Empire version 7.0.0 or later includes a pre-order feature for the product page. Offer an alternate purchase experience by setting up the theme's pre-order templates—no app or modification needed.
Select product(s) for pre-order and connect products to pre-order template through the Products admin, then customize the pre-order template with the theme editor.
"There are many compelling reasons to offer pre-orders, including their positive effects on cash flow, the flexibility they afford your product launches, and the risks they can offset."
How to Use Pre-Orders to Validate, Pre-Sell, and Build Hype for a Product
Select product(s) for pre-order
First, determine which products will have the pre-order setup. Not all products need to be pre-order. Include several or a selection of pre-order products in your catalog along with standard product templates.
It may be worth starting with one product to get familiar with the feature with lower stakes
This feature is limited to the theme, so additional changes to your Shopify settings are recommended (e.g. automated order and shipping notifications). We recommend contacting Shopify support to confirm all admin-related settings are ready for selling pre-order products.
Connect products to pre-order template
There are two options for pre-order templates: pre-order and pre-order 3-columns.
These are alternate versions of the Default product and 3-columns template that replace the add-to-cart (ATC) button with a Pre-order button.
Open a product in the Products admin, then change the Theme template to pre-order or pre-order 3-columns. The templates available here depend on the Tailor theme being published, so consider publishing your theme or wait to assign products after customizing the pre-order template.
You can also assign a template to multiple products at once by using bulk changes
Customize the pre-order template
Use the page selector to open Products, then pre-order or pre-order-3-columns.
Customize these templates as you would any other product page template. Keep in mind that these templates are separate from other product templates, so settings may need to be repeated or adjusted for different purposes.
For example, the Key details block offers an eye-catching text block to share information about pre-order products and when customers can expect their order.
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