Getting Started with ShopIQ
What do I need before creating my store?
Summary
Merchants can start creating a ShopIQ store with basic business information and product details. To launch smoothly, it is helpful to prepare product photos, prices, categories, policies, payment gateway details, logistics preferences, contact information, brand assets, and a domain name if available.
Who this is for: This article is for merchants preparing to create their first ShopIQ website or planning a smooth online store launch.
What do I need before creating my store?
You do not need everything ready before starting with ShopIQ. Merchants can sign up using email OTP verification and begin building immediately. However, having basic business and product information ready helps create a better ecommerce website and reduces launch time.
Minimum information needed to start
To start creating a store, it is helpful to have:
- Business name
- Product category
- Product photos
- Product names
- Product prices
- Contact details
- Basic description of the business
Business details to prepare
- Business name and brand name
- Business logo, if available
- Business description
- Contact email and phone number
- Business address, if applicable
- Customer support details
- Social media links, if available
Product details to prepare
For each product, merchants should ideally prepare:
- Product name
- Product images
- Selling price
- MRP, if applicable
- Product description
- Product specifications
- Available sizes
- Available colors
- Available materials
- Stock availability
- SKU, if applicable
- Weight, if needed for shipping
- Warranty information, if applicable
ShopIQ can help generate product titles, descriptions, and SEO content using AI, but merchants should verify accuracy before publishing.
Category and collection planning
Before creating the store, merchants should think about how products should be organized. Examples include Sarees, Kurtis, Rings, Necklaces, Shoes, Skincare, New Arrivals, Bestsellers, Festive Collection, Premium Collection, and Sale Products.
ShopIQ allows merchants to create categories, sub-categories, and collections. There is no fixed platform limit on categories or collections.
Brand and design preferences
Merchants can prepare brand preferences such as brand colors, font style, visual mood, and reference websites. Even without a formal brand guide, ShopIQ can help create a website direction using AI.
Policy information to prepare
Before launch, merchants should prepare or review:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Refund Policy
- Return Policy
- Shipping Policy
- Cancellation Policy
- Contact and support policy
Merchants are responsible for ensuring that their policies are accurate and suitable for their business.
Payment information to prepare
To accept online payments, merchants may need to connect a supported payment gateway. Payment gateway providers may require business details, bank account information, PAN, GST, KYC documents, and business registration details where applicable.
These requirements are controlled by the payment gateway, not ShopIQ. ShopIQ itself only requires email OTP verification for account creation.
Logistics information to prepare
- Pickup address
- Delivery areas
- Shipping charges
- COD preference, if applicable
- Return pickup process
- Packaging process
- Logistics provider account, if applicable
Domain information to prepare
A custom domain is optional at the beginning. Merchants can publish on a ShopIQ production URL first and connect a custom domain later. If the merchant wants a custom domain, it must be purchased separately — ShopIQ does not include domain purchase in subscription pricing.
What if I do not have all information ready?
You can still start. ShopIQ allows merchants to build progressively. You can begin with basic information, create a draft website, add products later, update content manually, use AI for improvements, and publish when ready.
Can someone help me prepare the store?
Yes. If you need expert help, you can request a callback. ShopIQ can connect you with an Implementation Partner who can help with website setup, catalog creation, product uploads, payments, logistics, domain configuration, creatives, and launch support.
Important things to know
The merchant is responsible for ensuring that all product details, images, prices, policies, legal content, and business information are accurate. Merchants also own the content they upload or generate, but they are responsible for ensuring that they have the rights and permissions to use it.