Vendor Guide

Getting Started with Bee Local Marketplace

Welcome to Bee Local! This guide will help you set up and manage your online marketplace store. Let's get you started selling your local produce to customers across the UK.

Step 1: Activate Your Marketplace Vendor Account

1. Log in to your business account at beelocal.uk/business-login
2. Go to your dashboard and click "Marketplace" in the menu
3. Choose your tier: FREE (up to 6 products) or Premium (unlimited products)
4. Connect your Stripe account to receive payments
5. Complete your vendor profile with business details

Understanding FREE vs Premium Tiers

Bee Local offers two marketplace vendor tiers to suit different business needs:

Managing Your Products

Adding a New Product

1. Go to Vendor Dashboard → Click "Products"
2. Click "Add New Product"
3. Fill in product details:
   • Product Name: Clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Organic Raw Honey 340g")
   • Category: Choose your product category (Butchers, Honey, Farm Shops, etc.)
   • Price: Set your selling price in GBP (£)
   • Description: Detailed product description with benefits and ingredients
   • Stock Level: How many units you have available
   • Product Image: Upload high-quality photos (recommended: 1200x1200px)
4. Click "Save Product"

Creating Product Bundles

Product bundles are perfect for the FREE tier and increase your average order value!

Editing Products

1. Go to "My Products"
2. Click the Edit button next to any product
3. Update details (price, stock, description, images)
4. Click "Save Changes"

Managing Stock Levels

Keep stock levels accurate to avoid disappointing customers:

• Out of Stock: Set stock to 0 - product will show as unavailable
• Low Stock Warning: System alerts you when stock drops below 5 units
• Auto-Deduction: Stock automatically reduces when orders are placed

Managing Customer Orders

When a customer places an order, you'll receive an email notification and the order appears in your dashboard.

Viewing Orders

1. Go to Vendor Dashboard → Orders
2. See all orders with their status: Pending, Processing, Shipped, Delivered, Cancelled
3. Filter by status to focus on what needs attention
4. Click any order to see full details

Order Processing Workflow

Order Details Include:

• Customer Information: Name, email, phone, delivery address
• Order Items: Products ordered, quantities, individual prices
• Pricing: Subtotal, delivery fee, discounts applied, total amount
• Payment Status: Paid via Stripe (funds transferred to your account)
• Delivery Instructions: Any special notes from customer

Handling Order Issues

Customer Cancellations: If a customer wants to cancel, mark order as "Cancelled" and process refund through Stripe

Out of Stock: Contact customer immediately, offer substitute or refund

Delivery Problems: Update customer via email, provide new delivery estimate

Setting Up Delivery Zones

Delivery zones let you define where you deliver and how much you charge for delivery.

Creating Delivery Zones

1. Go to Vendor Dashboard → Delivery Settings
2. Click "Add Delivery Zone"
3. Enter zone details:
   • Zone Name: e.g., "Local Area", "Extended Delivery"
   • Postcodes: Enter postcodes you deliver to (comma-separated)
   • Delivery Fee: Set fee for this zone (can be £0 for free local delivery)
   • Minimum Order: Optional minimum order value for this zone
4. Click "Save Zone"

How Delivery Zones Work

When customers shop, they enter their postcode at checkout. The system automatically:

• ✅ Checks if you deliver to their postcode
• ✅ Shows applicable delivery fee
• ✅ Enforces minimum order requirements
• ✅ Only shows your products if you deliver to their area

Creating Discount Codes

Discount codes are powerful marketing tools to attract customers and boost sales.

Setting Up a Discount Code

1. Go to Vendor Dashboard → Discount Codes
2. Click "Create New Discount"
3. Configure your discount:
   • Code: Short, memorable code (e.g., "WELCOME10", "SUMMER20")
   • Discount Type: Percentage (10% off) or Fixed Amount (£5 off)
   • Discount Value: How much to discount
   • Minimum Purchase: Optional minimum order value required
   • Expiry Date: When the code expires (optional)
4. Click "Save Discount Code"

Discount Code Ideas

Payment Processing with Stripe

Bee Local uses Stripe to handle all marketplace payments securely. You receive money directly to your bank account.

Connecting Your Stripe Account

1. Go to Vendor Dashboard → Payment Settings
2. Click "Connect Stripe Account"
3. You'll be redirected to Stripe to:
   • Create a new Stripe account (if you don't have one)
   • Or connect your existing Stripe account
4. Complete Stripe's verification process (business details, bank account)
5. Once verified, you're ready to receive payments!

How Payments Work

Understanding Stripe Fees

Stripe charges standard payment processing fees:

• UK Cards: 1.5% + 20p per transaction
• European Cards: 2.5% + 20p per transaction
• No monthly fees - only pay when you make sales!

Best Practices for Marketplace Success

Product Listings

• ✅ High-quality photos: Clear, well-lit images from multiple angles
• ✅ Detailed descriptions: Include ingredients, sourcing, benefits, and storage instructions
• ✅ Accurate pricing: Competitive but fair - don't undervalue your quality!
• ✅ Keep stock updated: Nothing frustrates customers like ordering unavailable items
• ✅ Use bundles wisely: Create value-packed bundles to maximize FREE tier

Customer Service

• ✅ Quick responses: Reply to inquiries within 24 hours
• ✅ Clear communication: Keep customers updated on order status
• ✅ Accurate delivery estimates: Under-promise, over-deliver!
• ✅ Handle issues gracefully: Problems happen - how you resolve them matters
• ✅ Ask for reviews: Happy customers = 5-star reviews = more sales

Marketing Your Store

• ✅ Social media: Share product photos, behind-the-scenes, customer testimonials
• ✅ Discount codes: Run seasonal promotions to drive traffic
• ✅ Local events: Hand out cards with your store URL at farmers markets
• ✅ Email marketing: Build a mailing list of loyal customers
• ✅ Cross-promote: Mention your online store in your physical shop

Seasonal Strategy