Note: This article covers SHOPLINE, an e-commerce platform primarily framed for the Japanese market. This will not be relevant if you are not evaluating platforms for the Japanese market.
SHOPLINE offers dedicated apps that support a variety of sales methods, including pre-orders, subscription sales, and limited-time sales. This guide explains in detail the setup steps and key points for using these apps to implement specific sales methods. This will let you roll out your sales strategy efficiently and effectively.
How to Run Pre-Orders on SHOPLINE
To run pre-orders on SHOPLINE, you need to use a dedicated pre-order app. In this section, we'll introduce the steps for using the pre-order app to set up pre-orders.
(The pre-order product set up in this section)
Step 1. Install the Pre-Order App
(1) Go to the SHOPLINE App Store and search for "Pre-Order"
(2) On the pre-order app's page, click "Install"
Step 2. Create a Pre-Order Campaign
(1) Open the pre-order app and click the "Campaign Settings" tab
(2) Click "Create pre-order campaign"
(3) Enter any name for the campaign title
The campaign title is a name used for internal management within the app and is not displayed on your online store.
(4) In the target products section, select the products you want to sell as pre-orders
(5) In the campaign period section, set the start date and time for the pre-order
The time here follows the time zone configured in your store's time settings, so if you haven't already changed your store time to Japan time, please refer to the blog article below to change it.
(6) Click "Update"
Step 3. Customize the Display of the Pre-Order Product
(1) Access the campaign created in Step 2 and click Edit next to "Product Details" in the right-hand menu
(2) Enter the wording for the cart button and any notes shown during pre-order
(3) Click "Save"
(4) Click the "Cart" tab
(5) Enter the note for the pre-order product to display on the cart page
The information you enter here will be shown for each pre-order product on the cart page. Enter information you want to convey to customers, such as the expected shipping timing.
(6) Click "Save"
(7) Click the "Pre-Order Label" tab
(8) Change the design or text of the tab
This is the decoration setting used to make the pre-order product stand out.
(9) Click "Save"
This completes the setup.
(Supplementary Information) What You Can Do with the Pre-Order App
You can run pre-orders at the variant level
SHOPLINE's pre-order app lets you set up pre-orders for each individual product variant. For example, if an apparel product comes in three sizes—S, M, and L—you can flexibly choose to run a pre-order for only size S.
Pre-orders with a specified sales period
You can freely set the sales period for a pre-order. This allows you to implement planned sales strategies, such as accepting early reservations starting one month before a new product launches.
Pre-orders based on inventory conditions
You can automatically switch to pre-order sales based on inventory levels. For example, you can switch from regular sales to pre-order sales when inventory runs low, preventing lost sales opportunities due to stock shortages.
Pre-orders with discounts
The app includes a discount feature that applies only during the pre-order period. Using this feature can encourage early reservations and maximize sales opportunities.
Pre-orders with deposits or deferred payment
You can configure flexible payment methods, such as deposits (down payments) or deferred payment.
Since pre-order products typically take longer to ship than regular products, offering deferred payment at the time of shipment—rather than requiring full payment upfront—reduces the burden on customers and provides a mechanism they can purchase with peace of mind.
How to Run Subscription Sales on SHOPLINE
To run subscription sales on SHOPLINE, you need to use a dedicated subscription app. In this section, we'll introduce the steps for using the subscription app to set up subscription sales.
(The subscription product set up in this section)
Step 1. Install the Subscription App
(1) Go to the SHOPLINE App Store and search for "Subscription"
(2) On the subscription app's page, click "Install"
(3) Review the permissions requested by the subscription app
(4) Click "Approve and Install"
Step 2. Create a Subscription Plan
(1) Open the subscription app and click "Subscription Plans" in the left-hand menu
(2) Click "Create"
(3) In the applicable products list section, select the products you want to sell as a subscription
(4) Enter the number of subscription cycles (leave blank for unlimited)
(5) (If offering a discount) In the discount settings section, check "Enable discount"
(6) (If offering a discount) Choose the discount pattern
(7) In the subscription plan settings section, enter the subscription cycle
(8) (If offering a discount) Enter the discount rate or discount amount
(9) Click "Create"
Step 3. (Optional) Change the Design of the Subscription Sales
(1) Click "Settings" in the left-hand menu of the subscription app
(2) In the design settings section, choose a design pattern for the subscription sales
(3) Click "Update"
Step 4. Add the Subscription App to Your Theme
(1) From the SHOPLINE admin, go to "Online Store > Themes"
(2) For the theme where you want to add the subscription app, click "Customize"
(3) Click the "Embedded apps" icon on the left of the screen
(4) Enable the embedded app named "Subscription"
(5) Click "Save"
(The product with a limited-time sale set up in this section)
Step 1. Install the Flash Sale App
(1) Go to the SHOPLINE App Store and search for "Flash Sale"
(2) On the flash sale app's page, click "Install"
(3) Review the permissions requested by the flash sale app
(4) Click "Approve and Install"
Step 2. Create a Campaign
(1) Open the flash sale app and click "Create campaign"
(2) Enter any name for the campaign title
The campaign title is a name used for internal management within the app and is not displayed on your online store.
(3) In the target products section, select the products you want to include in the campaign sale and enter the campaign price
(4) In the discount restrictions, set the maximum purchase quantity and whether the discount can be combined with other discounts
(5) In the campaign period section, set the sale period
(6) Click "Create"
This completes the setup.
How to Display a Sale-Ending Countdown on SHOPLINE
As mentioned above, in addition to running limited-time sales, there may be cases where you also want to display a countdown timer for the sale's end date.
In this section, we'll introduce how to display a countdown timer for the end of a sale on a product.
(A product displaying a countdown timer)
Step 1. Install the Countdown App
(1) Go to the SHOPLINE App Store and search for "Countdown"
(2) On the countdown app's page, click "Install"
Step 2. Configure the Countdown Timer Display Settings
(1) Access the countdown app
(2) Enable "Show countdown"
(3) In the countdown settings section, set the countdown timer's time.
The time here follows the time zone configured in your store's time settings, so if you haven't already changed your store time to Japan time, please refer to the blog article below to change it.
(4) In the target products section, select the products where you want to display the countdown timer
(5) Click "Update"
3. Customize the Design of the Countdown Timer
(1) Access the countdown app
(2) In the display style section, customize the display position and design
(3) Click "Update"
This completes the setup.
(Supplementary Information) What You Can Do with the Countdown App
Display the countdown timer per product or category
You can display the countdown timer not only across your entire store, but also for specific products or categories. Even if a flash sale is only running on some products, you can display the countdown timer only on those products.
Customize the design of the countdown timer
You can freely customize the design of the countdown timer. You can also change things like the color and wording.
(Supplementary Information) What You Cannot Do with the Countdown App
Setting a sales period
There is no feature that lets you set a sale start date or end date. It only offers the ability to display a countdown timer.
Setting discounts
There is no feature that lets you run discounts such as flash sales. As mentioned above, it only offers the ability to display a countdown timer.
Setting multiple countdown timers
You cannot display multiple countdown timers. If you are already displaying a countdown timer on another product, you cannot set up a new countdown timer.
In Conclusion
Through this guide, you should now have a good understanding of how to set up pre-orders, subscription sales, and limited-time sales using SHOPLINE's various apps. By making good use of these features, you can improve the customer experience and maximize sales. Keep leveraging SHOPLINE's features to drive further business growth.
The blog article below covers SHOPLINE's features, pricing plans, and main functions in more detail. Please use it as a reference.
