How to Put Your Shopify Store on Pause: A Comprehensive Guide for Merchants

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Pause Options in Shopify
3. How to Pause Your Shopify Store
4. Pros and Cons of Pausing Your Shopify Store
5. Best Practices After Pausing Your Store
6. Examples of Successful Merchants
7. Final Thoughts

Introduction

Did you know that over 50% of e-commerce entrepreneurs experience burnout at some point during their journey? Juggling multiple tasks while striving for growth can lead to overwhelming situations where the best option might be to take a step back. If you've ever thought about giving yourself a breather or making invaluable adjustments to your Shopify store, you're not alone. Many merchants find themselves asking, "How can I effectively pause my Shopify store while I strategize for future growth?"

As we delve into this topic, we'll explore the various options available for putting your Shopify store on pause. We’ll discuss the advantages of these options, how to implement them, and even how this downtime can serve as a valuable opportunity to rethink your approach. This is especially relevant in today's rapidly changing e-commerce landscape, where continuous evolution can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

At Tevello, we believe in empowering Shopify merchants to unlock new revenue streams and build meaningful connections with their audiences. With our all-in-one solution, you can seamlessly integrate online courses, digital products, and community-building features directly into your Shopify store, all while eliminating the need for external platforms. Our mission is to create a user-friendly experience that ensures your store is as robust as possible, without any hidden fees.

By the end of this post, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to put your Shopify store on pause effectively, allowing you to recharge and reinvent your business strategy. Let’s dive into this essential topic — whether you're looking to refine your marketing approach, enhance your product offerings, or even explore the features Tevello provides for digital engagement.

Understanding the Pause Options in Shopify

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of pausing your store, let’s explore the two primary options provided by Shopify for merchants who need to take a break.

1. Pause and Build Plan
2. Standard Pause Plan

Pause and Build Plan

The Pause and Build plan allows you to keep building your Shopify store while taking advantage of a reduced monthly subscription fee. Here are some key features:

• Cost-Effective: This plan typically costs around $9 per month, helping you save on expenses while still keeping your store's infrastructure intact.
• Accessibility: You can continue to access your admin and make necessary changes, such as updating product details and enhancing your online offerings.

This plan is ideal for those who want to maintain a presence without the pressure of active sales. Imagine a merchant selling eco-friendly home goods who wants to revamp their product descriptions and reviews. By choosing the Pause and Build option, they can make edits in a relaxed atmosphere while ensuring their store remains up-to-date.

Standard Pause Plan

On the other hand, the Standard Pause plan allows you to pause your store entirely for about three months. Here are its defining characteristics:

• Rest Period: During this period, your store will be inactive, meaning no access to the Shopify admin for making changes.
• No Payments: You won’t incur further charges during the downtime, offering financial relief while you refine your business strategy.

Suppose a seller focusing on electronics decides to discontinue operations temporarily due to supply chain issues. This option would be more suitable for them, allowing complete focus on resolving logistical concerns before relaunching the store.

How to Pause Your Shopify Store

Now that we understand the different pause options, let’s walk through how to implement them step-by-step.

Steps to Activate the Pause and Build Plan

1. Log into Your Shopify Admin: Start by accessing your store's account.
2. Navigate to Settings: Find the settings tab located at the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
3. Select Plan and Permissions: Here, you will find your current subscription plan details.
4. Choose Pause and Build: In the Store Status section, select "Pause and Build."
5. Agree to Terms: Review the terms associated with this plan and confirm your choice.

By opting for the Pause and Build plan, you can continue enhancing your offerings, especially if you're considering integrating interactive elements like online courses or community discussions through Tevello.

Steps to Activate the Standard Pause Plan

1. Log into Your Shopify Admin: Access your account as you would normally.
2. Navigate to Settings: Again, click on the settings tab.
3. Select Plan and Permissions: Similar to the previous option, find your subscription details there.
4. Click Deactivate Store: Select the deactivate option.
5. Choose Standard Pause: Confirm your choice for a three-month pause.

This option is straightforward and ideal if significant changes are needed and a complete stop is warranted.

Pros and Cons of Pausing Your Shopify Store

To make an informed decision about pausing your store, it’s vital to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Pros of Pausing

• Financial Relief: Both plans provide cost savings, allowing you to allocate funds to critical areas of your business.
• Strategic Time-Off: Use the pause as an opportunity to reevaluate your market strategy, refine product offerings, or enhance your branding efforts.
• No Pressure: With reduced expectations during the pause, you can focus on critical tasks that improve your brand’s sustainability.

Cons of Pausing

• Loss of Sales: If your store is entirely inactive, there will be no income during that period, which may impact cash flow.
• Brand Visibility: A pause might cause decreases in web traffic and visibility, potentially making it harder to attract customers upon relaunching.
• Customer Engagement: If you have built strong communication with your customers, a complete pause may cause them to forget about your brand and try alternatives.

Best Practices After Pausing Your Store

Once you decide to resume your store after a pause, there are several best practices you should consider to ensure a smooth transition back to active selling.

Reassess Your Business Strategy

Before relaunching, take some time to reflect on the changes you encountered during your pause:

• Evaluate Feedback: Look at customer feedback received before the pause for insights into what you might improve.
• Market Trends: Research current market trends that may have emerged while you were inactive. Has consumer behavior shifted? Are new competitors in the market?

Optimize Your Store with Tevello

If you opted to pause for the purpose of expanding your digital offerings, consider integrating Tevello's features:

• Online Courses: Create courses related to your products or industry. If you're a craft supply merchant, a "Beginner's Knitting" course could attract traffic and new customers.
• Community Building: Setting up a community forum can help engage existing customers, encouraging them to return post-pause.
• Digital Products: Launching e-books, guides, or templates related to your niche can generate additional passive income.

Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and discover how our all-in-one platform simplifies the process of creating, managing, and selling courses directly within your Shopify store.

Relaunch Marketing Strategy

Prepare an effective relaunch marketing strategy:

• Email Campaigns: Notify your existing customers about the relaunch with an enticing offer or discount as a motivation to return.
• Social Media Announcements: Leverage your social media channels to build excitement about your comeback, showcasing any new features or products you’re offering.

Consider combining your product launch with a fun community event — such as an online Q&A or a free mini-course — to draw in customers and create engagement.

Examples of Successful Merchants

To illustrate the power of a well-planned pause and its subsequent relaunch, we’ll share a few success stories from merchants who have effectively utilized these strategies.

1. An Eco-Friendly Home Goods Store
   • This merchant paused their store to refine their product listings and improve their website’s aesthetics. Upon reopening, they integrated Tevello’s community features, launching a series of free eco-living webinars. This effort not only increased customer engagement but also improved sales significantly.
2. A Personal Finance Course Creator
   • After taking a break to refine course content, this seller decided to offer an interactive community space within their Shopify store. By utilizing Tevello’s platform, customers could ask questions and get support, leading to high course completion rates and increased customer loyalty.

These cases exemplify how strategically utilizing a pause can allow merchants to not only grow but also enhance their relationships with their audience.

Final Thoughts

Taking a pause is not merely a retreat but a thoughtful strategy for many Shopify merchants yearning for growth and sustainability. Whether you choose the Pause and Build plan to maintain engagement or the Standard Pause Plan for an extensive overhaul, remember that this time can be invaluable.

As you prepare to implement changes, consider how Tevello can support you in creating, managing, and selling online courses directly within your Shopify store—enabling greater community engagement while keeping it all in one place.

We encourage you to install the all-in-one course platform for Shopify and start your free trial with Tevello today. Let’s boost your merchant journey together!

FAQ

Can I still make changes to my store during the Standard Pause Plan?

No, during the Standard Pause Plan, you will not have access to your Shopify admin to make any changes or updates.

How long can I keep my store on pause?

You can keep your store on the Standard Pause Plan for up to three months. The Pause and Build Plan allows you to maintain access to your store while it is paused at a lower subscription rate.

What should I focus on while my store is on pause?

Use this time to reassess your market strategy, gather customer feedback, and plan new product offerings. Additionally, consider how Tevello can assist you with creating engaging digital products for your customers.

Will my customers be notified when I pause my store?

Shopify does not automatically notify customers when a store is paused. It's a good practice to inform your customers via email or social media about any changes to maintain transparency and positive relationships.

By following these guidelines, you can make informed choices about pausing your store, ensuring you return more focused and invigorated.