How To Do Local Pickup on Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Eligibility for Local Pickup
3. Setting Up Local Pickup on Shopify
4. Offering Pickup Only for Specific Products
5. Enhancing Customer Experience with Local Pickup
6. Conclusion
7. FAQs

Introduction

Imagine you're running a bustling online store on Shopify, and you want to offer your local customers the convenience of picking up their orders directly from your physical location. The solution? Setting up a local pickup option on Shopify.

With the rise in online shopping and the increasing demand for flexible delivery methods, offering local pickup can significantly enhance your customer experience and streamline your operations. Not only does it save money for your customers, but it also helps reduce your shipping overheads. By the end of this post, you'll learn everything you need to set up and optimize local pickup on Shopify, ensuring a seamless experience for both you and your customers.

Eligibility for Local Pickup

Before diving into the setup process, it's essential to know the eligibility requirements. To offer local pickup:

1. Your store must use multi-origin shipping if it has multiple locations.
2. Each location where you want to offer pickup must have its own distinct setup within the Shopify admin.

If you're unsure about your store's eligibility, it might be useful to contact Shopify Support for clarification.

Setting Up Local Pickup on Shopify

Activate Local Pickup for Each Location

1. Navigate to Settings: From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
2. Find Pickup In Store: In the Pickup in store section, click Set up or the › icon.
3. Select Location: In the 'Your locations' section, select a location you want to set up for in-store pickup.
4. Enable Option: Check the box marked This location offers in-store pickup.
5. Set Processing Time: In the 'Expected pickup date' section, select a processing time for in-store pickup from the drop-down menu.
6. Enter Pickup Instructions: Provide any required pickup instructions for your customers in the 'Order ready for pickup notification' section.
7. Save Changes: Click Save.

Display Pickup Availability on Product Pages

Certain Shopify themes allow you to display whether a product is available for pickup directly on the product page. This feature can be invaluable in setting customer expectations about pickup availability without them needing to proceed to checkout.

1. Product Setup: From your Shopify admin, go to Products, select a product, and then select a variant.
2. Mark Physical Product: Under 'Shipping', check This is a physical product.
3. Save Changes: Click Save.

If you have pickup activated for a single location, the availability for that location will be displayed. For multiple locations, customers can click Check availability at other stores.

Customize Notifications for Local Pickup

To keep your customers in the loop, Shopify sends several email notifications about the status of their pickup orders. You might want to customize these to better match your brand’s voice or to provide specific instructions.

1. Order Confirmation: Customize the order confirmation email by wrapping pickup related content in the Liquid variable {% if order.pickup_in_store? %}.
2. Ready for Pickup Notification: Add content specific to pickup instructions from your Shopify admin by going to Settings > Shipping and delivery and clicking on the relevant location in the 'Pickup in store' section.

Managing Pickup Orders

Once a pickup order is placed, here’s how you can manage it:

1. Order Confirmation: When you receive a new pickup order, set aside the necessary items and update the order status in Shopify.
2. Notify Customer: Send a notification to the customer that their order is ready for pickup.
3. Pickup Slips: Print a pickup slip to attach to the order.
4. Fulfillment: When the customer arrives to pick up their order, mark the order as fulfilled in Shopify to confirm the pickup.

Offering Pickup Only for Specific Products

Sometimes, you may have products that are too bulky or fragile to ship and need to be pickup-only. Here’s how to set that up:

1. Create a New Shipping Profile: Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery and create a new shipping profile.
2. Select Products: Add the specific products you want to be pickup-only.
3. Set Shipping Zone: Define a shipping zone that encompasses only your local area or the zone you serve. Leave the 'Shipping Rates' empty so no shipping options appear.
4. Test Setup: Save and test the checkout process to ensure only the local pickup option is shown for these products.

Enhancing Customer Experience with Local Pickup

Adding Clear Instructions

Providing clear and straightforward instructions can enhance the local pickup experience for customers. In the Order ready for pickup notification, include critical information such as:

• Exact address for the pickup location.
• A contact number for pickup-related inquiries.
• Detailed pickup procedures (e.g., curbside pickup instructions).
• Operating hours during which pickups can be made.

Managing Expectations and Inventory

Updating Inventory

Ensure accurate inventory tracking to avoid scenarios where customers arrive for pickup only to find their order isn't ready.

• Verify Stock: Each pickup order requires item verification to ensure all items are in stock.
• Adjust Inventory: From the Shopify admin, go to Products and manage the inventory for each product to match the available stock at your pickup locations.

Utilizing Shopify POS

For a seamless in-store pickup experience, consider integrating Shopify POS. This system simplifies the process of managing in-store pickups, especially for businesses with multiple locations.

1. Mark Orders for Pickup: Use Shopify POS to quickly locate and fulfill pickup orders.
2. Send Pickup Confirmations: Customers can receive real-time notifications through Shopify POS when their order is ready for collection.

Conclusion

Offering local pickup on Shopify is a game-changer for businesses looking to provide flexible, cost-effective delivery options. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily set up and manage local pickup to improve customer satisfaction and streamline your operations.

Whether it’s customizing notifications, managing inventory, or utilizing Shopify POS, each step ensures a smooth and efficient local pickup experience. Remember to test each aspect thoroughly to iron out any issues and make the process as seamless as possible for your customers.

FAQs

Q: Can customers choose both shipping and pickup in the same order? A: No, customers must place two separate orders if they want some items shipped and others picked up.

Q: Are there any additional costs for setting up local pickup on Shopify? A: No, Shopify does not charge extra for enabling and managing local pickup options, but integrating additional features like Shopify POS may have associated costs.

Q: How can I handle situations where a customer selects the wrong pickup location? A: The customer must place a new order and select the correct pickup location, as the inventory fulfillment location cannot be changed after an order is placed.

Q: What if I want to offer local pickup only for specific days or times? A: You can customize the ready for pickup notifications to specify available pickup times and any special instructions. Ensure clear communication with your customers about the pickup schedule.