IndieCommerce Update: Online Shopping Trends & New IC/IL Features

The most recent ABACUS report, to be released in the coming weeks, gives a new perspective on the very dramatic increase in online sales in 2020 compared to 2019. 

This is the first time we have concrete data showing how much of a bookstore's total net sales can be attributed to online sales. We are looking forward to seeing how this shift in customer purchase behavior is reflected in the 2021 report.

New Features For IndieCommerce
To help your store manage the increase in order volume and improve the online shopping experience for your customers, the IndieCommerce dev team have some new tools and features you might want to consider for your website. 

Here are the new IndieCommerce website features:

• PayPal. We have upgraded the PayPal integration. With this upgrade, PayPal orders can be processed like credit card orders, with no need to login to PayPal to charge an authorization or issue a refund. Whether you already offer PayPal as a payment option on your website, or would like to do so, you can request the new Upgraded PayPal Payment Method from the Store Features page: Store > Configuration > Account Information and Preferences > Store Features
   
• IBIDie/WordStock gift cards. We have completed the integration for IBIDie & WordStock gift cards. IBIDie or WordStock gift cards can now be used as a payment option on your IndieCommerce site. Customers can also purchase digital gift cards on your website. If you are interested, please submit a request from the Store Features page: Store > Configuration > Account Information and Preferences > Store Features
   
• Store Catalog. You can now use the catalog for non-book items. And, coming next week: the option to restrict books in stock at the store in the catalog. Books will be removed from the catalog display when they are out of stock and reappear when they are back in stock. (This works only for books and no other store merchandise).
   
• Short Discount Books. This is a new setting on the Store Preferences page (Store > Configuration > Account Information and Preferences > Store Preferences) to suppress Short Discount titles from the search results.
   
• Pick List. Now includes the binding type, shipping method and pickup store location.
   
• Stock ETA Information for products in an order. When you view an order as a store admin, if a book is backordered, you can see the ETA by hovering over the number ‘0’.

Beautiful New Templates/Themes For Your Website

The appearance of your website can have a big impact on sales. For IndieCommerce stores interested in upgrading their website for the holidays, we’re introducing two new templates/themes.

Here are examples of the Flatlands theme:

• Flatland Theme Example 1
• Flatland Theme Example 2

View more information on the Flatlands theme and detailed installation instructions.

And here are examples of the Santa Rosa theme:

• Santa Rosa Theme Example 1
• Santa Rosa Theme Example 2

View more information on this theme and detailed installation instructions

If you would like to try these new themes, please contact [email protected] and mention Flatland or Santa Rosa in the subject line.

For IndieLite (IL) stores, we’ve updated the current IL template/theme so that it is more inline with ADA compliance standards.

You can see a sample here:

• https://finntest.indielite.org/
• https://cktest.indielite.org/

Instructions for IL websites who would like to move to this updated theme can be viewed here.

Interested stores should request new themes from the Store Features page (Store > Configuration > Account Information and Preferences > Store Features).