This guide helps you understand, identify, and add region-specific products to your store on platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or via API integration.
Step 1: Understand Region-Specific Products
Region-specific products are items that are available only in certain geographies, due to multiple factors like legal regulations, shipping logistics, or end-customers’ cultural preferences.
Why It’s Important
Offering region-specific products has multiple benefits, as it allows you to target the right audience with the best offering. However, it's important to use this approach carefully to ensure that customers only see products available in their region. This helps avoid any potential frustration if a product they try to order isn't available for shipping to their location.
Step 2: Identify Region-Specific Products on Our Website
Use the Region Filter:
Go to our product catalog.
Select a Region: By default, we will preselect your region based on your geo-location. Use the region filter to choose a different region or select "All regions" to see all products in our catalog, irrespective of where they are delivered to.
Greyed-Out Products: Products unavailable in the selected region will be greyed out and non-selectable. This ensures you’re only browsing products that are available where you want to sell.
Check the "Deliver to" Box on Product Pages:
On each product page, locate the "Deliver to" box.
Select Your Country: The selected country will override any region filter you previously applied, showing you exactly which variants (e.g., sizes, colors) are available in that region.
Unavailable Variants: If a variant isn’t available in the selected region, it will be greyed out and you won’t be able to add it to your cart.
Review Stock Availability:
Scroll down to the "Stock availability" section on the product page.
Click "Show more": This allows you to see all available sizes and filter them by region or other criteria.
Out-of-Stock Notifications: If a product variant is temporarily out of stock, you’ll see a message. You can design with it, but orders cannot be placed until it’s back in stock.
Step 3: Add Region-Specific Products to Your Store
Shopify:
Add Products to Your Existing Store: You can simply add region-specific products to your existing store and focus on targeting customers in those countries. This is a straightforward approach, especially if you're prepared to handle shipping to those regions.
Create Separate Geolocated Stores: For more tailored management, you can set up distinct stores for different regions, each with its own pricing plan and localized content.
Use Shopify Markets: If you prefer to manage everything from a single store, Shopify Markets allows you to create distinct markets within your existing Shopify store, enabling customized experiences for different regions while maintaining centralized control.
Etsy:
Specify Shipping Regions in Listings: When creating a product listing, clearly specify which regions you can ship to in the Product title and description. This transparency helps customers know if they can purchase the product
Run Region-Targeted Campaigns: Use Etsy's marketing tools to create campaigns that specifically target customers in the regions where your products are available
Final Tips
Customer Communication: Clearly communicate any restrictions or availability changes to your customers to avoid misunderstandings and improve satisfaction.
Regular Updates: Region-specific availability can change due to stock levels, shipping regulations, or other factors. Make sure to regularly check and update your product listings to reflect current availability.
By following these steps, you'll efficiently manage region-specific products, ensuring that you’re reaching the right customers with the right products, no matter where they are.