Setting up a B2B store on Shopify can significantly boost your business by allowing you to sell directly to other companies in bulk. Shopify provides various options for creating a B2B store, whether you’re using Shopify Plus with built-in wholesale features or apps like Wholesale Pricing Discount (WPD) to tailor your store for wholesale needs. These tools help simplify the process of managing bulk orders, offering custom pricing, and catering to larger business clients.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up a B2B store on Shopify, either by leveraging Shopify Plus or by using third-party apps like WPD. Additionally, we will showcase examples of successful Shopify stores that have integrated these tools, giving you a clear idea of how to create a seamless B2B experience for your customers.
How to set up B2B on your Shopify store
There are two ways by which you can set up and start selling B2B on your Shopify store. Let us discuss them one by one.
Option1: By switching and upgrading to the Shopify Plus plan
By upgrading to the Shopify Plus plan, businesses gain access to a wide range of advanced features designed specifically for B2B and wholesale selling. This includes the ability to create custom storefronts tailored to business clients, manage multiple price lists, and offer tiered pricing based on customer groups. The Plus plan also provides features like automated workflows, bulk order processing, and the ability to set up custom shipping and payment terms, making it easier to manage large-scale B2B transactions.
However, while Shopify Plus offers robust tools for wholesale and B2B sales, it comes with a significant price tag, starting at around $2,000 per month. For smaller businesses, this cost can be a considerable investment. Fortunately, Shopify offers alternatives, like apps such as Wholesale Pricing Discount (WPD), that can provide many of the same B2B functionalities at a lower cost.
Option 2: By using third-party wholesale apps
Third-party wholesale apps on the Shopify App Store help you easily set up B2B functionality in your store without needing the expensive Shopify Plus plan. These apps streamline your wholesale operations, allowing you to serve both retail and wholesale customers efficiently. Let’s take a look at some of the best wholesale apps:
- Wholesale Pricing Discount: This app enables you to create custom pricing, volume discounts, and wholesale sign-up forms. It also allows you to set up a dedicated wholesale section or run a hybrid B2B/B2C store, with options for net payment terms and advanced shipping.
- Wholesale Lock Manager: With this tool, you can restrict access to specific products or sections, ensuring that only your wholesale clients see special pricing and product lists while keeping your retail operations smooth. Hide products on Shopify using this app and offer your b2b customers the best wholesale experience on your store.
- Wholesale Order Form & Reorder: This app simplifies bulk purchasing with a quick order form and easy reordering system, making it convenient for wholesale customers to add multiple items to their cart and place repeat orders efficiently.
Examples of some stores on Shopify selling B2B with the Wholesale Helper apps
Let us now take a look at some of the stores that are made on Shopify which use Wholesale Helper apps to set up and sell B2B on their store.
1. The Nut Garden
The Nut Garden offers an extensive selection of nuts, candies, and gourmet gift items, catering to both individual shoppers and wholesale clients. They make it simple for businesses to buy in bulk, with a straightforward wholesale sign-up process that allows easy access to wholesale pricing and products for resale.
2. Cloud Picker Coffee
Cloud Picker Coffee, established in Dublin in 2013, holds the title of the city’s first micro coffee roastery, located in the vibrant Sheriff Street area. Their offerings include high-quality coffee beans, equipment, and lifestyle products. To cater to their wholesale clients, they have integrated a dedicated wholesale registration form on their main site, streamlining the process for businesses to join as wholesale customers.
3. Blood Run
Established in 2008, Blood Run Fishing is a B2B Shopify store that specializes in fishing-related products. To enhance the customer experience, they have implemented a quick order form section on their website, allowing customers to conveniently order all products from a single page. This wholesale order form includes features such as SKU and barcode additions, product variants and availability displays, and the ability to add multiple products for reordering with a single click, making bulk purchasing more efficient.
4. Maritime Madness
Launched in 2002, Maritime Madness is a Shopify-based B2B store specializing in a wide range of sauces. The store features a password-protected wholesale section where wholesale customers must request access via email to view exclusive pricing and offers. Operating on the Shopify Plus plan and utilizing the Wholesale Pricing Discount app, Maritime Madness streamlines its wholesale processes, offering a smooth experience for bulk buyers.
Conclusion
Setting up a B2B store on Shopify allows businesses to efficiently manage bulk sales and cater to wholesale clients. Shopify provides two main options for implementing B2B functionality—using Shopify Plus or utilizing third-party apps such as those from Wholesale Helper. Shopify Plus offers advanced tools specifically designed for wholesale transactions, including custom storefronts, tiered pricing, and automated workflows. However, its high cost may not be ideal for smaller businesses.
For those looking for a more cost-effective solution, apps like Wholesale Pricing Discount, Wholesale Lock Manager, and Wholesale Order Form & Reorder offer B2B functionality without the high price tag of Shopify Plus. These apps allow businesses to create custom pricing, restrict access to wholesale products, and streamline the bulk ordering process, making it easy to run a hybrid store that caters to both retail and wholesale clients.