CS-Cart Essentials: How to Create a Multi Store eCommerce Platform with CS-Cart

CS-Cart’s multiple storefronts feature is a game-changing instrument for eCommerce platforms looking to expand their market reach through different audiences, regions, or product lines.

With this tool, business owners can create unlimited storefronts within a single marketplace. Each one comes with its own unique design, domain name, product catalog, sellers, and can be targeted for a specific audience.

This setup is a highly versatile solution that simplifies vendors’ management and supports global growth for the entire project.

In this article, we will pinpoint the key advantages of CS-Cart’s multiple storefronts feature along with its benefits for eCommerce platforms. Moreover, we will provide a step-by-step guide to setting it up in the CS-Cart admin panel.

Let’s dig in.

Table of Contents

• Why eCommerce Businesses May Need Multiple Storefronts
• 1. Centralized Platform Management with Customizable Storefronts
• 2. Improved Market Reach and Global Presence
• 3. Enhanced Brand Control and Segmentation
• 4. Well-Balanced Operational Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
• How to Set Up Multiple Storefronts in CS-Cart
• Three Multi Store eCommerce Platforms Built with CS-Cart
• The Bottom Line

Why eCommerce Businesses May Need Multiple Storefronts

Imagine you have an online store that sells auto parts. At some point, you realize that your niche has stagnated, your profits are no longer growing, and competitors are closing in.

You decide to expand into new, related niches, for instance, recycled tires to diversify your business. Instead of launching a new store from scratch, you simply open a second storefront inside an already existing eCommerce platform. It can have a separate domain with a catalog featuring only recycled tires.

With the multi-store feature, the cost savings are substantial, the time savings even greater, and there’s no need to build the infrastructure from scratch. Businesses can expand their reach and operate more efficiently in a highly competitive eCommerce environment.

Add new stores and locations with CS-Cart multi-vendor feature

This tool allows companies to create and manage multiple storefronts from a single, centralized admin panel, simplifying management and streamlining operations.

Each storefront can be uniquely customized to cater to different customer segments, locations, and product categories. Business owners can strategically grow their brand presence and offer tailored shopping experiences across diverse markets, all while maintaining centralized control.

Let’s have a closer look at some of the key benefits.

1. Centralized Platform Management with Customizable Storefronts

Entrepreneurs can use the multi-store feature to manage multiple storefronts from one place. The feature reduces the need to switch between different control panels, making the management process less time-consuming.

Each storefront shares a common product database, but you can set a needed listing or catalog for a specific storefront, customize design and store configurations individually. This flexibility makes it possible to tailor each storefront to a specific customer demographic depending on location and buying preferences.

Postmates—multi-vendor food marketplace with separate storefronts for dining and pickup

Use Case

Let’s say, a marketplace uses the multi-store feature to host a variety of brands, each specializing in unique dining experience. They may include different regional cuisine and specialties as well as dining options depending on the user location with delivery or pickup options from the nearest venue.

With multi-store functionality, the marketplace attracts diverse brands and food vendors, each managing its own storefront, menu and product listings, while maintaining a cohesive customer experience.

As a result, sellers can build a vast, diverse food product inventory. Besides, they get a chance to improve customer loyalty by offering a one-stop shop with an intuitive checkout and delivery system.

2. Improved Market Reach and Global Presence

With multiple stores in the pack, businesses get a chance to expand into new markets without launching separate platforms.

In simpler words, you can create a store for a specific city, country, region, or even customer group. Every separate store may have its language, currency, and pricing strategies.

Assign different currencies for every separate storefront in the Admin Panel

Use Case

For example, one store may have settings configured for the US-based audience with USD pricing and product descriptions in English. 

Another one is in Spanish with EUR pricing for Spain, and offers customized to meet Spanish-based buyers.

Using multi-store software, businesses can diversify their brand management. Each vendor can independently manage their prices, language, catalog settings, and promotions showcasing products uniquely suited to their target audience, attracting the right customers.

This approach simplifies reaching a wider audience and increasing global brand awareness.

3. Enhanced Brand Control and Segmentation

Every single storefront can function as an entirely unique entity. You can create storefronts that appear as distinct brands, even if they belong to the same parent company.

This feature is good for businesses that own multiple brands or product lines. In fact, it enables them to maintain each brand’s unique identity without setting up multiple eCommerce platforms.

What’s more, business owners can develop storefronts focused on specific customer groups. When delivering a targeted shopping experience, entrepreneurs better address the unique buying habits of each segment.

With distinct storefronts, brands can launch personalized promotions, special deals and discounts, and effective loyalty programs, driving more potential buyers.

Instacart—a grocery multi-vendor marketplace with multiple brands featuring different storefronts and promotions

Use Case

For instance, you run a store that specializes in selling grocery products. At some point, you decide to enter a new niche. You need to have your store expanded into veggie-friendly goods. 

Right now, the existing platform does not meet the needs of a new target audience. It has a different design, different pricing, and entirely different product range 

With a multi-store feature, you create a separate storefront for brands and vendors that specialize in distributing veggie products, with a different design, on a different domain, aimed at a new audience.

4. Well-Balanced Operational Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness

Managing multiple stores from one admin panel helps reduce the operational costs of maintaining separate eCommerce platforms. The feature decreases resource allocation for staff training, IT support, and updates since entrepreneurs manage only a single backend system.

With shared resources like client base or inventory, businesses can efficiently handle multiple online stores without the complexity of juggling separate platforms.

Use Case

An eCommerce marketplace brings together multiple vendors, each offering different eco-friendly products ranging from organic skincare to recycled clothing. 

A multi-store feature helps vendors manage inventory and fulfillment through a shared system, streamlining processes. This centralization minimizes logistical overhead, as vendors can rely on a unified system for handling orders, shipping, and returns, without having to set up their own separate logistics processes.

How to Set Up Multiple Storefronts in CS-Cart

There are 3 different scenarios for setting up and managing multiple stores in CS-Cart. They include managing hosting, configuring your storefronts, and organizing your eCommerce business for success.

Scenario 1: Set Up Preconfigured Hosting for CS-Cart

Scalesta is a pre-set hosting specially for CS-Cart stores and marketplaces. It offers optimized settings to manage your eCommerce platform configurations to ensure maximum performance and sustainability.

To get started, you need to:

1. Go to the Sites section in your hosting account.
2. Add a new domain alias or redirect: Select the “Alias” option if you want the new storefront to be an alternate name for your main site.
3. Enter your domain: Type in the URL for the new storefront, checking the “www” checkbox if needed.
4. Select your destination project: Choose the main CS-Cart project to link your new storefront.

Save the settings to add the alias to your hosting configuration.

Scenario 2: Create a New Storefront in the CS-Cart Admin Panel

Once your domain alias is set up, you can proceed with adding a new storefront in the CS-Cart or Multi-Vendor admin panel:

1. Log in to the CS-Cart administration panel and navigate to Administration → Storefronts.
2. Add a new storefront by clicking the “+” button.
3. Configure the Storefront URL: Enter the domain or subdomain created in your hosting account.
4. Set other properties: Configure options such as design, language, currency, product categories, and customer groups to customize the storefront.

Click Create to finalize the setup.

Create multiple storefronts for different brands on a single marketplace

Scenario 3: Configure Multiple Storefronts in cPanel

If you host your marketplace on a different provider, use its cPanel to set up storefronts on subdomains, subdirectories, or entirely separate domains:

1. Open cPanel and navigate to the Domains section.
2. Create a new subdomain or add a new domain based on your preference.
3. Link the domain to your CS-Cart installation: Follow the same steps as above to configure the storefront URL and properties within the CS-Cart admin panel.

Customize each storefront according to its specific target market.

Three Multi Store eCommerce Platforms Built with CS-Cart

With the multi store eCommerce solution, companies across the world create multi-functional marketplaces that host hundreds of brands for product distribution and promotion.

Let’s have a look at some real-life examples showcasing multiple storefront marketplaces built with CS-Cart.

1. RFLeShop—Household appliance and Electronics

With the help of a multi store eCommerce platform, RFL Group delivers seamless online experience and sustainable shopping.

The online store is designed for convenience, allowing users to explore a wide variety of high-quality products anytime, anywhere.

With easy navigation, secure payments, and rapid delivery, RFLeShop ensures a stress-free shopping journey tailored to clients’ values.

User-friendly features, intuitive navigation with multiple brands and separate storefronts enhance buying experience.

2. Fry Bucket—Fast Food Outlets and Delivery

Since opening its first outlet in Dhanmondi in August 2021, Fry Bucket has expanded through cloud kitchen services, allowing customers to conveniently enjoy gourmet fried chicken, pasta, and pizza by ordering online.

With the help of CS-Cart, users can benefit from an intuitive navigation system that lets them select a city and region with available outlets to place an order.

3. Bizli Cables—Cable Manufacturer in Bangladesh

Bizli Cables, a leading and trusted cable manufacturer in Bangladesh, is dedicated to providing safe and reliable connectivity while prioritizing environmental respect.

The brand specializes in sales, distribution, and marketing across Bangladesh, operating a highly efficient logistics network. Supported by over 500 trained sales professionals, 200 vehicles, and 140 nationwide outlets, Bizli Cables ensures swift delivery of both standard and customized cable solutions tailored to customer needs.

The company distributes products through a multi store eCommerce platform that features intuitive navigation through several baseline product catalogs.

It comes with a separate listing of showrooms available across the country and special offers for dealers and distributors. Additionally, each vendor has a separate account to manage inventory, products, and store configurations.

The Bottom Line

CS-Cart’s multiple storefronts feature is a strategic tool to broaden marketplace outreach, improve customer experiences, and boost overall operational efficiency.

It helps to:

• Manage different storefronts within a single platform.
• Explore diverse markets and target audiences.
• Maintain consistent brand identities across different regions.
• Boost engagement through a localized approach and personalized customer experience.
• Diversify business by reducing risk and tailoring the shopping experience to different market segments

With the additional benefits of streamlined operations and access to exclusive features in the CS-Cart Multi-Vendor Ultimate edition, businesses can scale their eCommerce presence with a sustainable, cost-effective solution.

You can try multi-store features free for 15 days. Hit the button to book a demo and take your time to test its functionality.

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