Magento’s legendary flexibility has made it a hit among ecommerce software platforms. Among the numerous upsides, it offers the opportunity to administer multiple websites and stores within one installation. This feature is hard to overestimate for businesses with vast product categories and various branches, which need to be controlled in one place.
Magento’s backend offers a four-level hierarchy: Global, Website, Store, and Store View. Operating these levels effectively requires certain knowledge and skills. Here, we’ll explore Magento Multi-Website and Multi-Store to shed light on the structure and opportunities they provide to merchants.
Multiple Websites
Magento 2 Multiple Website arrangement entails operating several different websites under a unified Magento installation. For instance, if your e-shop offers two distinct categories of goods, like clothes and home & décor, you may have a separate website for each, i.e., yourgarmet.com and cozyhome.com. Therefore, these two sites will make a sublevel of the single Magento instance.
How can Magento 2 Multiple Websites benefit your business?
- With several sites, you can operate and govern your stores conveniently and flexibly since the management takes place through a single admin dashboard.
- You can easily share the information between websites.
- Create an exclusive customer experience and serve different customer groups at each website.
- Administer reports, orders, and check-out configurations.
- Operate individual inventory.
- Arrange separate shopping carts between multiple sites.
Multiple Stores
Magento stores are the subsequent hierarchy level after Magento Websites. Each website can have numerous stores. Such an arrangement is relevant for those merchants who run, for instance, a food and beverage brand that offers a separate product line for kids. Thus, they can establish two stores for different product groups, and control them under one admin interface.
Remember that working with the front-end store elements like product categories and displays is possible only from the stores.
Which options can you enjoy with Magento Multi Store?
- Introduce various categories of goods and services through a unified web domain. Maintain control over the products from a single admin panel.
- A Magento Store is akin to a real shop with a comprehensive representation of products and their descriptions. Therefore, clients can find the desired product effortlessly.
- Each store has check-in, check-out, individual pricing, and add-to-cart functions.
- Installation of Magento Multi Store is rather straightforward and may require minimal technical assistance. You can comprehensively control your stores under different domain names and IP addresses.
Multi-Store vs Multi-Website: A snapshot
| Multiple Websites | Multiple Stores |
| Choose a separate domain name for each website. | Build your stores under a single domain. |
| Establish different prices, taxes, payment and delivery options for each website. | Prices, taxes, payment and delivery options must be unified across stores. |
| Target different customer groups at each site. | Target the same customer group throughout your stores. |
Wrapping up
As you can see, one Magento installation allows you to operate your online retail business with great flexibility. Thus, you can construct several websites, each with its own stores. This hierarchy is particularly convenient for merchants wishing to represent various product categories or sub-brands under one roof. Magento Store and Magento Website can share similar features or have some unique options to represent your products impactfully and articulately.
If you wish to master all aspects of building your ecommerce space, skilled developers at WebMeridian are here to help. Our extensive experience with Magento integration will serve your business goals.
As noted by Webster Webmeridian, an ecommerce expert and BDM, “Properly setting up your online store is more than just a technical task; it’s a strategic investment in creating a delightful and memorable shopping experience for your clients.” Magento development professionals at WebMeridian can help reinforce your returns.
