s important to have the right strategies in place to keep your multi-site business running smoothly. 3 Reasons to Manage Multiple Shopify Stores 1. Strengthening Your Brand’s Value Many businesses with luxury brands have outlets or off-price sales to appeal to diverse audiences. This strategy is perfect for businesses with prominent brands. Having your main store as well as another store where price-conscious customers can get cheaper products will prevent you from devaluing your other products and your store brand. 2. Entering International Markets You can use Shopify's multi-store feature to streamline the process of expanding into other markets. Having distinct Shopify stores makes it easier to adapt your brand to a locale's culture, purchasing patterns, demands, and values. Expanding your brand into new areas can open the door to discovering new clients and broadening your business' reach. 3. Trying Out Different Business Models You can also use multiple Shopify stores to experiment with different business models. Whether your approach is B2B or B2C, operating multiple Shopify stores allows you to modify your messaging and product presentation, as well as better target your consumer base. Problems With Operating Multiple Shopify Stores The multi-store approach complicates inventory tracking and order management, which may be its most significant shortcoming. When customers place orders from different sites for the same product pool, it may cause confusion, delays, and inaccuracies. In addition, managing multiple shops and duplicating content can be a cumbersome task and divert your attention from many other duties you must complete to keep your business functioning successfully. » Supercharge operating multiple Shopify stores by solving the common issues 4 Strategies for Managing More Than One Shopify Store 1. Choose the Right Shopify Plan for Your Business Separate Shopify plans for multiple stores Shopify merchants are most familiar with the Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify plans. However, none of them support multiple Shopify stores on the same account. If you already have a Shopify plan, the simplest way to get more stores is to purchase more plans. Multiple stores on Shopify Plus If you want to manage more than one store on one account, you need to buy a Shopify Plus Plan. This works well for high-volume businesses with massive traffic. Starting at $2000/month, this plan includes ten stores, with each extra store costing $250. Once you log in to your Shopify admin, you can navigate between your multiple Shopify storefronts associated with the same email address. » Each store needs a separate account, but you can use the same domain 2. Use PIM to Manage Inventory and Orders Despite Shopify's policy of not allowing managing more than one store from a single account, there's a more cost-effective solution than signing up for a Shopify Plus plan—installing a product inventory management (PIM) system to centralize your inventory. Using the interface of a PIM app, you'll be able to see how your inventory is distributed throughout all your locations and boost your multi-channel inventory management. When your inventory is synced across multiple stores in this way, making a single modification to your inventory, product details, images, or orders will reflect in all your stores. » Easily handle multi-store inventory with the best inventory management systems 3. Consolidate Customer Support Centralizing your customer support is as useful as managing inventory from one place. Having a single customer support system that consolidates all your customer order data and queries will save you time and help you monitor support tickets and other communication for minimum slip-ups. 4. Have a Cohesive Theme A strong, consistent theme with enhanced visual design helps reinforce your brand identity. Your multiple Shopify stores should be designed around a cohesive central theme. While your products and messaging should be customized for different markets, you don’t want to stray too far from the original design of your site that customers are already familiar with. » Use the best practices for managing multiple Shopify stores to your advantage Supercharge Your Multi-Store Management With Egnition Synchronize inventory levels and update product data across multiple locationsFull multi-location support for maximum flexibilityFree plan available Operating multiple Shopify stores is a challenging undertaking, but it's worth it considering the increased potential sales, better positioning, and more targeted marketing efforts. In addition to keeping our multi-store management strategies in mind, you'll be able to reap these benefits sooner with the help of a dedicated app like Egnition's Multi-Store Sync Power. Allowing you to automatically sync your inventory levels across multiple locations, this app can greatly facilitate your multi-store management and help you boost your store's bottom line more easily.
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Multiple storesHow to Sync Inventory Across Multiple Shopify StoresIf you own a store on Shopify, you've probably realized that managing inventory can be a real pain by now. But with a little coordination, effort, and a touch of help from an inventory syncing app, you can easily keep all of your inventory in sync across multiple stores. Difficulties of Managing Multiple Shopify Stores Shopify makes it easy to start and manage an online store. However, when you have multiple stores, Shopify inventory management can quickly become a thorn in a store owner's side. One of the main challenges is to sync inventory between two Shopify stores. If the inventory is not synced correctly, it can lead to stockouts and lost sales. Another challenge is managing orders and shipping logistics between two inventories. It can be difficult to keep track of which orders need to be shipped to which store and ensure that all products are available in all stores. When you're running multiple Shopify stores, it's important to stay organized and efficient with your inventory management. This means keeping track of what's in stock, what needs to be ordered, and when items are scheduled to arrive. Here are a few tips for managing your inventory across multiple stores: Use separate inventories for each store This will help you stay organized and easily track which items are in stock and which need to be ordered.Have a plan for ordering inventory Know what items you need to order and when they're scheduled to arrive. This will help avoid overlap or shortages in stock.Record your inventory movement Use a spreadsheet or inventory management app to keep track of your inventory levels and orders. This will make it easier to keep track of everything and make sure that all stores are adequately stocked. Why Should You Sync Your Inventories? There are several key advantages of syncing Shopify inventories. These include: Saving time: Automate your inventory syncing and gain more time to focus on your business.Saving money: Avoid wasting money on unnecessary inventory purchases.Reducing errors: Prevent manual data entry and reduce the risk of making errors.More reliability: Data is backed up, secured, and more reliable than ever. Syncing Inventory Across Multiple Shopify Apps If you're like most Shopify store owners, you probably use more than one Shopify app to manage your inventory. But what if you could sync your inventory between all of your apps? It's now possible with the new Multi-Store Sync Power app for Shopify. Multi-Store Sync Power connects to all of your Shopify apps and syncs your inventory in real time. This means that any changes to your inventory, including adding or removing products, are automatically updated in all of your other apps. Some notable features of the app include: Automated inventory updating Sync Power always provides a seamless process to sync the quantities of your inventory. It automatically adjusts inventory in your stores whenever a new order, refund, cancellation, or restock is initiated. Sync Power automatically ensures your inventory amounts are the same in every location.Synchronized fields across multiple properties Synchronizing your purchases allows you to upgrade the objects in all of your stores in the event that there is a change in the main product. You can select which fields to update and which fields you don't need to synchronize.Automated product creation While product updates are important, automatically adding new products is even better. Sync Power can be used to automatically compile new products for all stores that own your main store. Just make sure this option is enabled, and your new products will be created in all your other stores, along with the correct fields and synchronization. Learn more about how Multi-Store Sync Power can help you manage inventory from any store while having the changes reflected in all of the stores instantly:
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Multiple storesPracticing Test Orders on Shopify Development Stores: Step-By-Step GuideBefore moving your Shopify store to a paid plan, you should consider creating a development store to test Shopify apps, custom themes, and orders to ensure everything is running smoothly. Testing orders on a Shopify development store will help ensure that your store's checkout process and order process settings, inventory, shipping, notifications, and taxes are streamlined and work correctly, both for your customers as well as your team. There are three ways in which you can do this, however, it should be noted that draft orders and real transactions can't be tested on a development store. Option 1: Use Shopify’s Bogus Gateway As the cost of a development store is only the time it takes to sign up to Shopify Partners, using a development store's Bogus Gateway provides a simple means to test transactions. Log in to your Shopify admin and navigate to Settings > Payments.If you have a credit card payment provider, deactivate it by clicking on Manage > Deactivate.In the Shopify payments section, navigate to See all providers > Payment providers > Choose a provider.Select (for testing) Bogus Gateway.Select Activate (for testing) Bogus Gateway.Click Save.Navigate to your store and place an order using the following card details: Card name: Enter "Bogus Gateway" Card number: 1 - Simulates a successful transaction 2 - Simulates a failed transaction 3 - Generates an "error from the provider" messageCVV: Any 3-digit number Expiry date: Any future date Option 2: Use Shopify Payments Test Mode If you're using Shopify Payments, you can use the test mode to assess how your customers pay and how their orders are processed. You should note, however, that when test mode is activated, real cards can't be used to process orders. To activate Shopify Payments test mode Log in to your Shopify admin and navigate to Settings > Payments.Under Shopify Payments, select Manage.In the Test mode section, click Enable test mode.Select Save. To simulate a successful transaction with various cards Utilize the following test numbers with their corresponding card type: Visa: 4242424242424242Mastercard: 5555555555554444American Express: 378282246310005Discover: 6011111111111117Diners Club: 30569309025904JCB: 3530111333300000 The remaining card details can be filled in by using the following: Card Name: Enter at least two words. Expiry Date: Enter any future date. CVV: Any three digits. To simulate failed transaction error messages Utilize the following codes with the corresponding message type: Card declined: 4000000000000002Incorrect card number: 4242424242424241Disputed transaction: 4000000000000259Invalid expiry month: Use a number higher than 12Invalid expiry year: Use a year from the pastInvalid security code: Use a 2-digit CVV code You should note that you will be charged for purchased shipping labels when fulfilling test orders, so you should deactivate any third-party apps that do this automatically. Once you've completed the test transactions, you should deactivate test mode so that your customers can continue to make purchases. Option 3: Use a Test Mode for Third-Party Payment Providers If you're selling products using a third-party payment provider, some offer a test mode option similar to Shopify Payments. To enable test mode on your payment app, navigate to Admin > Settings > Payments, and select Enable test mode on your payment provider. Testing Orders With Real Transactions Testing orders can also be done by using real transactions and then canceling them shortly after. However, this can't be done while using a development store, therefore you will need to choose a paid plan and transfer your development store. Conclusion Whether you're testing out your first store or planning to manage multiple Shopify stores, it's always a good idea to use a development store to smooth out the process before finalizing changes and making your site live. Ensuring that your order process runs smoothly is essential to establishing customer satisfaction and a smooth-running sales funnel from the day of launch.
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Multiple storesHone Your Shopify Apps With a Development StoreTesting your app before submitting it to Shopify is a best practice that can help you avoid potential headaches down the road. By testing your app on Shopify's development platform, you can ensure that it is functioning properly and meets all the requirements outlined in the Shopify Developer Guidelines. Additionally, testing your app on Shopify's development platform allows you to collect valuable feedback from other developers who are using the same platform. This feedback can help you improve the functionality and usability of your app. How to Create a Development Store to Test Your App Before launching a development store, you’ll need to create yourself a Shopify Partner account. After your account is set up, simply: Log into your Shopify Partner dashboardNavigate to “Stores” > “Add store”Within the “Store type” panel, select “Development store”From the “Login information” panel, enter your new store’s name and a passwordIf you’d like, check the “Create a non-transferrable store that uses developer preview” if you’d like to enable a developer previewFrom the “Store address” panel, enter your business addressIf you’d prefer, from the “Store purpose” panel, nominate a reason you are creating a development storeFinish up by clicking “Save” How to Test Shopify Apps on Developmental Store Now your development store is all set up and configured to your liking, let’s go ahead and test your budding Shopify app. To do this, simply: Log back into your Shopify Partner DashboardFrom the dashboard, navigate to “Apps”Select the name of your app to head to the App overview pageFrom this page, in the “Test your app” panel, navigate to “Select store”Select your newly created development store that you wish to test your app inTo finish up, click “Install app” Once “Install app” is clicked, the platform should take you to the OAuth screen. If it does not, you’ll need to check if your app has integrated correctly. To do this, check your app’s coding, URLs, and redirects. If you are seeing this problem, head to Shopify’s “Getting started with OAuth” page for more information. To learn more about Shopify, head over to our multi-store inventory apps guide or check out our how to manage Shopify inventory article. Tips for Testing Your Shopify App When you’re testing your app, there are a few key things to keep in mind, such as the following: First, be sure to test on different devices and browsers. This will give you a good idea of how your app looks and performs on different platforms. Next, pay attention to the user experience. Make sure that everything works smoothly and that the user interface is easy to navigate. To finish, note any errors or glitches. These can be anything from small typos to major glitches that cause the app to crash. Be sure to rectify any issues before launching your app. Does Shopify Have a Test Environment? Shopify.dev is the official test environment for Shopify merchants that allows developers to test their themes and apps before they are submitted to the Shopify App Store. The environment is also helpful for troubleshooting issues with live stores. Shopify.dev is a replica of the Shopify platform that includes all the features and functionality of the live store. This way, developers can create test stores, add products, and configure settings just as they would in a live setting. The environment also includes a built-in theme editor and app editor, allowing developers to preview their changes in real-time before submitting them for approval. The Shopify team regularly updates Shopify.dev with the latest features and changes to the platform. This ensures that developers have access to the most up-to-date information when building their themes and apps.
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Multiple storesHow to Create a Development Store in Shopify—and Why You ShouldLearning how to create a development store in Shopify is one of the most valuable things you can do as a Shopify developer. Development stores are simple free accounts on Shopify where you can experiment with different Shopify apps and themes, explore website functionality, and even set up accounts for clients. Shopify partners have access to unlimited Shopify development stores, so they can test virtually any theme or app they create with ease. Here’s how you can create a development store in Shopify. How to Create a Development Store in Shopify The first thing you’ll need to create development stores in Shopify is a Partner account, which impacts the cost of setting up a development store. Partners have complete access to the Shopify development store landscape, as well as other benefits like partner-preferred apps, documentation, and affiliate rewards. You can create a Shopify Partner account by visiting the Partner Program page and filling out the form provided. You’ll need to enter your email address and a few other details. Once you have your Shopify Partner account, you can create as many development stores as you like. Start by logging into your Shopify Partner dashboard, then follow these steps: Click “Stores”Choose “Add Store”Select “Development store” as your store typeGive your store a name, URL, and password. You can also enter a purpose for the storeClick “Save” Once your store is created, you can log into it through the Stores tab in your Shopify Partner account dashboard. Here, you’ll be able to start experimenting with your store, or practice managing multiple stores. You can edit the password page (though it cannot be removed), and install various themes and apps from the Shopify Store. To install an app to a Shopify development store, visit the Shopify App store and click the app you want to add. Enter your store’s address and add the password when prompted. When you create a development store, you can also enable “developer preview” to gain access to new features for Shopify, so you can experiment with them before they’re released to merchants. You can also archive your development stores by clicking the name of the store you want to archive in the “Stores” tab and then clicking “Archive”. How to Transfer Ownership of a Development Store One of the most common reasons to create a development store is to create something for a client. Once you’ve tested that your store works, you can transfer the ownership of the domain to the customer in a few simple steps. Start by logging into your Partner dashboard, then: Click “Stores”Choose “Actions” next to the store you want to transferSelect “Transfer ownership”In the “Transfer” dialog box, choose your client from the list of eligible accounts created for your storeIf your client isn’t a staff member yet, you can click “Add staff account” to do soClick “Transfer store” Benefits of Shopify Development Stores Shopify development stores allow developers to experiment with store creations in a safe and secure environment. You can use your development store to test the themes and apps you’ve created yourself or to set up a Shopify store with other apps in the Shopify App Store to see how everything functions. This is a great way to test store functionality for clients. The biggest benefits of Shopify development stores include the following: Experimentation You’re free to experiment with all the apps and themes you like in a controlled environment where you can access most of Shopify’s Advanced functions.Client site-building You can create an entire store for a client, ensure it works as intended, and share the site with your client without paying for a Shopify external license.Exploring new features Enabling the “Developer Preview” option on Shopify development stores allows you to explore new features in Shopify before they’re released. Features and Limitations of Development Stores One point to keep in mind is that, while Shopify development stores are free to use, they do have some limitations. You will get most of the features included in the Shopify Advanced plan in your development environment. This means you can: Process unlimited test ordersAssign custom domains to storesExperiment with apps and themesCreate up to 10 custom appsCreate unlimited unique products for your storeExplore new features from Shopify However, development stores will only allow you to install free apps and partner-approved apps, which may be a significant limitation. You can also only test orders using the “Bogus Test Gateway”, or with the test mode offered by your payment provider. It’s not possible to test orders with real transactions. You also won’t be able to remove the Shopify store password page. As such, it's up to you to determine whether investing time in Shopify development stores is worth it or not.
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Multiple storesMultiple Shopify Stores: How to Solve Common IssuesRunning multiple shops on Shopify is easy when you know exactly what you're doing. We'll walk you through the common problems that arise when managing multiple Shopify stores - including how to solve them! Should You Have Multiple Shopify Stores? One of the great things about Shopify is that it allows business owners to create multiple stores. This can be helpful if you are looking to expand your business and reach more customers. Here are a few reasons why Shopify sellers would want to sell across multiple Shopify stores: To Expand Globally When you're trying to expand globally, you should have more than one Shopify storefront. Each country has different needs, so you must cater to them. With multiple Shopify stores, you can modify your website to suit local cultures by changing language, currency, products, and even web design. You can also sell locally-specific products that you know will be popular in its market. To Create an Outlet You may want to offer products at discounted prices to clear up space in your warehouse or shift end-of-line products. However, this carries a risk, as discounted products may not appeal to all audiences and damage your brand's value. A second Shopify store can help you target new customers without putting your brand at risk. To Diversify Customer Segments and Niches When you run more than one store, you have more flexibility when it comes to creating a website that targets a range of audiences and even establishes niche customers. As an example, if you sell women's clothing, you could have one store dedicated to casual wear and another to evening wear. Common Issues With Having Multiple Shopify Stores For most sellers, the main challenge is keeping data synchronized and ensuring that all stores run consistently. So, it's no surprise that these are the most common issues Shopify merchants face: Orders When you have multiple Shopify storefronts, there will be separate orders for each site. Fulfillment and returns can be complicated as a result. SOLVE Centralize Order Management Maintaining track of all orders that come into your stores can be made easier with a centralized order management system. You can integrate all your order data, such as fulfillment, returns, customer support, and dropshipping processes, into one centralized system to better manage and track orders throughout all of your online stores. Inventory Shopify does not reduce inventory for your other sites when you sell a product on one site. Each time you sell an item, you will need to update the inventory on several sites. SOLVE Implement A Real-Time Inventory Management System Inventory management systems provide real-time tracking so that you always have enough stock to meet your customers' demands. By doing so, you avoid having to run out of products and ensure that your goods are never oversold. You can get low-inventory warnings and automatic updates numerous times a day using popular Shopify tools like Multi‑Store Sync Power. This tool updates inventory in stores when there is a new order, refund, cancellation or restock, regardless of where it sells. SEO Challenges As a result of having two Shopify stores, you'll need to devote twice as much time and effort to developing two solid domains, implementing on-site SEO, and other associated tasks. SOLVE If your aim for establishing multiple Shopify storefronts is to target a foreign country's market, keeping track of the most popular keywords in that market will help your content rank higher. For example, the same keywords for a product may not have the same relevance in Paris as in Tokyo, emphasizing the significance of developing a comprehensive SEO strategy for each locale. Poor Speed Performance A slow store directly affects your website's ability to generate more leads and convert users. Slow loading time might even leave potential customers wondering if your Shopify store is down. Optimizing your page speed is a major contributor to user experience and should be at the top of your list of Shopify issues to resolve. If you’re trying to boost your Shopify store’s SEO, know that performance counts as a ranking factor in Google’s algorithm. SOLVE Here are some helpful tips to ensure your Shopify store reacts quickly when you experience downtime: Use pop-ups sparinglyMinify your codesReduce redirects and remove broken linksPrioritize testing and optimizing your mobile performanceUse a content delivery network (CDN)Decrease thumbnail image quality and sizeCompress and reduce the size, and number of images Limits to How Many Stores Can You Have On Shopify An issue that you might encounter when you want to set up multiple Shopify stores is deciding which plan to sign up for. We outline their limitations: Separate Shopify Plans For Multiple Stores Shopify merchants are most familiar with the Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify plans. However, none of them support multiple Shopify stores on the same account. If you have a Shopify plan, the simplest approach to adding one or two more shops is to keep buying more plans. Multiple Stores on Shopify Plus If you want to avoid Shopify login issues, then buying a Shopify Plus Plan is better. This package is meant for high-volume businesses and starts at $2000/month. With Shopify Plus, you get ten stores. Each extra store costs $250. Once you log in to your Shopify admin, you can navigate between your multiple Shopify storefronts that are associated with the same email address. Managing multiple Shopify stores can be challenging. It is, however, highly achievable if you follow the guidelines outlined in this article.
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Multiple storesMulti-Store Inventory Apps: Why You Need One for Your E-Commerce StoreRunning an online store involves a lot of inventory management. Unless you want to spend hours each day tracking stock levels, order statuses, and shipping data, you need a good multi-store inventory app. It helps to define multi-store inventory. Essentially, it is a system that businesses use to keep track of and account for all orders from multiple sales sources on inventory that is maintained at several locations, such as marketplaces, e-commerce, retail, and wholesale. Multi-store inventory apps sync with shopping carts and backend systems. They can also help you find hot items in other stores and keep track of your inventory so you never run out. Why Do You Need a Multi-store Inventory App? Retail inventory management improves efficiency from a strategic standpoint. Inventory management is critical for businesses because it allows you to better understand your customers and enhance revenues. Knowing and investing in a multi-store inventory app is a big advantage for a merchant looking to reach as many customers as possible. It allows the user to have access to a large number of individuals at the same time, regardless of geography. Benefits of Multi-Store Inventory Apps Selling on the International Market If you wish to expand your business globally, you'll need to tailor your stores to local tastes. This means you should modify your website's layout, design, and even languages depending on where you sell. Having multiple Shopify stores allows you to easily tailor your website to each target demographic. Targeted Perks With access to various audiences, you can curate specific offers and incentives based on the audience and what they are interested in. You can choose to spotlight regionally exclusive items that you know will appeal to a specific market. Customer Segments Can Be Targeted Regardless of whether you offer different types of products, it's a smart idea to develop individual Shopify sites for each consumer category, regardless of your business plan. You will be able to better cater to the demands of each consumer as a result of this. Test and Create New Opportunities It's easier to target new clients without compromising your brand by opening a different Shopify store as an outlet. Targeted incentives and the chance to experiment will be feasible without disturbing your current audience. The danger of doing so on your main site is that reduced items may not appeal to all consumers, lowering the value of your brand. Best Multi-Store Inventory Apps Multi-Store Sync Power With Sync Power, you can focus on sales while your inventory is synced, updated, and current across all of your stores. Once uploaded, products are automatically generated and updated in all storefronts. All fields and images are synchronized. You can also see if any SKUs/barcodes are missing from the synchronization process. Out-of-Stock Police All sold-out goods will be instantly hidden or pushed down by Out-of-Stock Police in real time. Merchants can increase targeted traffic and aid sales while reducing the number of sold out goods. This app helps you to intelligently and automatically hide out-of-stock goods. Bestsellers reSort Bestsellers reSort is the simplest way to increase revenue and sales by changing the order of things to meet your needs. To assist with generating greater ROI and sales through your business, this app lets you show potential customers exploring your site the most profitable or significant goods first. For shops of all sizes, Bestsellers reSort sorts millions of items automatically and in several locations. Simple Sample Data No more clumsy import–export files! Simple Sample Data allows merchants to easily add relevant sample data to their Shopify stores. This tool can also search for test data CSV files. With one click, your business will be stocked with test goods, collections, orders, and customers. Other Inventory Management Techniques ABC Analysis This method identifies the most popular and least popular stocks.Safety Stock An inventory management philosophy that prioritizes safety stock ensures that there is always spare stock reserved in case the business is unable to restock those items.Minimum Order Quantity To cut cost, a company that relies on minimum order quantity will order small amounts of merchandise from wholesalers in each purchase.Consignment When using consignment inventory management, a company withholds paying its supplier until a particular product is sold. Until the inventory is sold, that provider retains ownership of the inventory as well. If you are an e-commerce store owner, then you know the importance of managing your inventory. A multi-store inventory app can help you do just that. If you are ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level, then visit Egnition to see the variety of apps we offer.
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