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Want to manage multiple Shopify stores but concerned that it requires technical expertise?

Don’t worry. Shopify offers a streamlined and easy way to set up and maintain Shopify multiple stores with a single account. You can then use a marketing automation tool like Omnisend to manage your email marketing (which also supports multi-store accounts).

In this article, we’ll explore how to create and successfully manage a Shopify multi-store account.

Is it possible to have multiple stores on Shopify?

Yes, you can use the same email address to create up to ten stores on one Shopify account. All your Shopify stores will be visible when you log into the Shopify admin and you can switch without hassle.

Each store will have its products, domain name, and unique subscription plan. The total cost will depend on your subscription plan for managing multiple stores.

The Shopify Basic plan costs $39, billed monthly for one account. Therefore, if you operate ten stores using the Shopify Basic plan, you’ll pay $390 per month.

Another way to use one account to create multiple Shopify stores is to upgrade to Shopify Plus. Upgrading allows access to advanced features like unlimited staff accounts and customized apps.

Shopify Plus is ideal for every fast-growing brand. The pricing for more complex businesses and unlimited staff accounts is $2,000/month, billed annually.

How to create multiple stores on Shopify

It’s pretty easy to set up many stores on Shopify:

• Log into your Shopify account to access your dashboard.

• Click on your store name in the top right corner.
• On the dropdown menu, click on “All stores.”
• Click on “Create store.”

• Provide the necessary information for the new store, as shown below:

• After completing the steps, you’ll get a prompt to connect the new store to your preferred account. You can either select your existing account or create another one:

• Shopify will build your store, and you can access the new store’s dashboard.

Using the steps above, we’ve successfully created two Shopify stores on one account. Feel free to expand and add more stores.

• Click on “Select a plan” to choose a Shopify plan for the store.

Here’s a comparison of Shopify Basic’s plans and pricing:

How to manage multiple stores on Shopify

The Shopify multi-store system allows you to switch between stores from a single Shopify account. You can also authorize staff/users to assist with store management.

While creating multiple Shopify stores is easy, the real challenge is managing them. We’ve curated expert Shopify tips for successfully managing multiple Shopify stores.

1. Establish standard operating procedures

Having multiple stores on Shopify means you’ll have more staff to manage. However, establishing operation standards ensures efficiency, consistency, and a cohesive brand identity.

To achieve a well-defined operation, do the following:

• Keep track of your actions. These include adding products, processing orders, managing inventory, and responding to customer inquiries.
• Develop templates for common processes, such as product listing and creating campaigns.
• Leverage Shopify features like product tags and tax configuration to maintain uniformity.
• Establish communication channels across stores for prompt information sharing and collaboration.
• Provide staff with comprehensive training materials and ensure everyone understands the procedures.

2. Add staff and grant permissions

Decide how many Shopify stores you want and subscribe to the plans that suit your business needs. The Basic Shopify plan allows you to add two staff accounts. In contrast, Shopify Plus lets you have unlimited accounts.

It’s important to assign specific store permissions to staff. For instance, you can permit staff to modify product details in store A but not in store B. This enables them to work effectively without compromising security.

3. Allocate resources strategically

Managing Shopify multiple stores requires strategic resource allocation. After all, strategy determines the overall efficiency of your multi-store ecommerce operations.

Here are some key points to help you allocate your resources:

• Identify which stores contribute more revenue and brand visibility.
• Regularly assess store performance to measure customer engagement, total sales, and conversion rates.
• Ensure the allocated resources align with each store’s target audience’s needs and preferences.
• Focus on products or categories that sell fast and promote them more.
• Allocate resources for each store’s marketing strategies, like copywriting and digital ads.

4. Build product line segments

It’s advisable for businesses with different customer/product categories to segment product lines. Each store can then have a clear brand identity.

For instance, if you sell clothes, you can create Shopify clothing stores to showcase products for men, women, and kids. This makes it easier to target marketing efforts and track each store’s sales performance.

5. Leverage Shopify integrations and apps

Shopify stores provide the essential resources to start making sales. However, you can maximize profit by integrating the best Shopify apps . You can use these apps for email marketing, social media marketing, product sourcing and fulfillment, and customer service.

6. Centralize inventory management

Managing inventory is critical to the success of retail businesses. It ensures you don’t run out of stock and disappoint customers. It also prevents you from overstocking, especially goods that don’t sell fast. This way, you won’t tie up your capital.

Tracking can be challenging for businesses with many stores.

With a centralized inventory, you can track store performance and analyze sales. You can also identify items to repurchase or retire. The data helps you make informed decisions about product offerings, marketing strategies, and operational improvements.

You can use the Shopify POS app to track inventory across your online stores. You can also use Omnisend’s Back In Stock app to inform customers when a product is available.

7. Localize customer experience

You’ll receive many customer queries with different Shopify stores under your control. A central system for tracking customer communication is fantastic. However, each store needs customized support.

For instance, the following steps will help target customers in Germany to one of your stores:

• Translate all product pages into German
• Integrate local payment methods like Klarna Pay Later, iDEAL, and Bancontact
• Calculate pricing in Euro
• Tailor shipping and tax information to what’s obtainable in Germany
• Provide native customer service

This approach caters to German customers and ensures your business complies with German regulations.

8. Track analytics and reports

Analytics and reports help you see how your business is faring. With Shopify analytical tools, you can access multiple stores’ reports from a single dashboard.

Knowing the correct data to track will help you analyze each store’s performance. Below are some essential metrics to look for:

• Sell-through rate : Displays product sales and restocking time
• ABC analysis : Evaluates your worst and best-selling products over time
• Inventory value : End-of-month inventory costs and worth help you prepare tax information
• Sales by channel : Helps you know which sales point makes the most impact on your business
• Average order value : Measures the impact of your digital marketing efforts. It also measures the effectiveness of store staff and trends in revenue
• Retail reports : Highlights top-selling products and their store locations
• Customer reports : Helps compare first-time and repeat customers

9. Manage emails efficiently

Operating Shopify multiple stores requires efficient email management. This helps you track all activities and communications. It’s advisable to create different email addresses if each store has distinct products, target audiences, and marketing strategies.

Different email addresses create a professional and more organized image for your business. It also adds a layer of security to your stores because if one store’s password is compromised, it won’t affect the other stores since the emails aren’t connected.

Leveraging an email management tool helps you manage inquiries and email marketing campaigns. Omnisend is the ideal tool because of its seamless integration with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms.

10. Regularly review and optimize

Managing multiple Shopify stores is an ongoing effort. It involves periodic reviews to identify and correct discrepancies.

Update product lists and prices and ensure all store features are functioning optimally. Also, look out for sales trends and emerging market opportunities.

Optimize your marketing strategies based on feedback from customers and store analytics. This might earn you a spot on the list of the top Shopify stores . More importantly, regularly update login details to enhance your stores’ security and ensure customer data integrity.

Benefits and challenges of running multiple Shopify stores

We’ve outlined the benefits of operating several Shopify stores:

• Helps you focus your marketing strategies and personalize messaging
• Helps with customized shopping experiences for all customer segments
• Enables product diversification and appeals to a wider range of customers
• Adapts product offerings and pricing to match the preferences of different countries
• Diversifies risk. If one store fails, others may thrive
• Helps global stores comply with laws and regulations in multiple countries
• Helps maintain operational independence. Shopify multiple stores allow for different teams, customer support, and order fulfillment

Examples of businesses that have benefited from Shopify multiple stores include the following:

• Gymshark
• Allbirds
• Aje
• Spanx
• Immi
• Samsonite

Running multiple stores is not without challenges. Here are some common challenges of managing multiple stores on Shopify:

• Complex inventory, product catalogs, and diverse customer base
• Maintaining consistency in brand identity and campaign messaging while catering to the needs of different customer segments
• Addressing customer inquiries promptly
• Ensuring data security and compliance with regulations in different store locations
• Aligning staff with overall business goals and managing store-specific activities
• Efficiently managing costs while maximizing profits

Despite these challenges, the right tools help you make the most of your online store. It’s also essential to understand the domain and integrate the right customizations .

Marketing automation for Shopify multiple stores

Utilizing automation tools streamlines business operations across all your Shopify stores. It also fosters professionalism, enhances customer service, and keeps the store organized.

Omnisend offers multi-store automation features, allowing you to manage multiple stores’ marketing. It also enables email automation, SMS, and push notifications. It’s built for convenience, so you can switch between stores with a single click.

You don’t have to log in or out, or go through the stress of remembering multiple passwords.

Additionally, you can reuse or repurpose templates. You don’t have to start from scratch when contacting customers in multiple locations.

For instance, you can repurpose a digital ad in English for customers in Germany. Just translate the ad to Germa, while every other detail remains the same.

You can replicate an existing workflow automation when setting up a new store. All you need to do is copy and paste, then make adjustments if necessary.

Omnisend enables effective email management across stores. Its drag-and-drop email builder lets you create stunning emails with your brand colors. You can also save your designs as templates and share them with all connected stores for reuse.

Omnisend’s intuitive segment builder helps with customer segmentation. The builder lets you narrow your marketing efforts to people who’ll find them more relevant.

Omnisend’s ecommerce marketing platform has extra benefits for multi-store automation:

• Customizable signup forms
• Campaign and automation reports
• Cross-channel sales tracker
• Cookieless tracking
• Instant shopper retargeting and more

Wrap up

If expanding your ecommerce business is your priority in 2024, it’s time to consider running Shopify multiple stores. With Shopify or Shopify Plus, managing multiple online stores from a single platform can be a breeze.

And with Omnisend, you can easily manage email marketing and automation for multiple stores. Omnisend enables you to elevate the customer experience and boost Shopify store sales.