Shopify Preorders to Sell Seasonal or Limited-Edition Products

TL;DR:

• Why preorders are a perfect fit for seasonal and limited-edition products
• How to set up a preorder on Shopify, step by step
• Key features to look for in a preorder app
• How brands like Xbox and Disney use this strategy to sell out fast

Are you preparing your store for seasonal drops or limited editions? Make it your store’s biggest sale moment with Shopify preorder. Holiday sales hit a record high last year, with customers spending $253 billion on online retail. By opening orders early and allowing your customers to purchase before your products are available, you can secure these sales in advance. 

Preorders create that “buy it before it’s gone” momentum around these products. That kind of hype and urgency is exactly what you need to make seasonal collections, holiday specials, and exclusive items sell out fast. 

How do Shopify preorders help you sell seasonal & limited-edition products?

Preorders let you sell seasonal and limited-edition products by turning their natural time limit into exclusivity and urgency, the same "buy it before it's gone" pull that makes these drops sell out fast.

Seasonal drops and limited editions have a time frame. You can’t sell it all year long and expect to create a buzz. Starbucks never keeps its Christmas menu past New Year's. You can’t get Peppermint Mocha around the year. It's limited, it's exclusive, and you never know if you will ever get it back. That’s the selling point. 

But the two don't end for the same reason. A seasonal product ends because demand ends: nobody buys an advent calendar in January. A limited edition ends because you decide supply ends: you make 250, and that's it. 

When it comes to selling products on Shopify, the best way to replicate this is through preorders. By positioning your product as a seasonal or limited-edition preorder, you create a sense of exclusivity and urgency - two proven strategies to sell out fast. 

With Shopify preorders, you can also avoid the risk of overstocking and plan better cash flows. You can use partial payments from your customers to fund your production and cover your merchant fees.

You get accurate data and count on how much to stock, the exact numbers, sizes, and colours. Why stock up and hope you sell out when you can just take in preorders with zero inventory? Preorders give you time to get your inventory ready - time that’s valuable and crucial for the success of your Shopify store.

How to set up pre order on Shopify

You can set up a preorder on Shopify manually through coding, as well as through an effective preorder app. If you wish to run a hassle-free preorder campaign, then go with a Shopify preorder app like Dibs.

A Shopify preorder app makes preorder campaigns simple by handling all the tricky parts of selling products that aren’t ready to ship yet. You don’t have to manually tweak your store, do complex coding, or risk confusing customers.

Dibs is one of the best Shopify preorder apps, loaded with features and completely free. It hardly takes a couple of minutes to set up a preorder on Shopify using Dibs. 

Before you start, confirm two things: how many units you have to sell, and when the product will realistically arrive. Show customers a shipping date with a small grace period built in, so a minor delay doesn't turn into a broken promise.

Step 1:  Download the Dibs app on your Shopify store.

Step 2: Complete the Basic setup and choose the products or variants for preorder.

Step 3: Set a preorder availability limit, which controls exactly when the preorder window opens and closes on the storefront.

Step 4: Since you're working with limited stock, set a quantity limit so the preorder automatically stops once you've hit the number of units you can actually fulfill.

Step 5: Pick a shipping schedule and offer flexible payment options.

Step 6: Customize the text and the widget so it's clear to customers that this is a limited-time preorder, not just a regular purchase.

For detailed setup, read: How to set up pre order on Shopify (With and Without an App)

Why choose Dibs for your Shopify preorders

To begin with, why spend hours on coding when you can create your preorders for free using Dibs! But that’s not all. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Dibs to run your preorder campaign on Shopify. 

Preorders & backorders: Dibs is one of the few apps that handles preorders and backorders as two different business models. Whether it's a new product launch or your most popular product, Dibs has you covered. 

Dashboard tracking: A functional and user-friendly dashboard that has all data in one place. Including orders placed, order fulfillment status, payment method, and other preorder campaign details. 

Flexible payment: The app supports both full and partial payments. Customers can pay in full or make an upfront deposit.

Clear shipping information: Highlight your expected shipping timeline on the product page. Also notify customers of any shipping updates or delays, so they're never left guessing about where their order stands.

Automated reminders: You can send three different automated email reminders to collect pending payments along with a payment link.

Real store examples: Popular brands selling seasonal & limited edition preorders

Preorder is one of those business strategies that works wonders for world popular brands, to small businesses. Here are some such stores that run regular pre-order campaigns to sell seasonal and limited edition products on their websites. 

Stitchy Fish

Stitchy Fish is a Shopify kids boutique known for its seasonal outfits and regular wear. They are currently running a preorder for Christmas-themed kids' clothing on their store. As new collections are released, they do regular preorder campaigns. 

PS5

The PS5 has launched its latest preorder campaign for fans of Ghost of Yotei. The limited edition console covers are currently available for pre-order on their official website. PS5 is known for its exclusive limited-edition console and accessories.

Disney Store

Disney has a huge fan base for its collectible and limited-edition enamel pins. Every Tuesday, they feature their latest launch on their website along with the launch dates and order availability. 

XBOX 

XBOX launched a limited-edition preorder campaign for the Xbox Series X to mark the brand's 25th anniversary. The console is available for preorder as a numbered special edition, giving fans a chance to reserve a piece of the milestone before it sells out.  

Best Practices for Your Shopify Preorder Campaign

While selling seasonal and limited edition products on Shopify, there are a few things to consider for preorders. 

Badge & buttons: Tag your preorders properly with badges and buttons. There should be a preorder badge for easy identification on the product and product pages. Replace the ‘Buy Now’ button with a ‘Preorder button’ to make it clear and simple. 

Create urgency or scarcity: Limited editions only work if customers feel the limit is real. Call out the cutoff clearly on the product page, something like: "Only 100 units left. Preorder closes by September 30. Reserve yours now and get it by October 15." 

Partial payment: Offer multiple payment options when it comes to preorders. Your customers might be more comfortable paying half the amount in advance than paying in full for a product that’s not available in stock. 

Shipping timeline: Set a tentative shipping timeline. For preorders, it's crucial that your customers know when they can expect the delivery. 

Regular updates: Send regular and timely updates to your customers. Be it order confirmation, shipping update, delay in delivery, or even order cancellation - update your customers on time. 

Refund & cancellation: Display your refund and cancellation policies on the product page for preorders. It should be visible and accessible to your customers before they commit to and purchase the product to avoid confusion. 

Wrapping up!

Seasonal drops, holiday collections, and limited editions are powerful sales opportunities, special to your customers and valuable to your store. 

With the right strategy and tools, like the Dibs Preorder & Backorder app, you can capture demand early, build excitement, and maximize your sales. 

Don’t let these moments pass by, make this holiday season your store’s biggest success yet.

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I set up a preorder on Shopify without using a preorder app? 

Yes. If you're comfortable with coding, you can set up a preorder on Shopify without using a preorder app using the Shopify settings and code editor. It's a manual process that takes more time and technical know-how than using an app, while a preorder app is a much easier and faster route if you'd rather skip the coding. 

2. Which is the best pre-order app for Shopify to sell limited edition preorders?

The best preorder app on Shopify to sell limited edition preorders is the Dibs Preorder & Backorder app. 

The app is completely free with advanced features and round-the-clock support. 

3. How should I prepare my Shopify store for Christmas? 

While running a Shopify store, holiday seasons such as Christmas and Halloween are crucial for sales. 

You can prepare your Shopify store for Christmas and seasonal drops by changing your theme or through Shopify apps. 

Apart from preorders, use apps such as Dealeasy to offer special bundle discounts or a free gift with purchase.