Unlock the Power of Shopify Flow: A Guide for Handmade Sellers

Automate Your Business and Save Time with Shopify’s Ultimate Workflow Tool

If you’re a handmade seller juggling production, marketing, and customer service, you know that time is one of your most valuable resources. That’s where Shopify Flow comes in. Once exclusive to Shopify Plus users (at $2,500 a month), I'm happy to announce, Shopify Flow is now accessible to mere mortals of the ecommerce world on Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Shopify Plus plans. Currently, Flow is only available in English. This powerful automation tool, available for Shopify and Shopify Plus users, allows you to set up automated workflows that streamline repetitive tasks, so you can focus on what you do best—creating amazing products.

Whether you’re managing inventory, marketing to loyal customers, or flagging high-risk orders, Shopify Flow can save you hours each week. In this guide, we’ll cover what Shopify Flow is, how to use it, best practices, and cool ideas to start using it in your handmade business.

What is Shopify Flow?

Shopify Flow is an automation tool built into Shopify that allows you to create workflows for repetitive tasks without any coding knowledge. With Flow, you can set up a series of “if-this-then-that” scenarios to automate processes across various parts of your store. These workflows can include tasks related to order management, inventory, customer engagement, and much more.

Think of Shopify Flow as your virtual assistant, handling the small but time-consuming tasks that can pile up during your day. It’s an especially useful tool for handmade sellers who want to maximize their time and keep their focus on crafting products and growing their business.

How to Use Shopify Flow

Using Shopify Flow is easy and requires no coding skills. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to getting started:

1. Access Shopify Flow: Log in to your Shopify Admin, go to the “Apps” section, and search for Shopify Flow. Once installed, you’ll be able to start creating workflows.

2. Choose a Trigger: Every workflow starts with a trigger—an event that tells Flow when to start the automation. Triggers can include actions like a new order, inventory changes, or a customer reaching a specific milestone.

3. Add Conditions (Optional): Conditions help narrow down when your workflow should run. For example, if you want to send a thank-you email only to customers who spend over a certain amount, you can add that condition.

4. Set an Action: The action is what happens after the trigger and conditions are met. For example, Flow could send a reorder alert when inventory runs low or add a tag to a high-value customer.

5. Test and Activate: Once you’ve created your workflow, test it to make sure it works as expected. Then, activate it to start automating!

   
   

Best Practices for Shopify Flow

To get the most out of Shopify Flow, keep these best practices in mind:

• Start Small: Begin with simple workflows to get comfortable with the tool. As you gain confidence, you can create more complex automations.

• Think About Your Biggest Time Drains: Identify the tasks that eat up the most time in your day. Whether it’s tagging new customers or updating inventory, these repetitive tasks are perfect candidates for automation.

• Review Workflows Regularly: Your business needs may change over time, so it’s a good idea to review your workflows periodically to make sure they’re still relevant and useful.

• Use Conditions Wisely: Adding conditions can help you target workflows more effectively. For example, instead of notifying you about every order, you can add conditions to notify you only about high-value orders or international orders.

  
  

Ideas for Using Shopify Flow in Your Handmade Business

Here are some popular and effective ways to use Shopify Flow to streamline your handmade business:

1. Inventory Alerts

   If you create items in small batches, it’s crucial to know when your stock is running low. Set up a workflow that alerts you whenever inventory for a particular item falls below a certain level, so you can plan production and restocking without delay.

2. Order Tagging for VIP Customers

   Identify and tag your VIP customers based on their total spend or order frequency. This lets you easily see who your top customers are and perhaps offer them special perks or discounts.

3. Automated Thank-You Emails

   Show appreciation to your customers by sending automated thank-you emails after they make a purchase. You can even add a condition to send different emails based on the customer’s order size or the type of product they purchased.

4. Flag High-Risk Orders

   Fraudulent orders can be a headache, especially during busy sales periods. Set up a workflow that flags high-risk orders, so you can review them manually before fulfilling them.

5. Restock Notifications for Popular Products

   If certain items are popular or sell out frequently, you can set up a workflow that notifies customers when these products are back in stock.

6. Reorder Reminder for Supplies

   For handmade sellers who work with specific materials, set up a workflow to remind you to reorder supplies when inventory is running low. This ensures you always have the materials you need to keep production going.

7. Engage Lapsed Customers

   Create a workflow that identifies customers who haven’t purchased in a while, then automatically send them an email with a special offer or a reminder to check out your new collection.

8. Collabs Use Shopify Flow to streamline your influencer and brand collaborations! Automate tasks like tagging new collaborators, sending welcome emails, tracking sales from collab links, and managing payouts—all without lifting a finger. By simplifying these processes, Flow helps you manage partnerships efficiently, so you can focus on building valuable relationships and growing your brand.
   

Where to Find Shopify Flow Templates

If you’re new to Shopify Flow, templates are a great way to get started. Shopify offers a variety of pre-made templates that you can customize to fit your business needs.

• Shopify Flow Template Library: Explore Shopify Flow Templates

• Community Forums and Shopify Blog: Find inspiration from other Shopify users sharing their workflow ideas and templates.

• Shopify App Store: Some third-party apps in the Shopify App Store also provide custom templates that integrate with Flow.

Cool Case Uses from Other Sellers

Curious to see what other handmade sellers are doing with Shopify Flow? Here are a few real-life examples:

• Subscription Box Maker: A handmade soap company uses Flow to automatically tag customers who purchase their monthly subscription, making it easy to identify and offer exclusive deals to recurring customers.

• Jewelry Supply Brand: A jewelry supply business set up a workflow that sends reorder reminders to customers when their stock of essential supplies is running low, ensuring they never run out of the items they need to keep creating. This automated reminder helps boost repeat purchases and keeps customers’ businesses running smoothly.

• Pottery Brand: A pottery brand business set up a workflow that triggers a reorder reminder for custom packaging supplies whenever their inventory dips below a certain threshold, ensuring they never run out of branded packaging.

• Home Decor Store: A handmade home decor brand uses Flow to identify repeat customers who haven’t ordered in over six months and sends them a special re-engagement offer to bring them back.
  

Ready to Start Automating?

Shopify Flow is a game-changer for handmade sellers who want to streamline their operations and save time. By automating repetitive tasks, you’ll free up more time to focus on product development, marketing, and other high-impact areas of your business. Start small, experiment with different workflows, and watch how Shopify Flow can transform the way you run your handmade business.

Have you tried Shopify Flow yet? Let us know in the comments how it’s helped you save time and grow your business!