Magento Multi-Store Project

Our business ([login to view URL]) provides branded websites to Chambers of Commerce. We provide the product, they become resellers. We have plans for a large number of websites to operate from a single admin tool and product database. We are at a time in the development of our MyOshaStore project when we need to be considering an alternative to our current ecommerce solution for the generation of multiple stores. We feel that Magento is a good option for the development of a multi-store system. Let me list for you the main features that we are looking for in a system:- Multi-store product will allow for the operation of multiple stores, from a single Admin Panel. Design The design of each store will be customizable, allowing for individual branding. We need to be able to include a different logo, control stylesheets for individual stores and allow for different html content on the homepage. Domain Name Stores will be accessible via individual URLs, providing the stores are all hosted together on the same server Store will also be accessible using the path [login to view URL] You seem to be providing a solution to our requirements… “We could allow for the client to have their own domain and not force the cart to a separate domain, as in the current product. There would be great SEO benefits for your client if we allow them to have their own content and their own domains. This means that if you have 400 chambers – they could all be working on generating their own traffic without running into many issues with duplicate content and other issues that negate SEO efforts. We have a lot we can do with PTR records and DNS. We have sub-domain options, or even options which involve installers or API’s – depending on what it is you want to.” Product Population Stores will be populated and controlled using a centralized database. Product images, description, weight, options, pricing are all entered only once into the database, and from that point all products are accessible to all stores. We need the Products to be controlled from a single database, but with the ability to select different pricing for each store as needed. Many stores will operate with identical pricing, so we need to allow for price changing as an option only. If a new store does not require price changes, it should require no data entry on our part to get that store up and running. As a secondary stage for pricing, the ability to set a number of levels of pricing would be useful. We have one price bracket we make the most use of, but we could in theory have 3 or 4 price brackets we make use of regularly. I need an individual store to be able to customize which products it displays from the database. Not all stores stock all products and it is very important that ‘switching on’ a product is quick and easy. In fact, choosing to ‘switch off’ a product would be more useful (i.e all products are switched on by default unless otherwise deselected). Not all stores will display all product categories. We need a system in which we can ‘hide’ or ‘switch-off’ certain categories (and the products within) and prevent them from displaying. For example: The COSE store displays a wider range of products and categories than the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce store. However each store must operate from one central product database. [login to view URL] [login to view URL] We will have more than 2 stores sharing the database, but all sites will be ecommerce stores, utilizing the same shopping cart. We aim to have 100 stores sharing the system by the end of the year. Currently, our system of managing stores from separate admin panels is killing us. It requires far too many man hours to effectively administer all stores, and I hope for the day when I can manage multiple stores from a single admin panel, and a single database. We very much need a solution which allows us to update a single database in order to update all stores utilizing a particular product. Pricing is likely to be the only variant which will need customizing on a store-by-store basis. Some stores will limit their posters to their own State, but many will require posters from multiple states. Product ranges in a particular store need to be totally customizable. Store Commission Setup One very important feature that our stores will need is a commission function. In a similar way to an affiliate program, we need to pay our clients a commission on every sale made through their store. To that end we need a way to track commissions by store, using a tool in the Admin Panel. We want to be able to track commission across a particular date range. We also need to be able to set a commission rate for each store, which can differ store to store. Each store can in theory, have its own commission rate. In addition it would be nice to be able to override a store’s default commission rate and set a commission rate on a product-by-product basis. Members Only Pricing Feature Each store will have an ID assigned to it, allowing a chamber member to receive a member discount on all products. This code is separate from a regular OsCommerce coupon code, which is still available for additional offers/specials I need additional clarification on how the member will enter the store ID number. Ideally I believe the store ID number is entered by the member during account setup. The member then gets the member pricing. Please clarify with me exactly how you see this working. I am flexible with this and need to know what you want and can implement it. Member only pricing is displayed alongside the normal pricing for a product, as a comparison. Member only pricing is visible regardless of whether the ID number has been entered or not. – SEE [login to view URL] Member pricing is only available to those customers who entered the ID number Order Email Notification Admin will be notified by email of orders made at any store, with clear identification on that email as to which store the order has been placed. Each store will include a feature allowing for the store owner’s email address to be entered during set-up, allowing them also to receive email notification of any orders placed at their store Coupon Feature We run lots of offers and specials on behalf of our clients. Coupons need to be set up on a store by store basis, with the option of creating a global coupon which applies to all stores. We have several requirements for our coupons, which we can discuss. Reporting Function Reports will be generated for each store on an individual store basis Reports will be accessible by a store owner for their own viewing only Exisiting Sales Report feature will be modified to include a Commission column Tax Rates If required, tax rates can be set on a store-by-store basis 12. Payment Processing Payment for all stores will be handled through a single payment gateway Exporting Orders to our Shopping Cart Assistant software We use a piece of software called Shopping Cart Assistant to control orders from multiple websites. Each website feeds orders to the SCA via RSS feeds and other types of file exports/downloads. Your system would need to be able to function with SCA in order to download all order information into our central order managing software. Integrate UPS postage calculation module Our solution would need to be able to hook-up with the UPS module allowing customers to view an exact real-time shipping cost with our major courier. Multiple ‘ship-from’ locations We have one main location from which we ship, but this is not exclusive. We would like a system which allowed a store to utilize a ‘ship from’ location from a list (perhaps accessed from an address book of ‘ship froms’. Each store could in theory have its own ‘ship from’ location – but this is not likely to be the case. A solution which allowed us to set up a ‘ship from’ address book, and then select from that address book a location for each store using a drop down/ radio button (during store set up) would perhaps be a good idea. Our clients will not require a login to their store, except to view commission/sale reports. We take full admin control as part of our service.