If you want to start an online store in Pakistan using Shopify, it is a good way to reach customers all over Pakistan. You can also expand your business internationally. There is a great rise of online shopping in Pakistan. If you have a digital store, it will help you to sell products without the need for a physical shop. Shopify is a user-friendly e-commerce platform. It provides all the necessary tools to create, manage, and grow an online store in Pakistan. You can also create a Shopify store even if you have no prior technical knowledge. Shopify makes it easy to get started. Either you are a business owner, want to start a new business, or want to expand your existing retail business, it will help all of you. This detailed guide will provide you with every step of setting up a Shopify store in Pakistan. Follow the entire procedure and make your business succeed in the online world.
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Let’s Understand What Exactly the Shopify Is
Shopify is a user friendly online platform. It allows businesses to create their own websites and sell their products. It is a complete e-commerce solution in Pakistan. Shopify provides everything needed to start, run, and grow an online store. With Shopify, Pakistani businesses can set up a fully functional online shop without requiring technical expertise. The platform offers a variety of customizable themes. You can also get secure payment gateways, inventory management tools, and marketing features. All these things help sellers to attract customers and increase sales. Another plus point is, it enables businesses to manage their store from anywhere using its cloud-based system. This makes it a convenient choice for entrepreneurs in Pakistan who are looking to enter the e-commerce market.
Choose Your Niche and Products
Before creating your store, you have to decide what you want to sell to your Pakistani customers. For this purpose, consider these points explained below.
Market Demand
Research which products are trending in Pakistan. Which products have high demand among Pakistanis?
Competition
Then check if there are too many sellers for the same product. If yes, it will be difficult for new businesses.
Profitability
Ensure your product has a good profit margin after deducting costs your business will not grow further.
Suppliers
Then find reliable suppliers in Pakistan or import products if needed. All these things depend on demand.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Shopify Store in Pakistan
Here, we have outlined a detailed step-by-step process to help you set up your Shopify store in Pakistan, from registration to payment and shipping setup.
Sign Up for a Shopify Account
First, you have to access Shopify. For this purpose,
- Go to Shopify’s website.
- Click on Start Free Trial. Shopify offers a trial period for all of you.
- Enter your email, password, and store name.
- Click Create Store.
- Answer few questions about your business to complete the setup.
Set Up Your Shopify Store
For setting up your shopify store, you have to cover two major things. First is choosing a theme according to your business, then adding products into your store.
Choose a Theme
Shopify provides free and paid themes to design your store. For this purpose, you can:
- Select a free theme if you are just starting.
- Buy a premium theme for more customization if you want.
- Customize the theme using Shopify’s drag-and-drop editor.
Add Products
Click Save to add the product.
- Go to Products in the Shopify dashboard.
- Click Add Product.
- Enter product name, description, and price.Upload good quality images.
Set Up Payments
Keep in mind that Shopify does not support PayPal in Pakistan. In solution, you can use local and international payment gateways. For payments, go to settings and then select payments in Shopify to set up the payment method.
Some common options you can use, include:
- EasyPaisa
- JazzCash
- Bank Transfers
- Checkout. It is for international payments.
- Payoneer. It can be used to receive payments from foreign customers.
Set Up Shipping
Shipping is very important for online businesses. Set up shipping rates under Settings then Shipping and Delivery in Shopify.
In Pakistan, you can use:
- Local couriers like TCS, Leopards, and BlueEx.
- For local customers, you can use Cash on Delivery (COD) services.
- International shipping for global sales can be done by DHL, FedEx, etc.
Customize Your Store Settings For Additional Benefit
For this purpose, you must follow these 2 steps given below.
Domain Name
Buy a custom domain from Shopify or third-party providers
- You can also contact Tashheer Digital for best hosting services.
- Link the domain to Shopify under Settings then Domains.
Legal Pages
To build trust among Pakistani customers, add:
- Privacy Policy , Refund Policy
- Terms & Conditions , Shipping Policy
Must Market Your Store
Once your store is ready, start promoting it among Pakistanis. Here are some marketing strategies explained below for your help.
| Strategy | Detail |
| Social Media Marketing | Create Facebook and Instagram pages. Use Facebook and Instagram ads to target customers.Collaborate with Pakistani influencers to promote products. |
| SEO | Use keywords related to your products in descriptions.Start a blog to drive traffic to your store.List your store on Google Merchant Center. |
| Email Marketing | Collect customer emails and send offers or updates.Use Shopify Email or third-party apps like Mailchimp. |
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Manage Your Orders and Customer Service Very Precisely
Keep a check on the following things given below.
Order Fulfillment
- Process orders quickly to keep Pakistani customers happy.
- Send tracking details to customers.
Customer Support
- Offer Live Chat support.
- Respond to queries on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
Improve Your Store Time by Time
- See which products sell best.
- Check traffic sources. It will tell you where more visitors.
Final Words
Starting a Shopify store in Pakistan is now more accessible than ever. Shopify provides all the necessary tools. These tools will help you to manage and expand your store with ease. Remember to continuously improve your store. You can do so by analyzing customer feedback, optimizing your product listings, and refining your marketing efforts. Great customer service is also key to building a loyal customer base. With dedication and efforts, you can turn your Shopify store into a successful e-commerce business. Wishing you success on your online selling journey.
About the Author: Sana Noureen
