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Pre-Sales on Shopify Made Easy: Strategies, Apps, and Tips

Here’s the thing about Shopify pre-sales: they’re not just for big brands anymore. While some store owners are still doing things the old way – crossing their fingers and hoping products will sell – savvy entrepreneurs are using pre-sales to fund production, guarantee sales, and build crazy hype around their launches.

 

Ready to join them? I’m breaking down all the pre-sale secrets that are working right now, from payment strategies to marketing tricks that’ll make your launches irresistible.

Pre-Sales on Shopify Made Easy: Strategies, Apps, and Tips

A pre-sale lets customers order products before they’re officially available. Think of it as building hype while locking in sales early. Here’s why they’re awesome: 

  • You get money upfront (hello, better cash flow!)
  • You can test if people actually want your product
  • You create buzz around your launch
  • You avoid getting stuck with tons of inventory
  • You know exactly how much to produce

Winning Pre-Sale Strategies for Your Shopify Store

Want to make the most of pre-sales? Here are the best ways to get it done:

1. Add a “Preorder Now” Button

Let your customers know they can snag your product before anyone else. Highlight it with badges or labels like “Coming Soon” or “Preorder Now.”

💡 Pro Tip: Limited quantities? Let them know! Phrases like “Only 50 available” can drive more sales.

2. Offer Flexible Payment Options

Not everyone wants to drop the full amount upfront. Offering partial payments gives customers more flexibility and makes your store look legit. Plus, you’ll still get some cash flow rolling in.

3. Use “Notify Me” for Out-of-Stock Items

Customers hate it when their favorite item is out of stock. But instead of losing them to a competitor, use a “Notify Me” button. It sends them an alert when the item’s back, and you’ll be their hero.

4. Run Pre-Sale Discounts

Offer early-bird deals like 20-50% off to create urgency. Limited-time discounts can get those carts filled faster.

5. Cross-Sell Similar Products

While customers wait for their pre-order, recommend similar items they can buy now. It’s an easy way to keep them engaged and boost their cart value.

6. Keep Customers in the Loop with Back-in-Stock Alerts

Not every customer will act fast enough to snag a preorder. That doesn’t mean you’ve lost the sale! Use “Notify Me” buttons to capture their email address and send them an alert as soon as the item is restocked or becomes available for regular purchase.

💡 Pro Tip: Personalize your notifications with something like, “Hey [Name], your favorite item is back in stock—don’t miss it this time!”

Pre-Sales on Shopify Made Easy: Strategies, Apps, and Tips

How to Pick the Best Pre-Sale Strategy for Your Store

Not every strategy works for every business, so here’s what to consider:

  • What are you selling? Pre-sales work best for new launches, custom-made items, or high-demand products.
  • What do your customers value? Some shoppers love discounts; others appreciate flexibility like partial payments.
  • How’s your inventory? If you’re struggling with stock, tools like “Notify Me” can help keep sales going without over-promising.
  • Where do you market? Pre-sales shine when paired with email campaigns, social media, or SMS promotions.

The Best Shopify App for Pre-Sales: Snap Preorder & Backorder

Setting up pre-sales doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you use the right tools. One of the top apps I recommend is Snap Preorder & Backorder. Here’s why:

  • Preorder badges: Make your pre-sale products stand out.
  • Full/partial payments: Flexibility for your customers, cash flow for you.
  • “Notify Me” button: Perfect for out-of-stock or coming-soon products.
  • CSV export: Easily manage and track preorders and alerts.

Oh, and did I mention it’s free to start? 🙌

Other options? Check out Top 10 Best Shopify Pre-Order Apps in 2024 for a detailed comparison.

Turn ‘out of stock’ into ‘ready to sell’ with Snap Preorder & Backorder!

How to Set Up Pre-Sales on Shopify

Setting up pre-sales on Shopify is easier than you might think. Whether you want to use an app to make things easier or stick with Shopify’s built-in tools and do it all manually, you’ve got tons of options to fit your needs. Here’s a quick rundown on how to kick things off:

Option 1: Using an App (Recommended for Simplicity)

Apps make setting up pre-sales quick and hassle-free, even if you’re not super tech-savvy. One of the best options is Snap Preorder & Backorder because it’s free to start and loaded with features.

10 Easy Steps to Set Up Pre-Sales:

  1. Install Snap Preorder & Backorder for free > Active app on your theme
  2. In the Create campaign section > Pre-order > Click Create campaign
  3. Name your campaign
  4. Choose products >
    • Select specific products

    • Select specific collections

    • Select by quantity

  5. Pre-order display condition
    • Always show pre-order

    • Pre-order for in-stock products

    • Pre-order for out-of-stock products

  6. Continue selling when out of stock
    • I will manage manually

    • App will manage automatically

  7. Set up your Payment Plan
    • Partial payment/Full payment > If you don’t want customers to pay upfront, in the Upfront payment > fill out as “0%.”
    • Name your plan to nudge your customers
    • Set up a discount for presale if you want
  8. Schedule your campaign (optional)
  9. Set Pre-order limitation (optional)

  10. Save your campaign and test it
presale-back-in-stock-snap-presale
How to Set Up Pre-Sales on Shopify

Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.

1. Customize campaign elements

  • Snap Preorder & Backorder allows you to customize the maximum pre-order widget on the product page, including a Notify Me button, Notify Me popup by title, color options, and the option to show similar products.
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​

2. Edit email template

  • You can use the Snap preorder and backorder system to send emails, or opt for your own email provider.
  • Additionally, you can customize notifications for back in stock items, partial payment invoices, and pre-order delays.
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​
Customize The Pre-order Button, Notification Email, And Badge.​

3. Display Pre-order badge

Moreover, you can now display a pre-order badge for products that are part of a campaign, allowing customers to easily identify them.

Option 2: DIY Without an App

If you’re not ready to use an app (or just prefer to keep things simple and app-free), you can still set up pre-sales on Shopify manually. It takes a bit more work, but it’s totally doable. Here’s a guide to help you decide what’s best for you.

  • Pros: You’ll save money by not using an app, have complete control over customization, and it’s perfect if you only need basic pre-order functionality.
  • Cons: It requires more manual work to set up and track orders, lacks advanced features like automatic alerts or partial payments, and editing theme code can be tricky if you’re not tech-savvy.

Steps to Pre-sale on Shopify with an App

Step 1: Create a Pre-Order Product
  • Go to your Shopify admin and click Products > Add product.
  • Add the product details (name, description, images, etc.) and make it clear that this is a pre-order product. Use phrases like:
    • “Available for Pre-Order Now!”
    • “Ships [specific date]” (e.g., “Ships January 30, 2025”).
  • In the inventory section, uncheck Track quantity if you want unlimited pre-orders. If you want to limit the number, set a specific stock level.
  • Under the Shipping section, add a note in the “Delivery Policy” or “Shipping Description” to inform customers about the pre-order timeline.
Step 2: Customize the Product Page

To make it clear this is a pre-order item:

  • Add a banner or image overlay saying “Preorder Now” on your product images (you can use free tools like Canva to do this).
  • Use bold, eye-catching text in your product description to emphasize:
    • The estimated shipping date.
    • Any special perks (like early-bird discounts).
Step 3: Adjust the Add-to-Cart Button Text

By default, the button on your product page says Add to Cart. For pre-sales, it’s better to change it to something like Pre-Order Now or Reserve Your Spot to avoid confusion.

To update the button:

  1. Go to Online Store > Themes in your Shopify admin.
  2. Click Actions > Edit code.
  3. Find the code for the product page template (usually under Sections > product-template.liquid).
  4. Look for the code that controls the “Add to Cart” button and replace the text with something like Pre-Order Now.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Always save a backup of your theme before making edits to the code!

With some effort, you can create a solid DIY pre-order system that works for most Shopify stores. but honestly, we don’t really recommend going that route. If you want a smoother setup with cool features like automatic stock tracking, email alerts, and partial payments, you should check out apps like Snap Preorder & Backorder. Plus, they’re free, so no worries there!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Promising delivery dates you can’t meet
  • Going radio silent on updates
  • Making it too hard to pre-order
  • Selling more than you can actually make
  • Not having enough customer support

How to Know If Your Pre-Sale Is Working

Keep an eye on:

  • How many browsers actually buy
  • How much people spend on average
  • Whether customers are happy
  • How many returns you get
  • How many people sign up for restock alerts

Start Your Pre-Sale Strategy Today!

Pre-sales on Shopify are a total game-changer. It helps you drive more sales, manage cash flow, and create excitement around new products. Whether you decide to go the DIY route or use an app like Snap Preorder & Backorder, the important thing is to get started and test what works for your store.

By offering pre-order discounts, flexible payment options, and smart stock alerts, you can make your customers feel like they’re getting exclusive access to something special. Plus, it’s a great way to turn product delays or launches into a win for your business.

So why wait? Start building your pre-sale strategy now, and watch how it can take your store to the next level. Happy pre-selling!

Turn ‘out of stock’ into ‘ready to sell’ with Snap Preorder & Backorder!

FAQs About Shopify Pre-Sales

What’s the best pre-sale app for clothing brands?

Snap Preorder & Backorder is awesome since it lets you place backorders and make partial payments. Plus, it’s free right now, so you definitely don’t want to miss out!

Yes! Simply add a pre-order button to the product page. Snap Preorder and Backorder can help you do this in just a few steps. For a detailed guide, please scroll up; I have already provided it.

Yes! Limiting pre-sale quantities is essential if you’re managing limited stock or testing demand.

  • In your Shopify product settings, set a maximum quantity for pre-orders.
  • Some apps like Snap Presale & Backorder let you automate this, preventing overselling and ensuring you can fulfill all orders.

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