About Stores
The Stores module enables administrators to create comprehensive storefronts where partners, customers, and employees can browse products, add items to shopping carts, and complete purchases through configurable checkout experiences. This commerce platform provides organizations with flexible product catalog management, collection-based organization, discount code capabilities, and integrated payment processing to support reward redemption programs, merchandise distribution, and internal ordering workflows.
Stores transforms traditional static product catalogs into dynamic, interactive shopping experiences that adapt to different user types and organizational needs while providing detailed order tracking and flexible checkout options to ensure consistent purchasing experiences across user communities.
Core Functionality
Storefront Architecture and Structure
Multi-Store Support: Organizations can create multiple storefronts, each tailored to specific audiences, product categories, or business purposes. Each storefront operates independently with its own settings, currency, products, and checkout configuration.
Flexible Browsing Options: Storefronts can be configured to display products through collection-based navigation or as a complete catalog view, enabling different browsing experiences based on product volume and organizational preferences.
URL Path Management: Each storefront is assigned a unique URL path that determines its public-facing address within the portal, supporting bookmarking and direct linking to specific stores.
Product Management
Comprehensive Product Configuration: Products include detailed information such as names, descriptions, pricing, product codes, and availability settings. Rich-text descriptions support formatted content, images, and links for detailed product presentations.
Product Variants: Products can include multiple variants representing different options such as sizes or colors. Each variant maintains its own product code and pricing while remaining linked to the parent product for unified management.
Product Organization: Products can be classified using product types and external identifiers for internal categorization, reporting alignment, and integration with external systems such as ERP or fulfillment platforms.
Availability Controls: Product visibility can be controlled through active status settings and optional publish dates, enabling scheduled product launches and promotional timing.
Collection Organization
Manual Collections: Administrators can create curated collections by explicitly selecting products, enabling hand-picked groupings for featured items, promotional campaigns, or themed categories.
Automated Collections: Rule-based collections automatically include products matching specified conditions using field filters and logic operators. Automated collections update dynamically as product attributes change, reducing ongoing maintenance.
Collection Presentation: Each collection includes a name, description, optional image, and configurable sorting options to control how products are displayed to users browsing the storefront.
Checkout and Payment Processing
Multiple Checkout Methods: Storefronts support three checkout methods: Credit Card for online payment processing, Place Order for order submission without immediate payment, and Redeem Points for integration with the Rewards module.
Payment Provider Integration: Credit card processing integrates with major payment providers including Authorize.Net, Moneris, Stripe, and PayPal Express Checkout through Connected Apps configuration.
Tax Calculation: Automatic tax calculation applies regional tax rates during checkout based on configured store regions, ensuring accurate order totals for customers in different geographic locations.
Guest Checkout: Storefronts can enable guest checkout allowing users to complete purchases without portal registration, with optional login bypass for streamlined purchasing experiences.
Discount Code Management
Flexible Discount Types: Discount codes can be configured as percentage-based or fixed-amount reductions, supporting various promotional strategies from percentage-off sales to dollar-value coupons.
Usage Controls: Discounts include configurable usage limits controlling total redemptions and per-user restrictions, preventing overuse and supporting exclusive or limited-time promotions.
Time-Based Activation: Start and end dates control when discount codes become valid and expire, enabling scheduled promotional campaigns and seasonal offers.
Minimum Requirements: Optional minimum purchase amount requirements ensure discounts apply only to qualifying orders, supporting promotional strategies that encourage larger purchases.
Order Management
Order Tracking and Visibility
Centralized Order List: All orders placed through a storefront are accessible through a dedicated Orders tab, providing administrators with visibility into purchasing activity, order status, and customer information.
Order Details: Individual order records display comprehensive information including billing details, line items with quantities and pricing, order totals, and transaction metadata for audit and fulfillment purposes.
Order Editing: Administrators can update order metadata including status, billing information, and shipping details to support fulfillment workflows and customer service requirements.
Order Notifications
Customer Receipts: Configurable receipt email templates deliver order confirmations to customers with line item details using the {!ShoppingCartItems} merge field.
Internal Notifications: Notification email lists enable administrators and fulfillment teams to receive copies of order confirmations for internal processing and awareness.
Security and Access Control
Store-Level Permissions
Sharing Configuration: Storefronts can be shared with specific security roles, user groups, or individual users with View or Manage permission levels, controlling who can access and administer each store.
Administrative Access: Users with Administrator System Role or Store Manage Access permission can create storefronts, manage products and collections, configure discounts, and view orders.
Note: Users with Administrator System Role always have full access to all storefronts regardless of individual sharing settings.
Store Region Configuration
Geographic Tax Rules: Store regions define country and state/province combinations with associated tax rates. Tax calculation during checkout matches customer addresses to configured regions for accurate tax application.
Region Management: Administrators can create, edit, and remove store regions as tax requirements change, with updates affecting new orders immediately while preserving historical order data.
Integration Features
Rewards Module Integration
When the Redeem Points checkout method is enabled, storefronts integrate with the Rewards module to allow users to convert accumulated reward points into product purchases. This integration supports reward program fulfillment where partners or customers redeem earned points for merchandise, gift cards, or other catalog items.
Learn more: About Rewards Module | About the Redemption Module
Connected Apps Integration
Payment processing requires gateway credentials configured through Connected Apps. Supported payment providers include Authorize.Net, Moneris, Stripe, and PayPal Express Checkout. Gateway credentials must be established before enabling credit card checkout methods.
Email Template Integration
Order receipt emails use configurable email templates that support merge fields for dynamic content. The {!ShoppingCartItems} merge field renders complete line item details within receipt communications.
Learn more: Email Templates
Licensing Model
Per-Store Licensing: Storefronts are licensed on a one-to-one basis where each Store license enables creation of one storefront. Organizations requiring multiple storefronts need corresponding license quantities assigned to their environment.
License Enforcement: When the maximum licensed storefront count is reached, the system prevents creation of additional storefronts and displays a license warning. Deleting an existing storefront frees a license slot for new store creation.
Important: License limits are enforced at the system level and cannot be overridden by role or permission settings. Contact your Magentrix Account Manager for licensing inquiries.
Common Use Cases
Partner Rewards Stores
Point Redemption Catalogs: Organizations create storefronts where channel partners redeem accumulated reward points for merchandise, branded items, or gift cards. The Redeem Points checkout method integrates with reward program point balances for seamless redemption experiences.
Tiered Product Access: Different partner tiers can access different storefronts or product collections, enabling exclusive merchandise offerings that align with partner program levels and incentive structures.
Internal Merchandise Distribution
Employee Stores: Organizations distribute branded merchandise, equipment, or supplies to employees through internal storefronts with Place Order checkout methods that route requests to fulfillment teams without payment processing.
Event and Campaign Merchandise: Marketing teams create storefronts for event-specific merchandise, promotional item requests, or campaign material distribution with controlled access and inventory management.
Customer Product Catalogs
Accessory and Add-On Sales: Organizations offer complementary products, accessories, or consumables to existing customers through portal storefronts with credit card payment processing for direct purchasing.
Subscription and Renewal Products: Service-based organizations provide subscription renewals, service packages, or upgrade options through storefronts integrated with customer account information.
Best Practices
Store Design Strategy
User-Centric Organization: Design storefronts from the user perspective, considering browsing patterns, product discovery needs, and purchasing workflows to create intuitive shopping experiences.
Collection Strategy: Develop logical collection structures that align with user expectations and support product discovery. Use automated collections for dynamic categorization and manual collections for curated promotional groupings.
Clear Product Information: Maintain comprehensive product descriptions, accurate pricing, and quality images to support informed purchasing decisions and reduce support inquiries.
Implementation and Management
Region Configuration First: Configure store regions before enabling checkout to ensure tax calculation functions correctly. Missing regions can prevent successful checkout for customers in unconfigured locations.
Payment Testing: Test payment provider integration thoroughly in a controlled environment before enabling credit card checkout for production storefronts. Verify gateway credentials and transaction processing.
Discount Planning: Plan discount code strategies including usage limits, active dates, and minimum requirements before creating promotional codes. Monitor discount usage to prevent unintended overuse.
Ongoing Operations
Order Monitoring: Regularly review order activity to ensure timely fulfillment and identify any processing issues. Use order status updates to track fulfillment progress.
Product Maintenance: Keep product information current, deactivate discontinued items, and use publish dates to coordinate product availability with marketing campaigns and inventory levels.
Performance Review: Monitor storefront usage patterns and order volumes to optimize product organization, identify popular items, and adjust collection structures based on user behavior.
The Stores module provides essential commerce capabilities that support organizational product distribution, reward program fulfillment, and purchasing workflows through configurable, secure, and user-friendly storefront experiences across your entire portal ecosystem.
Stores Module Checklist >>