Building an Online Store with Plentra Sphere: Complete Tutorial (New Update)

Summary

This tutorial guides viewers through creating an online store using Plantes Sphere. It covers account setup, app creation, personalization, and the addition of products and categories. Learn how to customize the control panel, develop a main menu, create mobile apps for Android and iOS, manage product categories, and utilize features like bulk upload and dynamic pages. The guide also touches on setting business location visibility, announcements, and domain linking for a complete e-commerce solution.

Takeaways

• 🛍️ Create an online store with Plantes Sphère by visiting their website and signing up for an account.
• 📧 Account verification is required, so check your email for a verification link from Plantes Sphère.
• 📝 Personalize your app with a business name, subdomain, and select the e-commerce app type for your store.
• 🎨 Add an app icon and customize the appearance for both mobile and web interfaces.
• 📊 Access the control panel for managing various aspects of your store, including metrics and different sections.
• 📦 Explore options for adding new items, bulk uploads, editing, and managing categories in the control panel.
• 📱 Create a mobile app for Android and iOS by customizing the theme color and package name, then generating the APK.
• 📷 Add product categories and manage them with unique IDs for easy updates and deletions.
• 🛒 Develop a main menu using launchers and launcher items, linking them to product categories for easy navigation.
• 📝 Add products to your store with detailed descriptions, pricing, and images, including options for variants.
• 🔗 Utilize the bulk upload feature for efficient addition of multiple products using a CSV file and image files.
• 📑 Create dynamic pages for additional information like 'About Us' or 'Privacy Policy' and link them to launcher items.
• 📍 Display your business location on the app using the 'My Business' section and allow users to view it on a map.
• 📢 Use announcements to inform customers about offers, updates, or maintenance mode, with options for different types of announcements.
• 🔒 Link your own domain to the app for a personalized web presence and verify ownership through DNS settings.
• 🌟 Enable 'Item Rail' in app settings to display selected products on the homepage or home screen for easy access.

Q & A

How do I start creating an online store using PlantSphere?

To start creating an online store using PlantSphere, go to plant.com and click on the dashboard button. If you don't have an account, sign up by filling in the required details such as your name, email, ID, password, and phone number. Check the terms and conditions box and create your account. Wait for the verification email to activate your account.

What is the default partner code if I don't have one?

If you don't have a partner code, you should enter the default code 'AS' when creating a new app on PlantSphere.

What type of app should I select for creating an online store for a chocolate and nuts shop?

You should select the 'e-commerce app' type when creating an online store for a chocolate and nuts shop, as it includes essential features like add to cart, wishlist, checkout, and order management.

How can I customize the appearance of my online store?

You can customize the appearance of your online store by setting an app icon image, uploading an image to replace the placeholder, and using the website builder to modify the standard template deployed with pre-added elements and components.

How do I create a mobile app for my online store?

To create a mobile app, go to the control panel, click on the mobile app button, and follow the app creation screen instructions. You can create both Android and iOS apps by customizing the theme color, package name, and generating an APK for Android apps.

What is a subdomain and how do I use it for my website?

A subdomain is a free domain provided by PlantSphere for your website, which you can later customize with your own domain. You can access the website by clicking on the subdomain link provided in the control panel.

How do I add product categories to my online store?

To add product categories, open the product category page in the control panel and create your first category by entering its name and clicking 'add category'. Each category gets a unique ID which can be used later to update the category name.

What is a launcher item and how is it used in the main menu?

A launcher item is an element in the main menu that links to specific sections of your app or website. You can add a launcher item by entering its name, choosing the action (e.g., displaying all products in a specific category), and adding an image. This item will appear in the main menu for users to navigate to the linked section.

How can I add products to my online store?

To add products, open the 'add new item' page in the control panel. Enter the item name, select the item category, add the item body using the text editor, set the price, and add images or videos to the product gallery. Click 'add item' to complete the process.

What is the bulk upload feature and how do I use it?

The bulk upload feature allows you to add multiple products at once using a CSV file with the correct format. Download the format file template, fill it with your product details, and upload it. You will then upload item images and gallery images, ensuring they have the correct prefixes for proper mapping, and start the bulk upload process.

How do I create subcategories and submenus for my online store?

To create subcategories, enter their names in the product category page. To create a submenu, open the launchers page, add a new launcher for the submenu, and add launcher items to it. Link the submenu to the main menu or home launcher by creating a home launcher item and selecting the submenu in the launcher item action.

How can I display dynamic pages like 'About Us' or 'Privacy Policy' on my website and mobile app?

To display dynamic pages, open the 'pages' section in the control panel, click 'add page', enter the page title, and fill in the page body. Link the page to a launcher item by choosing the 'page' action and selecting the page. You can update or delete the page from the pages section as needed.

What is the 'Under Construction Mode' and how do I use it?

The 'Under Construction Mode' allows you to temporarily block access to your website and mobile app during maintenance or updates. Check the 'enable under construction mode' option in the app settings and save. To restore access, uncheck the option.

How can I link my own domain to my PlantSphere website?

To link your own domain, go to 'app settings' under 'domain management', verify ownership by adding a verification token to your domain's DNS as a TXT record, and then link the domain by creating a CNAME record pointing to app.plant.com. Enter your domain name in the app settings and click 'link your domain'.

How do I display products on the homepage of my website or home screen of my mobile app?

Enable the 'item rail' feature in the app settings. Select the categories whose products you want to display on the homepage or home screen and save the settings. Upon refreshing, the selected products will be listed.

Outlines

00:00

🛍️ Setting Up an Online Store with Plantes Sphère

This paragraph introduces the process of creating an online store using Plantes Sphère. It guides users through account creation, app setup, and personalization, including entering business details, selecting an app type, and uploading an app icon. The tutorial also covers accessing the dashboard, app creation, and the initial setup of the store's control panel. The focus is on the basic steps needed to get an online store up and running.

05:00

📦 Product Categories and Main Menu Development

The second paragraph explains how to manage product categories and develop the main menu for the online store. It details the creation of categories, updating and deleting them, and then moves on to the development of the main menu using launchers. The process includes adding, updating, and removing launcher items, as well as setting a launcher cover for the mobile app. The goal is to organize the store's navigation and prepare for product listings.

10:03

📝 Adding and Managing Products in the Store

This section delves into the specifics of adding products to the store, including entering product details, setting prices, and uploading images. It also covers adding product variants and using the bulk upload feature for efficiency when dealing with a large number of products. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of accurate product information and the use of images to enhance the shopping experience.

15:07

📑 Bulk Uploading and Subcategory Organization

The fourth paragraph focuses on the bulk upload process for adding multiple products at once and organizing subcategories within a category. It describes how to upload item images, manage the item gallery, and handle bulk uploads, including dealing with potential errors. The paragraph also explains how to create submenus or sub-launchers for better category organization and how to link these to the main menu.

20:20

📍 Dynamic Pages and Business Information

This paragraph discusses the creation of dynamic pages for additional information such as 'About Us' or 'Privacy Policy' and the use of the 'My Business' section to display the business location. It also covers how to manage announcements and the under construction mode for website maintenance. The aim is to provide customers with essential information and updates while ensuring the business's online presence is always accessible and informative.

25:23

🔗 Domain Management and Homepage Customization

The final paragraph covers the process of linking a custom domain to the online store and customizing the homepage or app home screen with an item rail. It explains the steps for domain verification and linking, as well as enabling and configuring the display of products on the homepage. The focus is on enhancing the store's branding and user experience by integrating a personalized domain and tailoring the homepage layout.

Keywords

💡Online Store

An online store is a virtual marketplace where consumers can browse, select, and purchase goods or services over the internet. In the video's context, the online store is being created using PlantSphere, which is a platform that allows users to set up and manage their e-commerce presence. The script mentions creating an online store for a chocolate and nuts shop, indicating the versatility of the platform for different types of products.

💡PlantSphere

PlantSphere is the name of the platform being used in the tutorial to create an online store. It is a service that provides users with tools to build and manage their own e-commerce applications. The script details the process of signing up for a PlantSphere account, which is the first step in creating an online store according to the tutorial.

💡Dashboard

In the context of the video, the dashboard refers to the main interface of the PlantSphere platform where users can manage their apps and view various metrics. The script instructs viewers to navigate to the dashboard to start creating a new app, highlighting its importance as a central hub for app management.

💡App Creation

App creation in the script refers to the process of setting up a new application on the PlantSphere platform. This includes entering details such as the business name, choosing a subdomain, and selecting the app type. The video tutorial guides users through this process, emphasizing the ease of creating an e-commerce app for an online store.

💡Subdomain

A subdomain is a part of a domain that allows users to create a separate section or service within the main domain. In the video, users are given a free subdomain for their website when they create an app, which they can later customize with their own domain. This is an important step in establishing the online presence of the store.

💡E-commerce App

An e-commerce app is a type of application designed to facilitate online buying and selling of goods or services. The script specifies that the app type chosen for the tutorial is an e-commerce app, which includes essential features like 'add to cart,' 'wishlist,' 'checkout,' and 'order management,' making it suitable for an online store.

💡App Icon

The app icon is a visual representation used to identify the application on mobile devices and websites. In the script, users are instructed to upload an image to serve as the app icon for mobile apps and as a favicon for the website, which is crucial for branding and user recognition.

💡Control Panel

The control panel in the video refers to the administrative interface of the online store where users can manage various aspects of their app, such as adding new items, editing existing ones, and managing categories. It is the central point for managing the store's content and settings.

💡Bulk Upload

Bulk upload is a feature that allows users to upload multiple products or items at once, typically using a CSV file. The script describes how to use this feature to efficiently add a large number of products to the online store, streamlining the process and saving time.

💡Product Variants

Product variants refer to different versions of a product that may differ in aspects such as size, color, or packaging. The script mentions adding variants to a product, allowing for a more detailed product offering, such as a box and a heart-shaped container for chocolates.

💡Launcher Items

Launcher items are elements in the app or website that serve as navigation points to different sections or categories of products. The script explains how to create and manage launcher items to develop the main menu of the app and website, enhancing user navigation and experience.

💡Dynamic Pages

Dynamic pages are web pages that can be created and updated easily within the app, typically used for displaying information such as 'About Us' or 'Privacy Policy.' The script describes how to create dynamic pages and link them to launcher items, allowing for easy management of informational content on the website and app.

💡Announcements

Announcements in the video refer to messages or notifications that can be displayed on the website and mobile app to inform users about updates, offers, or other important information. The script outlines different types of announcements, such as popup messages and universal announcements, and how to enable them in the app settings.

💡Domain Management

Domain management involves the process of linking a custom domain name to a website or app. The script provides steps for verifying ownership of a domain and linking it to the PlantSphere app, which is important for establishing a professional online presence and using a personalized domain for the store.

💡Item Rail

Item rail in the script refers to a feature in the app settings that allows the display of products on the homepage or home screen of the app. It is a way to showcase products dynamically and attract user attention, as described in the script when enabling the item rail for certain categories.

Highlights

Introduction to creating an online store using Plantes Sphère platform.

Registration process for a new Plantes account including verification via email.

Accessing the dashboard and starting app creation with partner code or default code.

Personalization of the app with business name, subdomain, and app type selection.

Adding an app icon image for branding on mobile apps and websites.

Exploration of the control panel for managing various aspects of the online store.

Adding new items and managing product categories in the store.

Developing a main menu for the app and website using launchers and launcher items.

Creating a mobile app for Android and iOS with customization options.

Generating APK files for Android app deployment and installation.

Adding product categories and managing them with unique IDs for updates.

Adding products to the store with detailed descriptions, pricing, and images.

Utilizing bulk upload feature for efficient addition of multiple products.

Creating subcategories and submenus for organized product listings.

Developing dynamic pages for additional information like about us or privacy policy.

Displaying business location on the app with map integration.

Using announcements for communicating offers and updates to customers.

Blocking access during maintenance or updates with construction mode.

Linking custom domain names to the website for professional branding.

Displaying products dynamically on the homepage or app home screen.

Transcripts

Welcome to our tutorial on creating an

online store using plantes spere let's

dive in head over to plant.com and click

on the dashboard button if you don't

have a pliner account yet no worries

just click on sign up and fill in the

required details your

name email

ID

password and your phone number

feel free to set a profile picture if

you'd like don't forget to check the box

agreeing to the terms and conditions

before hitting

create your account is now pending

verification keep an eye on your inbox

for the verification email if it's

taking longer than expected you can

click on the reset account

link once you receive the email from

plenter accounts click on the

verification link to activate your

account

successfully now let's log in using the

account we just

created welcome to your dashboard this

is where all your apps will be

listed let's kick things off by creating

a new app you'll need to enter the

partner code if you have one if not just

enter the default code AS mentioned and

click done

our account is successfully linked and

now you'll see the app creation page

time to personalize it enter your

business or brand name as the app

name you'll also get a free subdomain

for your website which you can later

customize with your own domain enter the

subdomain name now select the app type

since we're creating an online store for

a chocolate and nuts shop let's go with

the e-commerce app this will include all

the essential features like add to cart

which list checkout and Order

management you'll want to add an app

icon image this will be used as the app

icon for mobile apps and as the favicon

for the website let's upload an image to

replace the

placeholder with all the details set

let's create the app it may take a few

seconds as your online store is being

created and the website is deployed

and there we have it our store is now

created and ready to

go now that our store is listed in the

dashboard let's click on it to access

our store's control

panel here we are in the control panel

where various metrics indicate the

resource usage based on the plan we're

on below you'll see various cards

representing different sections each

with an open button to access them we

have options like adding new items items

bulk uploads editing items managing

categories and more we'll explore each

section in this tutorial above the

resource usage box you'll find the

subdomain we added during app creation

you can access the website by clicking

on this domain

link entering the website you'll notice

a standard template deployed with

pre-added elements and components we can

customize this template using the

website builder which we'll explore

later

let's now create a mobile app click on

the mobile app button this takes us to

the app creation screen where we can

create both Android and iOS apps let's

start with the Android app on the left

you'll see a preview of our app and on

the right the app details choose the

theme color from the dropdown and

customize the package name if needed

plantra sphere will autogenerate a

version code which you can increment

with each update click generate APK to

create the Android app this may take a

few

minutes once built the download APK

button will appear download the file and

install it on your

device to install without the place

store allow installation from unknown

sources in your phone

settings install the app and verify its

installation on your

[Music]

phone you'll see the app icon launch the

app which currently displays a blank

screen as we haven't developed the main

menu yet similarly the we site shows the

same blankness until we develop the main

menu let's head back to the control

panel before adding products or

developing the menu we should first add

product

categories open the product category

page and create your first category by

entering its

[Music]

name and clicking

add category created each category gets

a unique ID which will utilize later to

update the category

name make the necessary changes and

click

update category name

updated you can also delete a category

by clicking on the delete

[Music]

button now that we've learned to create

and manage categories let's create a few

more we've successfully created a few

categories next let's do develop our

main

menu back in the control panel open the

launchers page you'll see the Home

Launcher created by default which serves

as the main menu for our app and website

let's open the Home

Launcher add a launcher item by entering

the launcher item

name choose the launcher item action in

our our case we want to display all

products in a specific category so

select the action as category and choose

chocolates from the list of

categories add a launcher item image by

clicking the change icon

[Music]

button click add item and the launcher

item will be successfully

created refresh your website and mobile

app to see the launcher item we just

added

clicking on this item will take you to a

page listing all products in the

chocolates category it's empty since we

haven't added any products

yet to update a launcher item click on

it in the control

[Music]

panel make the necessary

changes and click update launcher item

the launcher item will be successfully

updated refresh the website and app to

see the updated launcher name to remove

a launcher item click on

it and then click remove launcher

item the launcher item will be

successfully

[Music]

deleted now that we've learned how to

add and manage launcher items let's add

a few more to develop our main

menu we've added several launcher items

and our main menu is now

developed to set a launcher cover for

our mobile app click the change cover

image

button select the cover

image and click save cover

[Music]

image refresh the app to see the new

cover to change the cover image repeat

the process Click Change cover image

select a new image and save it

[Music]

to remove the cover image click remove

cover

image the cover image will be

removed now that we have product

categories and a developed main menu

with launcher items linked to their

respective categories let's start adding

products to our

store in your control panel open the add

new item

[Music]

page enter the item name and select the

item

[Music]

category enter the item body using the

text editor options to style it as

needed

[Music]

add a price to the product by clicking

add

extra and then price fill in the

mandatory input Fields marked with a red

asterisk and any optional ones you

prefer enter the product

price if you're not offering a discount

set the offer price to

zero the default currency is Indian

rupees but you can change change the

symbol as

needed enter the quantity which defaults

to 10 and the unit the skew field is

optional so you can leave it blank if

you wish click add to successfully add

the price to this product note that for

e-commerce apps adding a price is

mandatory for all products next let's

add the product image icon and product

images to the image gallery

[Music]

[Music]

you can also add a product video click

the add item button then check our

website to see the product added and it

will also appear in the mobile app

[Music]

to update the product open the edit

items

page select the product you want to

update make the necessary

changes and click the update item

button refresh the page to see the

updated price with the discount

[Music]

now let's add another product with two

variants a box and a heart-shaped

container

[Music]

click the add variant button to see a

variant

template enter the variant

tag update the

[Music]

price set a variant

image and add images to the variant

Gallery repeat for the second variant

[Music]

click add item to add the product with

variance

[Music]

when you click on the product you can

choose and view the variants from the

[Music]

list to remove a product click the

remove item

button then refresh the website and

mobile app to see the product

removed adding products one at a time

can be challenging with hundreds or

thousands of products instead use the

bulk upload feature open the bulk upload

page which requires a CSV file in the

correct format click download format

file to get the template open the format

file the First Column is for the item

name followed by the item category with

the category ID item body where you can

add HTML content item price mandatory

for e-commerce item offer price set to

zero if no discount item currency item

unit and quantity and opally skiu every

item should have a unique prefix ending

with an

underscore fill in the file with your

product

[Music]

details save or export it as a CSV

file upload the CSV file and click the

process

button the file will be processed and if

there are no errors three buttons will

appear upload item images upload item

gallery images and start bulk

upload click upload item

[Music]

images ensure the image file names start

with the respective item prefixes from

the CSV file for proper

mapping select all the images and upload

them this may take some time depending

on the number of images

[Music]

once done click

close now you should see that all items

have their respective images

uploaded next let's add the item Gallery

[Music]

images note that the item gallery image

file names must also start with the item

prefix of the respective item select all

the images

[Music]

you can also delete item Gallery images

by clicking on the delete

icon now let's start the bulk

upload this process can take some time

depending ing on your items and internet

speed our bulk upload was successful you

can see the items that were successfully

uploaded and any that failed in our case

all items were successfully uploaded

with no

failures check your website and mobile

app to see the newly uploaded items

if you have a category with

subcategories such as dry fruits with

subcategories almonds dates cashews and

walnuts you can organize them by

creating a submenu or sub

launcher first create your subcategories

now open the launchers

page to create a sub launcher click add

launcher enter the launcher name and add

it

you can update the launcher Name by

clicking

edit making changes and clicking

update to delete this launcher click the

delete button the launcher will be

successfully

deleted add launcher items to your

submenu

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

now the submenu is

ready to access the submenu link it to

the main menu or home launcher by

creating a home launcher item and

selecting the submenu in the launcher

item action

add the

item refresh your website and mobile app

you will see a new launcher item called

dry fruits clicking on it will take you

to the submenu dry

fruits add items and Link them to your

subcategories using bulk upload

[Music]

the items will be successfully added and

linked

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

to display information like about us or

privacy policy on your website and

mobile app create Dynamic

Pages open the pages

[Music]

section click add page

enter the page title and fill in the

Page

Body click add

page link the page to a launcher item by

choosing the launcher item action as

page selecting the page and adding it

you can now access the

page to update the page make the

necessary changes and

save the updated page will be visible

to delete a page simply delete it from

the pages section the page will be

removed to display your business

location to app users use the my

business

section click yes to show your business

location search for the

location drag the marker on the map and

edit the address to be more explicit if

needed click

update the business location will now be

visible in your app's Home Launcher

click view location to see it on the

map to hide the location click

cancel and

[Music]

update notice that the location is Now

hidden you can inform your customers

about offers updates Etc using

announcements displayed in your website

and mobile app open the app

announcements

section there are three types popup

message and Universal announcements

let's first try a popup by checking

enable popup entering the popup title

and

message and then save it

upon refreshing notice the pop-up

appears on the homepage or home

screen now let's try a message enter the

message title and

content then

save you'll see the message displayed

lastly let's try a universal

announcement enter the

announcement and notice it appears below

the nav bar and appar

this announcement is universal meaning

it's visible on product pages and

listings you can have all three types

enabled simultaneously

you can also temporarily block access to

your website and mobile app during

maintenance or

updates check under construction mode in

the app settings and

save notice the access is blocked

[Music]

[Music]

uncheck it to restore

access you can link your own website

domain to your website in the app

settings under domain management follow

the steps to verify ownership and link

your domain first verify ownership by

copying the verification token and

adding it to your domain's DNS as a txt

record

[Music]

next link the domain to the website by

creating a cname record in your DNS

pointing to app. plant.com

[Music]

please note that DNS changes may take

some time to propagate in the app

settings enter your domain name and

click link your domain will be

successfully

linked verify by accessing the domain

and seeing your website load

successfully

[Music]

you can dynamically display products on

the homepage of the website or home

screen of the

app enable item rail in the app

settings select the categories whose

products you want to

display and save settings

[Music]

upon refreshing you'll see the selected

products listed on the homepage or home

screen

[Music]

he