Stock and branches

Trade and retail shoppers often want to know whether a tool is on the shelf at the branch nearest them. Chisel shows stock per location, a branch selector in the header, a branch page, and stock lines on products. This guide explains how to set up Shopify locations, how the branch names connect to them, and what the stock lines show.

Before you begin

1. Set up the locations in Shopify

  1. In the Shopify admin, go to Settings > Locations.
  2. Add a location for each branch, or open the existing one.
  3. Enter the branch name exactly as you want shoppers to see it, such as "Leeds branch".
  4. Turn on local pickup for each branch that customers can collect from. Local pickup is set in Settings > Shipping and delivery.
  5. Enter the pickup time for each branch. The theme shows it as "Collect in" followed by that time, such as "Collect in 1 hour".
  6. Enter the stock for each product variant at each location.

The pickup time shows only for locations with local pickup turned on. Check each location in the Shopify admin before you rely on the stock list for collection.

2. Add the branch selector in the header

The branch selector shows the shopper's chosen branch in the header. The shopper can change it.

  1. Open the theme editor. Select the Header section.
  2. Confirm that the Show branch selector setting is on. It is on by default in the theme settings under Stock.
  3. Add a Branch block for each branch. Use the same name as the Shopify location.
  4. In each block, enter Name and Opening hours. The opening hours appear as text next to the branch name.
  5. Save.

The header shows the first Branch block as the default. The shopper selects Change to open a dialog called Choose your branch. The shopper picks a branch from the list, and the choice is saved in the browser.

Note: the Branch block in the header has only a name and opening hours. It does not hold an address or a map link. Use the branches section, described in step 4, for those details.

3. Show stock by branch on the product page

  1. Open a product in the theme editor.
  2. Open the product information section.
  3. Add a Stock by branch block if it is not there.
  4. Set Locations shown inline. The default is 3. The rest appear behind a Show all branches control.
  5. Save.

The block lists the locations for the selected variant, with each location's stock status. If the shopper has chosen a branch, that branch moves to the top of the list and carries the note Your branch.

The stock list uses the Shopify location name. If a branch name in the header does not match the Shopify location name, the list cannot mark it as Your branch. Use the same name in both places.

The block shows nothing when the variant has no stock information at any location.

4. Set up the branches section and page

The branches section is a store finder. It lists each branch with its details. It works without a map.

  1. In the Shopify admin, go to Content > Pages and create a page called "Branches".
  2. Under Theme template, choose branches. This uses the branches page template.
  3. Open the page in the theme editor. Confirm that the Branches section appears.
  4. Add a Branch block for each branch. Enter: - Branch name. - Address. - Opening hours, one line for each set of days or hours. - Phone, if you have one. - Map link, if you have one. This adds a Directions link.
  5. Each branch block has a Set as my branch button. The button sets the shopper's branch, the same as the header dialog.
  6. Select Save.

You can also add the Branches section to the home page. Its heading defaults to "Visit a branch". Change the heading and text in the section settings.

5. Set the stock lines

The stock line shows on product pages, product cards and list rows. It has three states.

Set these in the theme settings under Stock:

  1. Low stock threshold: the number at which the line changes to low stock. The default is 5.
  2. Show stock count: when on, the low stock line shows the number left. When off, it shows only "Low stock". The default is on.

Low stock only applies to variants where Shopify tracks inventory and where the product does not continue selling when out of stock. An untracked variant always shows as in stock.

To show a lead time, add the lead time metafield to the product. See the product data guide. The lead time text appears only for out-of-stock products.

What the theme does not show

Check your setup

  1. Open a product with stock at two or more locations. Confirm that the Stock by branch list shows each location.
  2. Choose a branch in the header. Open the product again. Confirm that the branch appears at the top with the Your branch note.
  3. Change the stock of one variant to just above the threshold, then to the threshold. Confirm the line changes to Low stock.
  4. Set a product to zero stock with a lead time. Confirm the Back in stock: line appears.
  5. Open the Branches page. Confirm that each branch shows its address, hours and button.

Settings used