Shopify Draft Orders: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What Are Shopify Draft Orders?
3. Creating Draft Orders in Shopify
4. Adding Discounts and Custom Rates
5. Sending Invoices for Draft Orders
6. Converting Abandoned Checkouts into Draft Orders
7. Draft Orders for B2B Sales
8. Practical Examples of Using Draft Orders
9. Conclusion
10. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine capturing a valuable sale while simultaneously offering your customers a tailor-made purchasing experience. Whether you run a large e-commerce store or a small bespoke business, Shopify Draft Orders can be a game-changer. Have you ever wondered how to manage orders that don't follow the typical online purchasing process? Draft orders can be a lifesaver, letting you manually create, edit, and finalize sales transactions with a level of flexibility that's challenging to achieve with regular orders.

In this post, you'll explore the ins and outs of Shopify draft orders. From creating and customizing draft orders to sending invoices and transforming abandoned carts into completed sales, you'll learn how to make the most of this powerful feature. By the end, you'll understand how draft orders could streamline your sales process, manage custom requests, and drive more revenue. Let's jump in!

What Are Shopify Draft Orders?

Draft orders are orders created manually by the merchant within the Shopify admin panel. These orders can include products, customer details, discounts, and custom fields not typically available on regular Shopify orders. Draft orders are particularly useful for several scenarios:

• Sending invoices with secure checkout links.
• Accepting payments for phone orders, in-person purchases, or pre-orders.
• Recreating previous customer orders.
• Offering special discounts or wholesale prices.
• Saving incomplete orders for later completion.
• Adding custom items not listed in the inventory.

Creating Draft Orders in Shopify

Creating a draft order is straightforward. Here are the steps to guide you through the process:

1. Navigate to Orders and Select Create Order:

   • From your Shopify admin, go to the Orders section.
   • Click on "Create order" to start a new draft order.

2. Add Products:

   • Add products to the order by searching for items in your inventory or adding custom items with unique prices and descriptions.

3. Customize the Order:

   • Include customer details to apply personalized information and shipping rates.
   • Add line item or full order discounts to incentivize the customer.
   • Any necessary adjustments, like custom tags, taxes, or shipping rates, can also be applied.

4. Save and Manage the Draft Order:

   • Save the draft order to finalize it later after obtaining more details or communicate further with the customer.

Adding Discounts and Custom Rates

Draft orders offer the flexibility to include discounts and custom shipping rates. Here’s how:

Adding Discounts

You can add either line item-specific or order-wide discounts. The available discount types include:

• Fixed Amount Discounts:
  • Specify a fixed dollar amount to be subtracted from the final price.
• Percentage Discounts:
  • Apply a percentage-based discount on either individual items or the entire order.

Adding Custom Shipping Rates

For orders requiring personalized shipping rates, especially for large, heavy, or fragile items, setup is simple:

1. Calculate the Shipping Cost:
   • Work with a shipping carrier to obtain a precise shipping quote based on the product characteristics and destination.
2. Integrate the Rate:
   • Add this custom shipping rate to the draft order to reflect accurate shipping costs.
3. Send the Invoice:
   • Forward the draft to the customer with the custom rate inclusive, handled through the invoice you send directly from Shopify.

Sending Invoices for Draft Orders

One of the core benefits of using draft orders is the ability to send invoices directly. Here's how you do it:

1. Go to Drafts Section:
   • Navigate to the Drafts section under Orders in your Shopify admin.
2. Select the Draft Order:
   • Click on the draft order you wish to send an invoice for.
3. Send the Invoice:
   • Scroll down to the Send invoice button, fill out the necessary invoice details, and send it directly to your customer.

Invoices typically come with a secure checkout link enabling customers to complete their purchase conveniently. This feature also supports sending invoices in multiple currencies if you have customers from different regions.

Converting Abandoned Checkouts into Draft Orders

Abandoned carts can be a source of lost revenue, but with draft orders, you can easily convert these missed opportunities into completed transactions:

1. Identify Abandoned Checkouts:
   • Use Shopify’s analytics to identify customers who have left items in their carts without completing the purchase.
2. Convert to Draft Order:
   • Convert this abandoned checkout into a draft order through the Shopify admin or apps like Cleverific Order Editor.
3. Send Invoices or Follow Up:
   • Send an invoice with the draft order or follow up with the customer personally, offering assistance and incentives to finalize the purchase.

Draft Orders for B2B Sales

Draft orders are invaluable for B2B sales transactions that often require customization, bulk discounts, and specific payment terms:

1. Create and Customize Orders:
   • Handle orders over the phone or email by creating draft orders reflecting the payment terms, prices, and product details tailored to each business customer.
2. Manage Payment Terms:
   • Set flexible payment terms for different customers, enabling payments over varied timeframes.
3. Send Customized Invoices:
   • Send invoices based on the agreements, including local currency options and payment methods suitable for B2B clients.

Practical Examples of Using Draft Orders

Example 1: Custom Art Sales An artist sells unique pieces at local shows and online. Using draft orders, the artist:

• Communicates with customers post-event to finalize details.
• Provides custom quotes for shipping large, fragile items.
• Sends invoices reflecting agreed-upon prices and shipping costs.

Example 2: Wholesale B2B Orders A small business coordinates wholesale orders with various retailers. Through draft orders, the business:

• Sets up orders with bulk rates and specific payment terms.
• Sends tailor-made invoices in the retailers' local currencies.
• Manages detailed order specifications including custom products and shipping options.

Conclusion

Shopify draft orders offer a robust, flexible way to handle complex or non-standard sales transactions. From custom orders and special discounts to B2B sales, draft orders empower you to provide personalized service while ensuring streamlined order management. Embrace the power of draft orders to enhance customer satisfaction and propel your business growth.

FAQ

Q1: What are the benefits of using draft orders in Shopify? Draft orders allow for manual order creation, custom discounts, specialized shipping rates, and flexible invoice management, making them ideal for custom requests or complex sales scenarios.

Q2: Can I send invoices in multiple currencies using Shopify draft orders? Yes, if you use Shopify Payments, invoices can automatically be sent in the customer's local currency based on the market associated with the order.

Q3: How can draft orders help recover abandoned checkouts? By converting abandoned checkouts into draft orders, you can reach out to customers with tailored invoices, encouraging them to complete their purchases with added incentives.

Q4: Are draft orders useful for B2B transactions? Absolutely. Draft orders simplify creating and managing B2B orders by allowing bulk discounts, specific payment terms, and tailored order details, improving the overall sales process.

Q5: Is setting up a draft order complicated? Not at all. Creating a draft order involves a few straightforward steps in your Shopify admin, allowing you to add products, customize order details, and save or send an invoice effortlessly.