Preorders are becoming an essential tool in the e-commerce industry. They allow businesses to maintain sales momentum and capture customer interest—even when stock is low or unavailable. For Shopify store owners, enabling preorders can be a game-changer, improving inventory management, generating excitement, and driving more revenue.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using Shopify preorders. From understanding their benefits to learning how to set up a preorder on Shopify with tools like Essential Preorder & Presale app, you’re about to transform how you sell online. Let’s get started.
What Are Preorders and Why Are They Crucial for E-Commerce?
Shopify preorders are a strategy that allows customers to purchase products before they are officially available. It’s commonly used for restocking sold-out items or launching new product collections. Preorders are valuable because they create opportunities to build excitement around upcoming products and help businesses gauge customer demand.
Shopify Preorder Benefits
- Improved Cash Flow. Preorders enable businesses to generate revenue even before the inventory arrives. This means that funds are available upfront, which can be used to support operations, invest in marketing, or cover other essential costs.
- Demand Forecasting. By offering preorders on Shopify, businesses can gain valuable insights into which products are most popular. This data helps them produce the right amount of inventory, reducing the risk of overproduction or running out of stock.
- Customer Retention. Adding preorders on Shopify ensures your customers stay engaged with your brand, even when certain products are temporarily out of stock. This prevents them from seeking alternatives elsewhere and helps maintain customer loyalty.
- Hype & Scarcity Marketing. Preorders create a sense of urgency and excitement around your products. By promoting limited availability, you can turn scarcity into a powerful marketing tool, encouraging customers to act quickly and secure their purchase before it’s too late.
Best Practices for Managing Preorders on Shopify
To ensure preorders work effectively and deliver the desired results, it’s essential to maintain full control over the process. Follow these best practices to manage your Shopify preorders and provide a seamless customer experience.
1. Set Clear Expectations
Provide precise shipping dates and product availability upfront. Transparency ensures customers know when to expect their orders, reducing complaints and building trust.
2. Incentivize Preorders
Encourage early purchases by offering exclusive discounts, free shipping, or bonus items for preorder customers. These perks make preordering more appealing and drive demand.
3. Limit Preorder Inventory
Set strict limits on preorder quantities to maintain control over stock levels, avoid overselling, and create a sense of exclusivity that can boost demand.
4. Promote Effectively
Generate excitement through targeted social media ads, engaging email campaigns, and product page updates. Build anticipation with countdowns or sneak peeks to maximize reach.
5. Streamline with Automation
Use reliable apps to manage your preorders. Automating inventory tracking, customer notifications, and payment processing ensures a smooth experience for both your business and customers.
6. Monitor and Adjust
Track Shopify preorder performance and gather customer feedback to refine your strategy. Use this data to improve future campaigns, adjust inventory or timelines, and address any recurring issues.
The Best Preorder App for Shopify
If you’re searching for the best preorder app for Shopify, the Essential Preorder & Presale app is a game-changer for Shopify store owners! It takes the hassle out of preorder management and lets you effortlessly capture demand—even for products that are out of stock.
Key Features of Essential Preorder & Presale:
- Accept preorders for both in-stock and out-of-stock products.
- Fully customizable order buttons to match your store’s branding.
- Enable partial payments for preorder flexibility.
- Add strike-through pricing to showcase discounts effectively.
- Set limits on preorder stock to manage inventory and customer expectations.
With stellar reviews and a user-friendly interface, our app makes it easy for any Shopify store owner to get started.
How to Set Up Preorder on Shopify
Using the Essential Preorder & Presale app, creating a preorder system on your Shopify store is quick and straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do preorder on Shopify:
1. Download the App
Start by installing the Essential Preorder & Presale app from the Shopify Store.
2. Log Into the Dashboard
Once installed, access the dashboard where you’ll manage all your preorder campaigns.
3. Click ‘Create Campaign’
Hit the “Create Campaign” button to begin setting up your first Shopify preorder offer.
4. Name Your Campaign
In the content section, choose a name visible only to you, helping you track and manage campaigns.
5. Select the Campaign Type
Choose from these options based on how you want to display the preorder button:
- Show Preorder When Product is Out of Stock
Inventory limits can be added to make the button disappear once the set quantity is reached, but this step is optional.
- Always Show Preorder Button
Perfect for product launches or consistent availability.
- Show Preorder Only When Product is in Stock
Displays the preorder button exclusively when the product is available in stock.
6. Craft Button Text
Customize the preorder button text, such as “Preorder Now” or “Order Early”, to grab attention.
7. Add a Message Below the Button
Display key messages below the preorder button to provide valuable information, such as estimated delivery times, shipping process, or any other important information.
8. Define Discounts
Showcase preorder discounts with strike-through pricing to highlight savings and create urgency. The original price appears automatically, motivating customers to act quickly and boosting early sales for your product launch.
9. Choose Payment Options
Select full or partial payments, and inform customers about when balances are due (information can be auto-added below the preorder button).
10. Customize Preorder Button Design
Move to the design section and get creative. Ensure the preorder button matches your Shopify store’s aesthetic by tweaking its color, size, font, and shape.
11. Select Products or Collections
Visit the product section and decide which products or collections you want to activate preorders for. Be thoughtful in your selection to maximize campaign success, or simply enable preorders for all products if you prefer.
12. Save and Publish!
Finalize your Shopify preorder campaign by saving or publishing. Saved campaigns can be edited later, while publishing makes the preorder button instantly visible.
Boost Sales with Preorders on Shopify
Shopify preorders present an unparalleled opportunity to convert demand into revenue, even before your inventory lands. By learning how to do a preorder on Shopify using tools like the Essential Preorder & Presale app, you can easily manage preorders while providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Start empowering your business with preorders today. Install the Essential Preorder & Presale app—one of the must-have apps for Shopify—and discover new ways to delight customers while boosting sales.
