Stores

Overview

Stores let sellers create their own branded storefront within the site. A store gives sellers a dedicated page with a custom name, logo, description, and optional pages for shipping info and company policies. Stores require a subscription, which determines how many listings the seller can have in their store. Access it at Store → Store Setup in the members area.

Store Settings

PHP Pro Bid — Store Setup form with Store Name, Description, Logo, Meta Description, and Store Categories fields
  • Store Name — the name displayed on the storefront and in store listings
  • Store Description — a rich-text description of the store, visible on the store page
  • Store Logo — upload a logo image for the store
  • Store Meta Description — a short description for search engine indexing, recommended to be no longer than 155 characters
  • Store Categories — select which categories the store will appear under. Leave empty to use the site’s default categories

Subscriptions

PHP Pro Bid — Store Subscription selection showing Free, Standard, Premium, Platinum, and Unlimited plans with pricing and listing limits

Before a store can go live, the seller must choose a subscription plan. Each plan defines the number of listings allowed and the recurring cost. The available plans and their terms are configured by the site administrator.

  • Free — a limited plan with no recurring cost
  • Standard / Premium / Platinum / Unlimited — paid plans with increasing listing allowances and optional featured store placement
The subscription plans shown above are examples. Plan names, prices, listing limits, and billing terms are configured by the site administrator and may vary.

Store Status

PHP Pro Bid — Store Setup page showing store status as Enabled with Renew and Disable buttons, subscription details, and Store URL

Once a subscription is active, the Store Setup page shows the current store status:

  • Status — whether the store is currently enabled or disabled
  • Renew — renew the subscription before it expires
  • Disable — temporarily disable the store. A disabled store can be re-enabled at any time
  • Subscription — the current plan name, cost, billing cycle, and expiration date
  • Store URL — the public URL of the store

Store Pages

PHP Pro Bid — Store Pages with About Page, Shipping Information, and Company Policies rich-text editors

Store Pages let sellers add optional content pages to their store. Each page has a rich-text editor:

  • About Page — a detailed description of the store and the business behind it
  • Shipping Information — shipping methods, delivery times, return policies, and related information
  • Company Policies — terms of service, privacy policy, refund policy, and other legal information

Custom Categories

PHP Pro Bid — Custom Categories page with fields for Name, Listings count, Order ID, and Delete options

Sellers can create custom categories specific to their store. Once created, custom categories become available in the Select Categories field on the Store Setup page.

  • Name — the category name
  • Order ID — the display order of the category in the store
  • Listings — the number of listings assigned to this category
  • Delete — remove the category

Admin — Settings

PHP Pro Bid — Admin Stores Settings page with Enable Stores, Hide Empty Stores, Store Only Mode, and other configuration options

Administrators configure the stores module at Stores → Settings in the admin panel:

  • Enable Stores — activate the stores module. Only products can be listed in stores
  • Hide Empty Stores — hide stores with no listings from the Browse Stores page
  • Enable Store Only Mode — when enabled, sellers must open a store before they can create listings
  • Disable Store Categories — remove the option for sellers to select a category for their store
  • Custom Stores Categories — allow sellers to create custom categories within their stores
  • Allow Auctions in Stores — by default, only products can be listed in stores. Enable this to allow auction listings as well
  • Disable List In Select Box — when enabled, all listings are automatically listed in both site and store
  • Force Stores — set the number of listings a seller can create before being required to open a store. Leave empty to disable

Admin — Subscriptions

PHP Pro Bid — Admin Subscriptions page showing subscription plans with Name, Price, Listings, Recurring days, and Featured Store columns

Administrators manage subscription plans at Stores → Subscriptions:

  • Subscription Name — the plan name displayed to sellers
  • Price — the subscription cost
  • # Listings — the maximum number of listings allowed for this plan
  • Recurring [days] — the billing cycle in days. Enter 0 for a one-time fee
  • Featured Store — when checked, stores on this plan are featured on the Browse Stores page

Use the Insert New Data row at the bottom to add new subscription plans.

Admin — Browse Stores

PHP Pro Bid — Admin Browse Stores page showing store owners with account details, status, and action buttons

Administrators can view and manage all stores at Stores → Browse. The page lists store owners with their account details, store status, and quick action links to view listings, sales, purchases, and account history.