Adding a product showroom - selling online vs Shopify POS

Retail & Point of Sale

Topic summary

Whether to use Shopify POS for in-person payments in a new showroom setup with demo-only floor models and drop-shipped fulfillment. The merchant sells high-end massage chairs online and has added a small in-store display (5 models), with no onsite inventory.

Key question:

  • Use Shopify POS to take payments in person vs. directing customers to purchase via the website on a phone or store computer.

Latest update:

  • A Shopify representative states the choice depends on the business’s needs and refers to Shopify’s in-person selling guide. The guide covers POS subscription options, required hardware, and use of the POS app, helping estimate costs and determine suitability.

Status and next steps:

  • No decision made in-thread. Action item is to review the official guide to assess costs and operational fit. Discussion remains open for further questions.
Summarized with AI on January 2. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hi All,

I sell high end massage chairs and have been doing so online only for the past 6 months. A few weeks ago, I took a small space inside of another store and have 5 chair floor models on display for people to try. I do not hold inventory at the store (just the demo/display models) so everything is still shipped direct from the manufacturer (dropshipped). Does it make sense to use the Shopify POS app and take payments in person or should I just have customers use their phone or my computer at the store to go to my website and purchase?

Thanks!

2

Hi @MSchaffer30 ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community.

While this decision is completely up to you, I’d recommend checking out this guide for more information about selling in-person. It touches on everything that you’ll need including selecting a POS subscription, purchasing hardware, using the POS app, etc. It should provide you with a better understanding on how much this addition would cost and whether it’s the right move for you business.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.