Shopify B2B / Wholesale Channel

source: Handshake

Basically, it’s an app that connects retailers to approved Shopify store owners and allows merchants to sell their products to them. Shopify Marketplace also has a few apps that you can use to create special pricing lists and give discounts to different wholesale customers, for example, B2B pricing solutions or Wholesale Club.

If you’re a small business looking to get a taste of B2B and wholesale, Handshake’s wholesale app is a great way to start out. They won’t provide you with all the benefits of having a customised channel, but for those just wanting to “test the waters”, it’s a great alternative.

5 reasons why Shopify is good for B2B ecommerce and wholesale

There is no doubt that Shopify simplifies the process of conducting B2B and wholesale sales. Shopify keeps your business connected with core systems like ERP, CRM, and inventory management, ensuring seamless data flow across your tech stack. Additionally, Shopify enables merchants to build custom integrations with their existing business systems to tailor workflows and data syncing. Taking a peek at the benefits of selling on Shopify, let’s see what you can expect.

#1 Manage stores more efficiently

Shopify’s B2B solution simply makes managing your stores much easier for you. If you have both a retail Shopify store and a wholesale business somewhere else, then you might spend too much time managing two (or more) separate stores. Shopify wholesale blended stores would meanwhile allow you to manage retail and wholesale customers from the same platform as the inventory, orders, and all other customer data would all be in one place.

#2 Enjoy flexibility and convenience

Your customers will love the convenience of being able to buy and reorder products they’ve previously purchased easily. This encourages them to continue returning to make more purchases, giving you a loyal customer base. Plus, you can also create passport-protected quotas and offer a custom pricing system that better meets their needs. For example, you can set the same discount for all products, but you can also add a volume discount. Or you can create wholesale price lists for different customers. You can even create multiple pricing lists, such as having a special pricing list for your best clients or offering a custom quote for an order.

#3 Get access to 24/7 wholesale order center

With Shopify, customers can access your wholesale order centre 24/7, allowing businesses to extend their reach to customers in different time zones or even those in other countries. Having a convenient and accessible order centre allows you to take advantage of those international opportunities while maintaining complete control over your B2B and wholesale sales.

#4 Deliver DTC-like customer experience

Wholesale stores were famous for reluctant UX and UI. Now, with Shopify, things have changed a lot. You can use the design of your store and all the features you already have for regular buyers. Plus, you have access to the same powerful tools that drive Shopify’s DTC stores and use them to streamline your order management process.

#5 Save time (and money)

If you already using Shopify Plus, it can literally help you save time and money. You don’t need to waste time building a new store from scratch, you can use the same setup as your DTC store. Additionally, its implementation is faster than other third-party solutions. Not to mention that the daily workflow and order management are streamlined to the maximum.

What are the features of a Shopify B2B and wholesale channel solution?

Shopify’s wholesale and B2B channel solutions let you create tailored shopping experiences your customers will love. These solutions also include advanced shipping features designed for business customers, such as specialised shipping rules and integrations. Keep reading to learn more about the features you can get at your fingertips.

Personalised B2B store

You can get a separate, dedicated storefront, or create a blend of DTC and B2B stores, protected with a password. You choose which option suits you more. If you don’t want to make the store visible through search engines, it’s possible either – wholesale access is only available to registered buyers.

• Create a personalised wholesale buying experience with your online store theme
• Customise delivery and payment logic right in the checkout
• Build the solution you need with the Shopify suite of B2B APIs and compatible apps

Custom pricing & order limits

With Shopify Plus, you have full control over pricing in your B2B store. The subscription allows you to customise the prices, so they’re exactly what you need. Furthermore, you can use the pricing lists to offer a special discount to your most loyal customers – as a way of saying “Thank you.”

• Set fixed wholesale prices for products
• Set percentage-based or volume-based discounts
• Set minimum & maximum quantity order limits
• Create multiple price lists with different prices for specific customers or customer groups

B2B customer self-serve dashboards

 Spend less time managing orders. Shopify wholesale provides customers with an account and dashboard to purchase, track & reorder 24/7 without having to speak to you.

• Provide your customers with access to all current and past information, such as order status, tracking number, or invoices
• Give your customers the ability to manage their account easily (add and edit buyer information, as well as view and filter order history)
• Improve the ease of reordering to encourage customers to buy more products

Payment terms 

Automate the process of assigning payment terms while tracking orders. With Shopify, you can have all payment terms in one place and reduce manual work to the bare minimum.

• Send a customised invoice email that asks for payment using alternative payment options, such as a wire transfer
• Enable customers to securely store cards on file or in their account & speed up payment processes
• Accept payment via Afterpay, which will allow clients to pay in instalments and automatically collect payments
• Assign a company with a specific payment term

Managing B2B Customers on Shopify

Effectively managing B2B customers on Shopify means understanding their unique needs and delivering a tailored experience. Shopify equips merchants with powerful features to segment customer groups, set up custom pricing, and offer net terms, ensuring each b2b customer receives the right pricing and payment options.

Sales reps can be granted access to the Shopify store, allowing them to manage customer relationships and place orders on behalf of their clients. This not only streamlines the sales process but also helps build stronger business connections.

Leveraging customer data is key to personalising the shopping experience. Merchants can use insights from customer behaviour to offer targeted promotions, discounts, and special pricing, making each interaction more relevant and valuable.

Shopify’s seamless integration with other business operations, such as ERP and inventory management, means you can manage your b2b customers, pricing, and orders all in one place. This integration streamlines processes, reduces manual work, and ensures your business runs smoothly from order placement to fulfilment.

Streamlining B2B Workflows for Efficiency

Efficiency is at the heart of successful B2B commerce, and Shopify provides a suite of features designed to streamline wholesale workflows. Automated processes, such as draft orders and flexible payment types, help merchants save time and reduce errors when managing b2b customers and orders.

Custom integrations can connect your Shopify store with essential business operations like ERP and accounting systems, ensuring data flows seamlessly between platforms. This connectivity empowers you to manage multiple stores and customer accounts from a single dashboard, simplifying operations and cutting down on administrative costs.

Shopify’s intuitive storefront and inventory management features make it easy to keep track of stock levels, process orders, and handle payments – all while providing a smooth experience for your customers. By automating routine tasks and centralising business operations, you can focus on growth and delivering exceptional service to your wholesale clients.

B2B on Shopify – pricing plan details

Now, a bit further about how much the wholesale channel (or rather, Shopify Plus subscription) will cost you.

Regular Shopify offers three flat-rate e-commerce plans, which cost $32, $92, and $399 per month, respectively. Shopify Plus, meanwhile, charges you based on the monthly sales volume. At least, you can expect to pay $2,500 per month for using Shopify Plus (or $2,300 on a 3-year contract).

In comparison to the cost of a regular Shopify subscription, the price of a Plus subscription might seem high, but the Plus subscription offers many extra benefits for businesses that justify the high cost.

If you’re looking for more scoop membership perks of Shopify Plus development, check out this article.