IndieCommerce

Flatland Theme

We are expecting a significant number of holiday shoppers at IndieCommerce websites this year. The appearance of your website can have a big impact on sales. To assist with this endeavor for IndieCommerce stores interested in a new look for their website, we’re introducing two new templates/themes.  The first new theme is the Flatland theme.

Shipping Solutions

This documentation has been updated as of 10/8/2021 to include both Endicia and ShipStation integrations.
 
Using any one of our shipping integrations, stores can easily export their orders from their IndieCommerce or IndieLite site to create shipping labels. This integration will export your orders in a CSV file which you can then upload into your chosen shipping software. Currently only stamps.com and ShipStation provide the option to import tracking information back to your IndieCommerce site. 

Bulk Order Processing

The Bulk Order Processor is an IndieCommerce feature that will allow your store to process orders in bulk. It is especially helpful for moving orders from one order status to another or communicating with customers en masse. You can also use the Bulk Order Processor to send order emails to customers in bulk, add admin comments to orders in bulk, and print invoices. You can filter your orders by status, payment method, date, and/or SKU.
 

Shipping Policy Example

To assist with the necessary policies that stores need on their website, boilerplate policies have been provided for stores to use.  The policy can be created as a Page on your IndieCommerce or IndieLite site.  The Page can then be linked in the Footer of the website to make it accessible to customers and other parties.

Privacy Policy Example

To assist with the necessary policies that stores need on their website, boilerplate policies have been provided for stores to use.  The policy can be created as a Page on your IndieCommerce or IndieLite site.  The Page can then be linked in the Footer of the website to make it accessible to customers and other parties.

Return Policy Example

To assist with the necessary policies that stores need on their website, boilerplate policies have been provided for stores to use.  The policy can be created as a Page on your IndieCommerce or IndieLite site.  The Page can then be linked in the Footer of the website to make it accessible to customers and other parties.

Must Have IndieCommerce Features for the Holidays

Please bookmark this page and visit is frequently. We will be adding a few more new features in time for the holidays

The features highlighted below are excellent additions to your IndieCommerce website, especially for the upcoming holidays! Our team has compiled the exciting list below to help stores maximize their productivity and efficiency while also offering new ways to display content and interact with customers. Please visit the corresponding help documents to learn more about each of these features!

Credit Card Processing

The following Help Documents are available for both IndieCommerce and IndieLite to assist with the early steps of obtaining or transitioning to the store's own credit card processor and Authorize.net account.  IndieCommerce or IndieLite specific documents and webinars can be found further down on this page.

For All IndieCommerce and IndieLite Stores

 

Filtering Views by Stock Status

Stores can now hide out of stock products and only display items that are in stock. Using a combination of Local Store Inventory and a View, you can create a display of readily available titles for customers to shop from. If the titles are not in stock, they will simply disappear from the view until their inventory numbers are updated with an in stock status.
 

Digital Accessibility

The American Booksellers Association is among many national groups working with their legal counsel to alert its members of a growing legal risk related to their online retail websites and compliance with emerging requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This document will help you take some first steps towards making your website more accessible.
 

Ask A Bookseller

The ‘Ask a Bookseller’ feature creates a new webform on your site where customers can ask staff questions about specific titles. This is a great and easy way for stores to upsell and handsell titles.
 
This feature will also create a button labelled 'Ask a Bookseller' which takes the customer from the product page to the Ask a Bookseller webform. This option will only be available for books that don't have an 'Add to Cart' button.
 

Holiday Tips For IndieCommerce & IndieLite

To assist in handling customer expectations and order processing during the holiday shopping season, the IC team has compiled some suggestions and methods available to IndieCommerce and IndieLite members.

If you are currently on IndieCommerce 2.0 and would like to try some of the tips below, please contact [email protected].

Discount Coupons At a Glance

Discount coupons are a feature for IndieCommerce and IndieLite stores to offer discounts to customers in a variety of configuration options this holiday season.  Stores can create coupon codes for customers to use at checkout and track usage of those codes through the available Coupon Usage Report.

Please note that IndieLite stores have limitations with this feature in regards to the types of discounts available to be offered.

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About ABA

American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.

Contact

PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]

INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]

 

 

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