How To Connect Supplier To Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we’ll walk you through the seamless process of how to connect supplier to Shopify, optimizing your online store’s functionality and efficiency.

Key Takeaways

2 ways to connect supplier to Shopify:

• Connect A Supplier To Your Shopify Store within Shopify
• Connect A Supplier To Your Shopify Store Using Third-party Suppliers

2 Ways to Connect A Supplier To Your Shopify Store

There are two ways on how to connect supplier to Shopify:

Using Shopify’s Built-in Feature: Shopify Collective

What does this mean?

Shopify Collective is Shopify’s native solution designed to simplify the integration of suppliers with your e-commerce store. Rather than relying on third-party apps or manual methods, Shopify offers this built-in feature to provide a direct link between suppliers and your store. 

This ensures that inventory levels are accurate, order processing is efficient, and there’s a consistent flow of products.

Pros

• Streamlined Integration: Being an in-built feature, Shopify Collective removes the need for third-party apps, making the integration process smoother and more efficient.
• Direct Supplier Management: Manage your suppliers directly within the Shopify platform, making it easier to oversee product listings, pricing, and order details.
• Real-time Inventory Updates: Shopify Collective automatically updates inventory levels in real-time, ensuring that product availability is always accurate.
• Enhanced Order Processing: Orders are sent directly to the supplier, speeding up fulfillment and reducing the chances of manual errors.

Cons

• Limited to Internal Use: Products from Shopify retailers can only be used internally, meaning you can’t sell them on other platforms or outside marketplaces.
• Potential for Platform Limitations: As with all native features, there may be limitations in terms of customization and advanced functionalities that third-party apps might offer.
• Reliance on Shopify: If there are any issues with the Shopify platform, it could directly impact the supplier connection, potentially leading to disruptions in supply or order processing.

Using Third-Party Suppliers: Alibaba, Amazon, etc

What does this mean?

Third-party suppliers like Alibaba and Amazon are giants in the e-commerce world, offering a vast array of products for businesses of all sizes. Connecting these suppliers to Shopify usually involves using integration apps or plugins that bridge the gap between your store and the supplier’s platform. 

By doing so, Shopify store owners can access a broader range of products, often at competitive prices, and capitalize on the reputation and reliability of these major suppliers.

Pros

• Extensive Product Range: Suppliers like Alibaba and Amazon offer a vast selection of products across numerous categories. This allows for more diversification in your store’s product offerings.
• Price Flexibility: Due to the sheer volume of suppliers on platforms like Alibaba, there’s a good chance of finding competitive prices which can enhance profit margins.
• Automation Capabilities: Many integration apps can automate processes like order fulfillment, inventory updates, and product imports, streamlining the operations of your e-commerce store.

Cons

• Integration Complexity: Setting up and maintaining the connection between Shopify and third-party suppliers might require technical know-how, especially if issues arise.
• Competition: Since many sellers tap into these suppliers, there’s a higher chance of selling similar or identical products, making market differentiation harder.
• Supplier Reliability: While big names like Alibaba and Amazon are generally reliable, the vast number of suppliers on these platforms means quality and reliability can vary. Thorough vetting is essential.
• Fees and Commissions: Some integration apps or the platforms themselves might charge fees or take a commission on sales, which could eat into profit margins.

How to Connect Supplier To Shopify Store Using Shopify Collective

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to connect supplier to Shopify:

1. Access Your Shopify Dashboard: Start by logging into your Shopify admin panel. This is where you can do anything, from managing products to configuring settings.
2. Navigate to the Settings: On the lower left side of your dashboard, you’ll find the ‘Settings’ option. Click on it to delve deeper into the configuration options available.
3. Access Apps and Sales Channels: Within the Settings menu, find and select the ‘Apps and sales channels‘ option. This section allows you to manage and integrate various applications and sales avenues for your store.
4. Locate the Shopify Collective App: Scroll through the list until you come across the ‘Collective (Retailer)‘ option. This is the built-in feature designed to help you connect with suppliers who also use Shopify.
5. Initiate the Connection: Click on the ‘Invite supplier‘ button. This action opens a form where you’ll be prompted to enter details about the supplier you want to connect with.
6. Input Supplier Details: Ensure you have the correct and complete details of the supplier. Fill in the necessary fields with the supplier’s information.
7. Send the Invitation: Once you’ve input all the required details, click on the ‘Send’ button. This action sends an invitation to the supplier, requesting them to connect with your store.

Important Considerations:

• Shopify Payments: The supplier you’re inviting must have an active Shopify store with Shopify Payments activated. This ensures that there’s a seamless transaction process between both parties.
• Country & Currency Consistency: It’s imperative that the supplier is based in the same country as your business and utilizes the same store currency. This consistency ensures smooth transactions, accurate pricing, and eliminates potential currency conversion issues.
• Stay Updated: Always keep an eye out for notifications or alerts from the supplier. There might be times when additional information or clarifications are needed.

How to Connect Supplier To Shopify Store Using Third-party Suppliers

Choose a potential supplier

There are some prominent names when mentioning List of Potential Suppliers:

• Alibaba: A global hub for wholesale suppliers and manufacturers, Alibaba offers a massive selection of products. Particularly renowned for bulk purchases, it can be an ideal platform for those looking to stock up on inventory at competitive rates.

• Amazon: With Amazon‘s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service, you can tap into their vast inventory and even leverage their storage and shipping facilities.
• SaleHoo: A directory service of verified wholesalers and dropshippers, SaleHoo offers a curated list of suppliers, ensuring reliability and quality.
• Doba: Acting as a bridge between businesses and suppliers, Doba offers a platform where you can find products to sell without worrying about inventory or shipment.

How to connect a supplier to Shopify

Different suppliers have different ways to connect to Shopify.

Alibaba

Here are steps to connect suppliers through Alibaba:

1. Register an Account: Visit Alibaba’s official website and sign up for an account if you haven’t already.
2. Browse Products: Search for the products you’re interested in.
3. Contact Suppliers: Once you’ve found potential products, reach out to the respective suppliers. Use the “Contact Supplier” or “Chat Now” buttons to initiate a conversation.
4. Negotiate Terms: Discuss product details, MOQs (Minimum Order Quantities), pricing, and shipping. Ensure everything aligns with your requirements.
5. Send Inquiry: Use the button “Send Inquiry Now”

6. Integration Apps: On the Shopify app store, search for Alibaba integration apps. After installation, follow the app’s setup instructions to synchronize Alibaba products with your Shopify store. This is how to link supplier to Shopify.

Amazon (FBA)

Here are steps to connect suppliers through Amazon (FBA):

1. Register for FBA: Sign up for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) on Amazon’s Seller Central.
2. List Products: Add products you want to be fulfilled by Amazon.
3. Send Inventory to Amazon: Prepare and ship your products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
4. Shopify Integration: On Shopify, install the “Amazon Channel” app. Link your Amazon Seller account, allowing you to manage Amazon orders directly from Shopify and sync inventory, answer the question how to link supplier to Shopify.

SaleHoo

Here are steps to connect suppliers through SaleHoo:

1. Membership Signup: Register for a SaleHoo account and gain access to their supplier directory.
2. Search and Select: Browse through the directory to find suitable suppliers for your products.

3. Contact Suppliers: Engage with suppliers to discuss product specs, pricing, and delivery.
4. Integration: Seek apps or plugins on Shopify’s marketplace that facilitate SaleHoo integration, ensuring seamless product imports and inventory synchronization. After that, you can know how to add supplier to Shopify.

Doba

Here are steps to connect suppliers through Doba:

1. Registration: Visit Doba’s official site and create an account.
2. Product Search: Navigate through Doba’s inventory to find products aligning with your store’s theme.

3. Add to Import List: As you find desired products, add them to your import list.
4. How to link supplier to Shopify: Install the Doba Shopify app. Link your Doba account, and you can directly import products from your Doba import list to your Shopify store.

How to Add a supplier

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to add supplier to Shopify:

1. Log Into Your Shopify Admin: Begin by accessing your Shopify store admin. This dashboard is your command center for all store operations.
2. Navigate to Products: On the left sidebar of your Shopify dashboard, locate and click on the ‘Products’ section. This will take you to a page where all your store’s products are listed.
3. Access Purchase Orders: Within the ‘Products’ section, find and select ‘Purchase orders‘. This option lets you manage and create orders for products you wish to purchase from your suppliers.
4. Initiate a New Purchase Order: Click on the ‘Create purchase order‘ button, usually found at the top right corner or prominently displayed within the ‘Purchase orders’ section.
5. Find the Supplier Section: As you begin creating a new purchase order, you’ll see various fields to fill out. Navigate to the section labeled ‘Supplier’.
6. Access the Supplier Drop-down Menu: Here, you’ll see a drop-down menu named ‘Select supplier’. Click on it to view existing suppliers or to add a new one.
7. Add a New Supplier: At the bottom of the drop-down list, you’ll find an option labeled ‘Create new supplier‘. Click on this to proceed how to add supplier to Shopify.
8. Fill Out Supplier Details: A form or a new section will pop up prompting you to input details about your new supplier. Ensure that you fill out all necessary fields accurately, including the supplier’s name, contact information, address, and any other relevant details.
9. Finalize the Addition: After entering all the supplier’s information, click the ‘Save’ button. This action will add the supplier to your Shopify store’s database.

Note: Once you know how to add supplier to Shopify with the above steps, they will automatically be listed in the ‘Select supplier‘ drop-down menu for future reference. This streamlined process ensures that the next time you need to create a purchase order for that particular supplier, you won’t have to input their details again.

How to Edit a Supplier’s details

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to edit a supplier’s details within Shopify after understanding how to link supplier to Shopify:

1. Access Shopify Admin: Start by logging into your Shopify store’s admin dashboard. This is the primary interface from which you’ll manage all aspects of your store.
2. Proceed to Products: On the left sidebar of your dashboard, locate the ‘Products’ option and click on it.
3. Go to Purchase Orders: Within the ‘Products’ section, you’ll find the ‘Purchase orders‘ option. Click on it to view and manage your purchase orders.
4. Select a Purchase Order:

You now have two options:

Click on ‘Create purchase order‘ if you want to create a new one.

Alternatively, to edit an existing supplier’s details, click on the name of an existing purchase order where that supplier is listed.

5. Locate the Supplier Section: As you access or create the purchase order, navigate to the section labeled ‘Supplier’.
6. Open Supplier Details: From the ‘Supplier’ section, click on the ‘Select supplier‘ drop-down menu. From the list, choose the supplier whose details you wish to edit.
7. Access Supplier’s Information: Once the supplier is selected, click on ‘View details’. This will display the current information associated with that supplier.
8. Begin Editing: After viewing the details, click on ‘Edit supplier details‘. This will allow you to modify any of the supplier’s information.
9. Update Details: Modify the required fields, ensuring that you enter the new, correct details for the supplier.
10. Save Changes: Once you’ve made the necessary edits, click the ‘Save’ button to finalize the changes.

Note: Upon editing a supplier’s details in one purchase order, the updated details will reflect in all existing purchase orders where that supplier is mentioned. This ensures consistency across your records.

11. Optional Cleanup: If you initiated a new purchase order at the beginning of this process and no longer need it, simply delete the draft purchase order.

FAQs: Connect A Supplier To Your Shopify Store