Shopify for Restaurants: How to Do It Right?

As the eCommerce industry continues to grow, Shopify will become an increasingly popular platform for businesses of all sizes. This is especially true for restaurants, as they can use Shopify to set up an online store and sell their products to a wider audience.

In this article, we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to set up a restaurant eCommerce website with Shopify. Additionally, we'll explore the pros and cons of Shopify for restaurants and share some tips, popular themes, and tools to help create a successful restaurant eCommerce website.

Shopify for Restaurants: Pros and Cons

The global pandemic has forced many restaurants to close their doors, but it has also created an opportunity for those with an online presence. More and more consumers are turning to the internet to order their food, which is only expected to continue. If you're a restaurant owner, now is the time to set up an eCommerce website and start selling your food online.

Restaurant eCommerce websites have their own pros and cons, so it's important to weigh these before making a decision.

Pros:

• Reach a wider audience - By setting up an online store, you can reach a larger audience than you would if you were selling through brick-and-mortar stores only. This is especially true if you offer delivery or pickup services.
• Cost-effective - Setting up an online store is a more cost-effective way to sell your products than setting up a brick-and-mortar store. You won't have to pay rent, utilities, or other physical store costs.
• Easy to set up and use - Shopify is one of the most user-friendly eCommerce platforms, so it's easy to set up and use, even if you're not tech-savvy.

Cons:

• Requires time and effort - Even though Shopify is easy to use, setting up an online store still requires time and effort. You'll need to create and populate your store, manage inventory, process orders, and handle customer service.
• Additional Costs - While setting up an online store is generally more cost-effective than setting up a physical store. There are still costs associated with using Shopify. You'll need to pay for a Shopify plan and any apps, themes, or plugins you use.

Weighing the pros and cons of Shopify for restaurants, it's clear that there are more advantages than disadvantages. The main downside is that setting up and running a successful online store requires time and effort. However, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, making Shopify a great option for restaurant owners looking to expand into the eCommerce sector.

How to Set Up a Restaurant eCommerce Website with Shopify?

Set up your Shopify restaurant eCommerce website from anywhere.

Shifting from a brick-and-mortar setup to an eCommerce solution can help alleviate the stress that independent retailers are facing today, and when done correctly, the transition can be seamless. You'll be able to take advantage of Shopify's powerful features and integrations to streamline your operations and provide a better experience for your customers.

Setting up a restaurant eCommerce website with Shopify is easy, but there are a few key things you need to do to ensure it's successful. In this section, we'll give you a step-by-step guide on how to set up your restaurant eCommerce website with Shopify.

1. Sign up for a Shopify free trial

Shopify offers a 3-day free trial and $1/month for the next 3 months, so sign up for one to get started. You'll need to enter your email address, create a password, and choose your shop's name. Once you've done this, you'll be able to access the Shopify admin.

Before going live, you'll need to choose a Shopify plan. The Basic Shopify plan is $29/month, while the Shopify and Advanced Shopify plans are $79/month and $299/month, respectively. If you're unsure which one to choose, start with the Basic plan and upgrade when needed.

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2. Choose a theme for your restaurant eCommerce website

Shopify themes are what give your website its design and layout. There are free and paid themes available and options for restaurant themes that can fit any type of branding, so choose one that fits your restaurant's brand identity and voice perfectly. Ideally, your brick-and-mortar and eCommerce websites should fit perfectly together in terms of branding. Once you've found a theme you like, install it on your Shopify store.

Learn more: How to customize Shopify Theme

3. Build your pages

GemPages is a leading Shopify page builder with everything you need to create stunning, on-brand pages for your site. GemPages gives you the freedom to customize your site with no coding necessary. Start by creating a homepage that includes your restaurant's name, logo, and tagline. Then, add pages for your menu, delivery information, contact details, and any other important information.

Customize your restaurant website your way

With GemPages page builder, you can easily, quickly create store pages that bring unique experiences and convert customers. No coding needed.

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4. Add your products

Now it's time to add your products! You can either manually add them one-by-one or import them in bulk using a CSV file. If you have a physical restaurant, you can also use Shopify POS for restaurants to sync your inventory. Once your products are added, make sure to write compelling descriptions and take high-quality photos.

5. Set up payment methods and shipping settings

To start taking orders, you'll need to set up a payment gateway and shipping settings. Shopify offers over 100 different payment methods, so you're sure to find one that fits your needs. For shipping, you can choose from various options, including flat rate, free shipping, and real-time carrier quoting.

Setting up your Shopify restaurant eCommerce site is easy, and with GemPages by your side, you can build a beautiful website that perfectly represents your brand.

Shopify Themes for Restaurants

Choosing a theme is one of the most important steps in setting up your Shopify store. A website's layout or navigational links are the first things that 38% of consumers look at when they visit a site for the first time. The theme you choose will determine your website's overall look, navigation, and feel, so it's important to take some time to browse through the available options and find one that fits your restaurant's brand identity.

Shopify themes allow for uniquely designed restaurant eCommerce websites.

There are a few ideal choices regarding Shopify themes for restaurants. Some of the best include:

• Crave - Crave is optimized for quick, on-the-go shopping and features an eye-catching design that makes it easy for customers to find what they're looking for. Crave features mega menu support as well as support for a quick menu and sticky header.
• Vantage - Vantage is a theme highly focused on conversion. It can support large or small inventories and features support for quick view and a stock counter, among other features.
• Fresh - Fresh is a clean, easy-to-navigate theme for restaurants, featuring an age verifier, in-menu promotions, and infinite scroll.

These and other themes can be found in Shopify's theme store. Depending on your restaurant type, you might prefer a different theme style. For example, if you're running a high-end restaurant, you might want to look for something a little more luxurious.

Luckily, there are over 280 Shopify themes and countless ways to build your pages with GemPages. No matter what theme you choose, make sure it fits well with your restaurant's brand identity.

Shopify POS for Restaurants

Shopify POS for restaurants is a great way to keep your inventory in sync between your physical restaurant and your eCommerce website. It's also a great way to take orders directly from customers. Shopify POS features order management, product syncing, custom staff permissions, advanced reporting features, and online ordering for pickup or shipping.

Shopify POS makes any device a point-of-sale tool for restaurants.

Why Should I Use Shopify POS?

Utilizing Shopify POS allows you to keep track of inventory in real-time, whether an item is sold in-store or online. Shopify POS also provides customer retention features like integrated loyalty programs and complete customer profiles, giving you an opportunity for more effective marketing and an enhanced customer experience.

Is Shopify a POS?

Shopify is not a POS, but they do have a POS system that works great for restaurants. Shopify POS is a point-of-sale app that lets you sell your products in person. You can use Shopify POS to sell almost anywhere, including brick-and-mortar stores, markets, and pop-up shops.

Tips for A Successful Restaurant Website

You should keep a few things in mind when setting up your Shopify website to ensure it's successful. Here are a few tips:

• Make sure your site is fast and responsive - Customers won't wait around for a slow website, so make sure yours is fast and responsive. Use Shopify's speed testing tool, accessible through your admin setting, to test your site's speed and see where you can make improvements.
• Optimize your website for SEO - Make sure it is optimized for SEO so potential customers can easily find you when they're searching online. Shopify eCommerce stores have built-in SEO features, but there are also plenty of apps available to help you further optimize your site.
• Include high-quality product photos - Customers want to see what they're buying, so make sure to include clear, high-quality product photos on your website. You can also use video to show off your products. A video editor can help you create an engaging short video that will draw customers in. Use transitions and titles to give more structure to the video, add music to enhance the video experience, and don’t forget to include a call to action at the end. 
• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly - More and more people are shopping on their mobile devices, so creating a mobile-friendly website is essential. You can use Shopify's themes to create a responsive website that looks great on any device.
• Add Trust Badges - Adding trust badges to your website can help increase conversion rates by reassuring potential customers that your site is safe and secure.

These are just a few things you should remember when setting up your website. By following these tips, you can create a successful website that will help boost your restaurant's sales.

Best Shopify Apps for Restaurants

Shopify can boost sales for any business with many useful tools, but how does Shopify work for restaurants? Restaurant-specific features like online ordering, reservations, delivery management, and Shopify’s huge app store give you an arsenal of tools to help your restaurant run smoothly.

Shopify Apps give your restaurant eCommerce site enhanced features.

Some of the best Shopify apps for restaurants include:

GemPages - The Best Page Builder for Shopify

GemPages is the best page builder for Shopify, and it's the perfect tool for building beautiful pages for your restaurants eCommerce website. With GemPages, you can create custom pages without coding or hiring a developer. GemPages includes everything you need to create beautiful pages, including pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop elements, and real-time preview.

Not ready to commit but still want to kick the tires?

No problem! Get started with GemPages' free plan. Explore wonderful features that can do wonders for your store.

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Bold Subscriptions - Subscription-based recurring orders

Bold Subscriptions is a powerful app that lets you create subscription-based recurring orders for your restaurant. With Bold Subscriptions, you can offer customers the convenience of having their favorite food delivered regularly. You can also use Bold Subscriptions to upsell customers by offering them discounts on their subscriptions.

Foodee - Food delivery management

Foodee is a great app for restaurants that offer food delivery. With Foodee, you can manage your food delivery operations from one central location. Foodee lets you track in-store pickup or delivery orders, manage delivery open/closed hours, and accept payments.

Foodify - Online food menu

Foodify is an app that lets you create an online food menu for your restaurant. With Foodify, you can simplify the look of your menu and make it easier for customers to find what they're looking for. This Shopify restaurant ordering app also allows you to add photos, descriptions, and prices to your menu items.

Conclusion

Using Shopify, its many features and apps, and page builders like GemPages, you can easily create a beautiful and functional eCommerce website for your restaurant business that will help you increase online sales.

Shopify provides everything you need to get started, including fast and reliable hosting, a customizable platform, and plenty of apps and themes to choose from. You can use Shopify to take orders, manage delivery or shipping, and even create a convenient online food menu for quick ordering.

FAQs about Shopify for Restaurants

Does Shopify Work for a Restaurant?

Shopify can work for a restaurant business! While Shopify doesn't have specific restaurant features built-in to all themes, plenty of apps are available that add restaurant-specific functionality to your Shopify store. In addition, Shopify's eCommerce platform is fast, reliable, and easy to use - perfect for any business seeking to boost online sales.

Can Shopify Be Used for a Cafe?

Shopify works for cafe businesses of all sizes, and there are multiple Shopify themes and apps specific to coffee/beverage businesses. While not all themes have every feature you might need, Shopify's platform is highly customizable which means you can find a theme that works for your business and then add apps or customizations as needed.

Can You Do Food Delivery on Shopify?

You can do local food delivery and shipping on Shopify. You can customize your Shopify store's delivery and pick-up options to give you complete control over the process. You'll also save on service expenses. By integrating one of Shopify's local delivery or shipping apps, you can automate the process and make it even easier for you and your staff.

How Do I Add a Food Menu to Shopify?

You can add a food menu to Shopify in multiple ways. You may use an app like Foodify, which lets you create an online food menu for your restaurant that's easy to navigate and search or use Shopify's built-in product pages to showcase food items on your restaurant website. Utilizing GemPages, you can also create landing pages for best sellers or product pages with custom aesthetics and designs to better show off your food items.