If you sell through retail stockists, boutiques, or dealer networks, your customers need a way to find them. A store locator map is the standard solution — but most Shopify apps in this space require Google Maps API keys, charge $15–30/month, and take time to configure.
In this guide, I'll show you how to set up a fully interactive store locator on Shopify using Stockist Map Sync — a free app that turns your existing Shopify customers into map pins. No API keys, no code, and it takes about five minutes.
What You Get
Before we get into the setup, here's what the finished store locator looks like for your visitors:
- An interactive map with markers for each stockist location
- A location list with hours, phone, website, and distance badges
- Predictive address search — visitors type a city and see autocomplete suggestions
- Auto-detection — the map automatically shows the nearest locations based on the visitor's browser location
- "Get Directions" links that open Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation
- Works on every Shopify theme — Dawn, Horizon, Refresh, premium themes, all of them
You can see a live example at the Waverly & Co. demo store (password: demo).
How It Works
The concept is simple: in Shopify, customers already have names and addresses. If you tag a customer as stockist, the app reads their address, geocodes it into coordinates, and displays it on the map. That's it — no duplicating data into a separate system.
When a customer's address changes in Shopify, the map updates automatically via webhooks. When you remove the tag, they disappear from the map. Your Shopify admin is the single source of truth.
If you already have a spreadsheet of locations, you can also import them via CSV instead of tagging customers.
Setup: Three Steps
Step 1 — Tag your customers
Go to Customers in your Shopify admin. Find each stockist and add the tag stockist. Make sure each customer has a complete default address — at minimum a city and country. Then open the app and click Sync Now.
Alternatively, go to Import in the app, download the CSV template, fill in your locations, and upload. Addresses are geocoded automatically.
Step 2 — Add the map to your theme
Go to Online Store → Customize (the theme editor). Navigate to the page where you want the map — typically a page called "Store Locator" or "Stockists". Click Add block, search for Plynthr Stockist Map, and add it. Choose your layout (full-width, map-left, or map-right) and save.
Step 3 — Customise
In the app's Settings page, you can change the map style (5 options including dark mode and topographic), set your marker colour to match your brand, configure the default map centre and zoom, and toggle the search bar on or off. Changes appear on your storefront within a few minutes.
That's it. Three steps, no API keys, no code changes.
Five Map Styles
The app includes five free tile styles powered by OpenStreetMap and CARTO. No Google Maps API key is needed for any of them:
- Voyager — clean and modern, works with any brand (recommended default)
- Light — minimal and subtle, lets your brand colours stand out
- Dark — bold and dramatic, great for premium or dark-themed storefronts
- Topographic — detailed terrain with contour lines, ideal for outdoor brands
- Default — classic OpenStreetMap, familiar and information-rich
You can preview all five styles on the Map Styles page (password: demo).
Managing Locations
Once your locations are synced, you can manage them directly in the app:
- Edit details — update the display name, phone, hours, website, description, and category for any location
- Toggle visibility — hide a location from the map without deleting it (useful for seasonal stockists or stores that are temporarily closed)
- Search and filter — find specific locations by name, city, or tag
- Use multiple tags — sync customers tagged as
stockist,retailer,dealer, or any combination
Changes sync automatically. When you add the stockist tag to a new customer in Shopify, their location appears on the map within minutes — no manual sync needed.
Do I Need a Google Maps API Key?
No. This is the main difference between Stockist Map Sync and most other store locator apps. The map uses Leaflet (an open-source JavaScript library) with tile providers like OpenStreetMap and CARTO. These are free and don't require API keys or credit cards.
Address search uses Nominatim, OpenStreetMap's free geocoding service. Visitors get real autocomplete suggestions as they type, with results sorted by distance.
The only Google-related feature is the "Get Directions" link, which opens Google Maps in a new tab for turn-by-turn navigation — and that doesn't require an API key either.
Pricing
The app has three plans, and every feature is included in all of them. The only difference is location count:
- Free — up to 10 locations, no time limit
- Pro ($9.99/month) — up to 250 locations, 14-day free trial
- Business ($24.99/month) — unlimited locations, 14-day free trial
If you have fewer than 10 stockists, the free plan works indefinitely. No credit card required.
Add a store locator to your Shopify store
Install free and have your map live in under five minutes. No API keys, no code changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it work with my theme?
Yes. The map is added as a theme app block, which is supported by all Shopify OS 2.0 themes. It's been tested on Dawn, Horizon, Refresh, Sense, and many premium themes.
Can I import existing locations from a spreadsheet?
Yes. The app includes a CSV import feature. Download the template, fill in your locations (name, address, phone, hours, website, description), and upload. Addresses are geocoded automatically during import.
How does it detect visitor location?
When a visitor loads the store locator page, their browser asks for location permission. If they allow it, the map shows the nearest stockists sorted by distance. If they decline, the map uses your configured default centre and zoom.
What happens when I add or remove a stockist?
The app listens for Shopify webhooks. When you add the stockist tag to a customer, their location is automatically geocoded and added to the map. When you remove the tag, they're removed. No manual sync needed.
Is it GDPR compliant?
Yes. The app supports all Shopify mandatory GDPR webhooks (customer data request, customer data erasure, shop data erasure). Visitor geolocation is processed entirely in the browser and is never sent to any server. All data is deleted when you uninstall the app.
