Stores¶

Purpose¶

Stores (also known as branches or locations) allow you to manage multiple physical store locations or branches within your business. This feature is essential for businesses with multiple outlets, enabling you to track inventory, assign products, and manage orders by specific store locations. Customers can see which stores carry specific products and choose their preferred location for pickup or delivery.

Accessing Stores¶

Navigate to: Catalog Management > Stores from the sidebar menu
Stores can be assigned to products, orders, and vendors

Stores List View¶

Stores List

The Stores page showing all registered store locations

Understanding the Stores List¶

The stores list displays all your store locations in a table with the following columns:

Name - The store name or branch name - Searchable for quick lookup - Supports multiple languages (Arabic/English) - Example: "Tech Mart Electronics", "Fashion Center Downtown"

Address - Full physical address of the store - Searchable field - Helps customers identify store locations - Example: "123 Technology Street, Digital City"

Latitude - GPS latitude coordinate - Used for map integration - Enables location-based features - Sortable column

Longitude - GPS longitude coordinate - Works with latitude for precise location - Used in mapping and distance calculations - Sortable column

Image - Store photo or logo - Thumbnail preview in listing - Helps customers recognize the store - Optional field

Order - Display order number - Controls store listing sequence - Lower numbers appear first - Sortable column

Disabled - Toggle icon showing if store is active or disabled - Click to quickly enable/disable a store - Disabled stores are hidden from customers - Useful for temporary closures

Location - Links to a broader location/region - Helps group stores by area - Example: "Downtown District", "North Region" - Optional association

Actions - Edit: Modify store details - Standard management actions

List Features¶

Locale Switcher - Switch between Arabic and English - Manage store names in different languages - Each locale has separate name field

Search Bar - Search stores by name or address - Instant filtering - Helpful for multi-branch businesses

Toggle Columns - Customize visible columns - Show/hide coordinates, images, etc. - Personalize your view

Bulk Selection - Select individual stores with checkboxes - Select all for bulk operations - Perform actions on multiple stores at once

Bulk Actions Available: - Delete: Remove selected stores - Export: Export store data to file

New Store Button - Click to create a new store location - Opens the store creation form

Creating a New Store¶

Click the "New Store" button at the top right. The store form is a simple single-page form:

Store Creation Form

Store creation form with location and contact details

Name (Required)¶

The store or branch name
Must be filled before saving
Should be descriptive and unique
Examples: "Main Branch", "Downtown Electronics", "Westside Fashion Outlet"
Appears in store listings and product pages

Naming Best Practices: - Include location identifier (Downtown, North, etc.) - Keep names clear and recognizable - Use consistent naming convention - Avoid abbreviations customers won't understand

Address¶

Full physical address of the store
Include street, city, and postal code
Used for customer navigation
Appears on store locator pages
Example: "456 Fashion Avenue, Style District, Cairo 12345"

Address Best Practices: - Use complete, accurate addresses - Include landmarks if helpful - Ensure address matches GPS coordinates - Update if store relocates

Latitude¶

GPS latitude coordinate
Decimal format (e.g., 30.044)
Used for mapping and location services
Find using Google Maps or GPS tools
Optional but recommended for accurate location

How to Find Coordinates: 1. Open Google Maps 2. Right-click on store location 3. Click coordinates to copy 4. Paste latitude value here

Longitude¶

GPS longitude coordinate
Decimal format (e.g., 31.236)
Works with latitude for precise positioning
Enables distance calculations
Optional but recommended

Image¶

Upload store photo or exterior image
Helps customers recognize the location
Recommended size: 800×600px (landscape)
Shows storefront, entrance, or building
Use clear, well-lit photos

Image Guidelines: - Show clear view of store exterior - Include store signage if visible - Use recent photos - Ensure good lighting - Consistent style across all stores

Order (Required)¶

Display order number
Controls position in store listings
Lower numbers appear first
Default is 0
Use to prioritize main branches

Ordering Strategy: - Main branch: 1 - Popular locations: 2-5 - Other branches: 10+ - Maintains consistent display order

Disabled¶

Toggle switch to enable/disable store
ON: Store is disabled (hidden from customers)
OFF: Store is active and visible
Use for temporary closures or seasonal stores
Disabled stores don't appear in product availability

When to Disable: - Temporary closures (holidays, renovations) - Seasonal stores outside their season - Stores pending opening - Decommissioned locations (before deletion)

Location¶

Select broader location or region
Links store to a geographic area
Optional association
Useful for grouping multiple stores
Example: Link all downtown stores to "Downtown District"

Location Usage: - Regional grouping - Delivery zone assignment - Multi-region management - Customer filtering by area

Saving Your Store¶

After filling in the store information:

Create: Save the store and return to the list
Create & create another: Save and immediately create another store
Cancel: Discard changes and return to the list

Editing Existing Stores¶

To edit a store: 1. Find the store in the list 2. Click "Edit" or click directly on the store name 3. Make your changes 4. Click "Save" to update the store

Locale Management¶

Store names support multiple languages: 1. Use the Locale dropdown at the top of the form 2. Switch to Arabic to enter Arabic store name 3. Switch to English to enter English store name 4. Each locale has a separate Name field 5. Other fields (address, coordinates) are shared across locales

Translation Tips: - Translate store names appropriately for each language - Keep location identifiers consistent - Address can remain in one language if preferred

Quick Enable/Disable from List¶

You can quickly toggle store status directly from the list: 1. Find the store in the list 2. Click the Disabled icon in that row 3. Status toggles immediately (no save needed) 4. Active stores show unchecked icon 5. Disabled stores show checked icon

This is useful for quickly managing store availability without opening the edit form.

Deleting Stores¶

Important Considerations Before Deleting: - Check if products are assigned to this store - Verify no active orders reference this store - Products won't be deleted, but store reference will be removed - Consider disabling instead of deleting for historical data

To delete a store: 1. Select the checkbox next to the store(s) 2. Click "Delete" from the bulk actions 3. Confirm the deletion

Exporting Stores¶

To export store data: 1. Select the stores you want to export (or select all) 2. Click "Export" from the bulk actions 3. Download the exported file

Use exports for: - Backup purposes - Data analysis - Creating store directories - Integration with other systems

Tips for Store Management¶

Accurate Coordinates: Always include GPS coordinates for mapping features
Clear Addresses: Use complete addresses customers can easily find
Store Images: Upload recognizable photos of each location
Logical Ordering: Order stores by popularity or geographical priority
Regular Updates: Keep store information current (hours, contact, etc.)
Disable vs Delete: Disable temporarily closed stores instead of deleting
Consistent Naming: Use a standard naming convention across all stores
Location Grouping: Use the Location field to organize stores by region
Multi-language: Provide names in both Arabic and English
Test Coordinates: Verify GPS coordinates on a map before saving

Store Organization Strategies¶

By Geographic Region¶

Group stores by area or district: - Downtown Stores: Main Branch, City Center, etc. - Suburban Stores: North Mall, West Plaza, etc. - Regional Stores: Alexandria Branch, Giza Outlet, etc.

By Store Type¶

Organize by function or format: - Flagship Stores: Large format, full inventory - Outlet Stores: Discounted items, clearance - Pop-up Stores: Temporary, seasonal locations

By Performance¶

Order by sales or importance: - Top performers: Order 1-5 - Standard stores: Order 10-20 - New locations: Order 30+

Common Store Management Scenarios¶

Scenario 1: Opening a New Branch¶

Click "New Store"
Enter store name (e.g., "North Mall Electronics")
Add complete address
Find GPS coordinates and enter latitude/longitude
Upload store exterior photo
Set appropriate order number
Ensure "Disabled" is OFF (active)
Select location/region if applicable
Switch to Arabic locale and enter Arabic name
Save the store

Scenario 2: Temporary Store Closure¶

When a store closes for renovations: 1. Find the store in the list 2. Click the "Disabled" toggle to disable it 3. Store is immediately hidden from customers 4. Products remain in system 5. When reopening, toggle "Disabled" again to reactivate

Scenario 3: Relocating a Store¶

When a store moves to a new address: 1. Edit the existing store (don't create new one) 2. Update address field 3. Update GPS coordinates for new location 4. Upload new store exterior photo if appearance changed 5. Update location association if moving to new region 6. Save changes (maintains all product associations)

Scenario 4: Multi-Branch Inventory¶

For businesses with multiple locations: 1. Create all store locations first 2. When adding products, assign to specific stores 3. Customers can filter by store availability 4. Orders show which store fulfills them 5. Track inventory per store location

GPS Coordinates Best Practices¶

Why GPS Coordinates Matter: - Enable accurate mapping - Calculate delivery distances - Show "nearest store" to customers - Integrate with navigation apps - Improve customer experience

Tools for Finding Coordinates: - Google Maps: Right-click → Click coordinates - OpenStreetMap: Click "Share" → Include coordinates - GPS Apps: Use smartphone GPS - Address Geocoding: Convert address to coordinates automatically

Coordinate Format: - Use decimal format, not degrees/minutes/seconds - Latitude example: 30.044 (not 30°2'38"N) - Longitude example: 31.236 (not 31°14'10"E) - Precision: 3-5 decimal places is sufficient

Store Quality Checklist¶

Before publishing a store:

[ ] Store name is clear and descriptive
[ ] Name provided in both Arabic and English
[ ] Complete address entered
[ ] GPS coordinates added (latitude and longitude)
[ ] Store photo uploaded
[ ] Order number assigned
[ ] Store is enabled (not disabled) if opening now
[ ] Location/region selected if applicable
[ ] Coordinates verified on map

Relationship with Other Features¶

Products: - Products can be assigned to specific stores - Controls product availability by location - Customers see which stores have items in stock

Orders: - Orders can be assigned to specific stores - Tracks which location fulfills each order - Useful for pickup orders

Vendors: - Multi-vendor marketplaces can assign vendors to stores - Each vendor may operate from specific locations

Locations: - Stores belong to broader location/regions - Helps organize multi-regional operations - Used for delivery zone management

Troubleshooting Common Issues¶

Issue: Store not appearing on customer-facing site - Solution: Ensure "Disabled" is toggled OFF (unchecked), verify store has name in active language

Issue: Map showing wrong location - Solution: Verify GPS coordinates are correct, check latitude/longitude aren't swapped

Issue: Duplicate stores appearing - Solution: Search before creating new stores, merge duplicates by editing one and deleting the other

Issue: Products not showing for a store - Solution: Check product assignments, ensure products are assigned to this store

Issue: Store name not displaying in Arabic - Solution: Switch to Arabic locale and enter Arabic name, save changes

By maintaining accurate store information with GPS coordinates and clear details, you enable customers to easily find your locations and improve the overall shopping experience!

Products - Products in stores
Delivery Methods - Store-specific shipping
Payment Methods - Store payment options