Selling plants on Shopify: keeping your nursery stock in step

The problem: two lists of stock

Most nurseries sell in more than one place — trade orders, the till, the phone and the shop. If Shopify keeps its own stock figures, every sale elsewhere has to be taken off by hand. Miss one and you sell a plant you no longer have, then have to refund it and apologise.

Keep stock in one place

The answer is one set of stock figures that every sale comes off, with Shopify showing what's really there. Then a plant sold on the phone in the morning isn't still for sale online in the afternoon.

Record online orders with the rest

Shopify orders still need picking, delivering and adding to your accounts. Having them arrive alongside your other orders — rather than in a separate inbox — means nothing is missed and your sales figures are complete.

Plant passports and online sales

Plants sold online to the public generally need a plant passport, unlike plants sold face to face. Make sure your business is authorised to issue them and that the passport goes out with each Shopify order.

Prices, VAT and delivery

• Prices shown to the public must include VAT
• Show delivery costs and areas clearly before checkout — plants are bulky and perishable
• Keep online prices in line with your other price lists, so customers aren't confused

Returns

Say clearly in your terms what can and can't be returned, as live plants may not suit the usual 14-day returns.

Where to check the official rules

• GOV.UK — plant passports and plant health guidance
• GOV.UK — online and distance selling for businesses
• Business Companion (Trading Standards) — consumer rights and selling online

How HortiOwl helps

If you already sell on Shopify, you can keep your shop and connect it to HortiOwl. Your stock stays in step, and Shopify orders are recorded in HortiOwl automatically, alongside your trade orders. The Shopify connection is an optional add-on.