Welcome to the Wholesale Plant Shop marketplace. We’re excited to have you on board.

This guide explains how the marketplace works, your responsibilities as a seller and the key standards required before you begin listing products.

Our goal is to create a high-quality buying experience for customers while helping trusted sellers grow their business through our platform.

1. How the Marketplace Works

Wholesale Plant Shop combines:

• Products fulfilled directly by Wholesale Plant Shop
• Products fulfilled by approved marketplace sellers

Customers can purchase products from multiple sellers within the same order, so consistency across pricing, fulfilment and product quality is extremely important.

All marketplace sellers fulfil and dispatch their own products directly to customers.

2. Delivered Price Model (Important)

🚫 Sellers Cannot Add Shipping Charges

Shipping has been disabled for marketplace sellers.

This means customers will not see separate shipping charges from individual sellers at checkout.

✅ What You Must Do

You must include all costs within your product pricing, including:

• Delivery
• Packaging
• Handling
• Courier costs

👉 The price entered on your product listing should be the final delivered price paid by the customer.

Why We Use This Model

This approach:

• Creates a cleaner checkout experience
• Prevents confusion when customers buy from multiple sellers
• Works alongside our trolley and box-based shipping system
• Improves conversion rates by avoiding unexpected charges at checkout

Offering Better Multi-Quantity Pricing

Because most shipping costs are absorbed within the first product price, we strongly encourage sellers to use variants or quantity pricing to offer better value on larger quantities.

Example:

• 1 Plant — £14.99
• 3 Plants — £39.99
• 6 Plants — £69.99

This allows you to:

• Stay competitive
• Encourage larger orders
• Improve value perception for customers
• Make shipping more efficient

Where possible, we recommend building pricing structures that reward customers for purchasing multiple items.

3. Your Responsibilities as a Seller

As an approved marketplace seller, you are responsible for:

• Managing your own stock
• Maintaining accurate product listings
• Packaging products securely
• Dispatching orders promptly
• Handling customer issues related to your products

4. Dispatch Expectations

We recommend:

• Dispatch within 1–3 working days wherever possible
• Providing tracking details when available
• Clearly communicating any delays

If your products have longer lead times, this must be clearly stated within the product listing.

5. Initial Product Upload Process

To ensure consistency across the marketplace, all new sellers must complete an initial review process.

Step 1: Upload Your First 10 Products

Before uploading your full range, please list your first 10 products only.

Step 2: Marketplace Review

We will review these listings to check:

• Product pricing
• Image quality
• Product titles and descriptions
• Tagging structure
• Overall presentation
• Marketplace compatibility

Step 3: Approval to Continue

Once approved, you can proceed with uploading the remainder of your range.

This process helps prevent large-scale issues and ensures your products launch successfully on the platform.

6. Product Tags & Collections

To ensure products display correctly across the website, filters and collections:

👉 All product tags must be agreed with us before listing products.

Why This Matters

Tags are used throughout the website to:

• Build collections
• Power filters
• Improve navigation
• Help customers find products quickly

Incorrect tagging can result in products not displaying properly.

Important Rules

• Follow agreed naming conventions exactly
• Do not create your own alternative tag structures
• Apply tags consistently across your range

We will work with you to define the correct tag structure before listing begins.

7. Packaging Standards

Your packaging reflects both your business and Wholesale Plant Shop.

All products must arrive safely, securely and in the condition described on the listing.

General Packaging Requirements

All sellers must ensure:

• Products are securely packaged
• Packaging is suitable for the product type
• Items are protected during courier handling
• Products arrive in good condition

Plants & Live Products

• Secure root systems and soil
• Protect foliage from movement and crushing
• Use breathable materials where appropriate
• Protect plants from transit stress

Hardware & Non-Fragile Products

• Use durable outer boxes
• Prevent movement during transit
• Protect corners and components
• Ensure loose parts are secured

Liquids & Spillable Products

• Ensure all products are leak-proof
• Use secondary containment where possible
• Protect against impact damage
• Follow courier restrictions where applicable

Fragile Products

• Use suitable protective materials
• Separate fragile items appropriately
• Ensure packaging can withstand standard courier handling

8. Customer Experience Standards

Customers expect:

• Fast dispatch
• Accurate product descriptions
• Professional packaging
• Good communication

Strong customer experience is essential for maintaining seller approval on the marketplace.

9. Communication Expectations

Marketplace sellers are expected to:

• Respond promptly to customer queries
• Communicate professionally
• Resolve issues efficiently
• Notify customers of delays where necessary

10. Performance Expectations

To remain an approved seller, you must:

• Maintain high product quality
• Keep complaint rates low
• Dispatch orders reliably
• Follow marketplace standards and tagging structures

Failure to meet marketplace standards may result in:

• Reduced visibility
• Temporary suspension
• Removal from the platform

11. Key Rules Summary

✔ All prices must include delivery
✔ Separate shipping charges are disabled
✔ Use quantity pricing or variants where possible to improve value on larger orders
✔ Follow agreed product tag structures
✔ Complete the initial 10-product review process before scaling
✔ Maintain strong fulfilment and communication standards

12. Need Help?

If you have any questions during setup or listing, please contact the Wholesale Plant Shop team before uploading products.

We’re here to help ensure your products launch successfully and perform well on the platform.

This guide explains how to create product listings that are accurate, consistent and optimised for the Wholesale Plant Shop marketplace.

Well-structured listings help:

• Customers find your products more easily
• Products display correctly within collections and filters
• Improve conversion rates and customer confidence
• Maintain consistency across the marketplace

We strongly recommend reviewing this guide before uploading products.

1. Before You Start

Before uploading your full range:

• Your product tags must be agreed with the Wholesale Plant Shop team
  
• You must complete the initial 10-product review process outlined in the onboarding guide

This helps ensure your products are correctly structured before scaling.

2. Product Titles

Your product title is one of the most important parts of the listing.

Titles should be:

• Clear
• Descriptive
• Consistent
• Easy to understand

Recommended Structure

Where relevant, include:

• Product name/species
• Key feature
• Pot size, dimensions or size
• Colour or variation

Good Examples

Plants

• Monstera deliciosa – 17cm Pot
• Philodendron Pink Princess – Highly Variegated – 12cm Pot
• Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’ – Variegated Rubber Plant

Hardware & Accessories

• Black Plastic Nursery Pot – 15cm
• Plant Support Pole – Extendable Moss Pole – 90cm

Liquids & Treatments

• Organic Houseplant Feed – 500ml
• Neem Oil Plant Spray – Ready To Use – 750ml

Avoid:

• ALL CAPITALS
• Excessive emojis or symbols
• Overly vague titles
• Keyword stuffing

3. Product Descriptions

Descriptions should clearly explain:

• What the product is
• Key features
• Size or specifications
• Important information customers need before purchasing

Include:

• Pot size, dimensions or measurements
• Approximate height where relevant
• Material or product type
• Colour or variation
• Usage or care information
• Important compatibility information

Plants

Where relevant, include:

• Lighting requirements
• Watering guidance
• Growth habit
• Variegation notes
• Seasonal considerations

Important

Descriptions should accurately reflect the product being sold.

Do not:

• Mislead customers
• Overstate variegation or maturity
• Use stock descriptions that do not match the item

4. Product Images

Images are critical to customer confidence and conversion rates.

Image Standards

Images should:

• Be clear and high quality
• Accurately represent the product
• Use good lighting
• Show realistic colour and condition
• Be well cropped and easy to view

Plants

Where possible:

• Use real images of your own stock
• Show plant fullness and maturity accurately
• Avoid heavily filtered images

Backgrounds

Simple, uncluttered backgrounds work best.

Lifestyle imagery can also be used where appropriate, but the product should remain clear.

5. Product Pricing

All marketplace products operate using a delivered-price model.

Important

Separate shipping charges are disabled for marketplace sellers.

This means your product price must include:

• Delivery
• Packaging
• Handling
• Courier costs

👉 The listed price should be the final delivered price paid by the customer.

6. Multi-Quantity Pricing & Variants

Because shipping costs are often absorbed within the first item, we strongly encourage sellers to offer better value on multiple quantities.

Recommended Approach

Use variants or quantity pricing to encourage larger orders.

Example:

• 1 Plant — £14.99
• 3 Plants — £39.99
• 6 Plants — £69.99

This:

• Improves customer value perception
• Encourages larger basket sizes
• Helps offset shipping costs more efficiently

7. Product Tags (Mandatory)

Product tags are essential to how the marketplace functions.

They are used to:

• Build collections
• Enable filters
• Improve search and navigation
• Display products correctly across the website

Important Rules

• All tags must be agreed with the Wholesale Plant Shop team before listing
• Follow naming conventions exactly
• Apply tags consistently across your range
• Do not create your own variations

Incorrect tagging can result in products not displaying correctly.

8. Variants

Variants should be used where appropriate to avoid duplicate listings.

Good Uses for Variants

• Pot sizes
• Colours
• Quantity bundles
• Size variations
• Material options

Example

Product:

Monstera deliciosa

Variants:

• 12cm Pot
• 17cm Pot
• 24cm Pot

9. Stock Management

Keeping stock accurate is essential.

You must:

• Keep inventory levels updated
• Avoid overselling
• Remove unavailable products promptly

Repeated stock issues may affect seller approval.

10. Listing Quality Standards

All listings should:

• Be professionally presented
• Use accurate information
• Match the product being sold
• Follow marketplace formatting standards

Poor-quality or misleading listings may be removed.

11. Initial 10 Product Review

All new sellers must:

1. Upload their first 10 products
2. Submit them for review
3. Receive approval before uploading additional products

This helps ensure:

• Correct tagging
• Accurate pricing
• Consistent formatting
• Strong customer experience

12. Best Practice Tips

✔ Use clear, descriptive titles
✔ Include accurate sizing information
✔ Use high-quality images
✔ Keep pricing competitive
✔ Offer better value on multi-quantity purchases
✔ Keep stock levels updated
✔ Follow agreed tagging structures exactly

13. Need Help?

If you are unsure about:

• Product tags
• Variants
• Pricing structure
• Listing setup
• Product formatting

Please contact the Wholesale Plant Shop team before uploading products.

This guide outlines the packaging, fulfilment and dispatch standards expected from all approved marketplace sellers.

These standards are designed to:

• Protect products during transit
• Maintain a high customer experience
• Reduce damage and complaints
• Ensure consistency across the marketplace

All sellers are responsible for fulfilling and dispatching their own orders directly to customers.

1. Seller Fulfilment Responsibilities

As a marketplace seller, you are responsible for:

• Packaging products securely
• Dispatching orders promptly
• Using appropriate courier services
• Providing tracking where possible
• Resolving delivery-related issues relating to your products

2. Dispatch Expectations

We recommend:

• Dispatching orders within 1–3 working days
• Providing tracking details wherever possible
• Communicating delays promptly

If your products have longer lead times, this must be clearly stated within the product listing.

3. Packaging Standards

All products must be packaged securely and appropriately for their product type.

Your packaging reflects both your business and Wholesale Plant Shop.

Products should arrive:

• Undamaged
• Clean
• Secure
• In the condition described on the listing

4. General Packaging Requirements

All sellers must ensure:

• Packaging is suitable for courier handling
• Products cannot move excessively during transit
• Packaging is appropriate for the product weight and fragility
• Outer packaging is strong and durable
• Labels are attached securely and clearly visible

5. Plants & Live Products

Plants require additional protection during transit.

Requirements

You must:

• Secure root systems and soil to prevent spillage
• Protect foliage from crushing and movement
• Use breathable materials where appropriate
• Protect plants from excessive transit stress
• Ensure plants are sufficiently hydrated before dispatch

Recommended

Where possible:

• Use plant sleeves or protective wrapping
• Stabilise pots within the box
• Prevent foliage touching box edges

Important

Plants should never be dispatched:

• Waterlogged
• Dry to the point of stress
• Severely damaged
• Infested with pests

6. Hardware & Non-Fragile Products

Hardware and durable products must still be packaged professionally and securely.

Requirements

You must:

• Use suitable outer boxes for product weight
• Prevent movement within packaging
• Protect corners, edges and components
• Secure loose parts and fittings

Void fill such as paper or inserts should be used where necessary.

7. Liquids & Spillable Products

All liquid products must be packaged with leak prevention in mind.

Requirements

You must:

• Ensure lids and seals are fully secure
• Use leak-proof packaging
• Use secondary containment where possible
• Protect products from impact damage

Important

Sellers are responsible for ensuring products comply with courier restrictions relating to liquids or hazardous materials where applicable.

8. Fragile Products

Fragile products require additional protective packaging.

Requirements

You must:

• Use appropriate protective materials
• Separate products to avoid impact contact
• Use strong outer packaging
• Ensure packaging can withstand standard courier handling

Recommended

Where appropriate:

• Use fragile labels
• Double-box delicate items
• Use protective inserts or dividers

9. Unacceptable Packaging Standards

The following may result in complaints, refunds or seller review:

• Inadequate protection
• Excessive movement inside packaging
• Poor-quality outer boxes
• Leaking products
• Damaged or dirty packaging
• Packaging unsuitable for the product type

Repeated issues may affect marketplace approval.

10. Packaging Presentation

While protection is the priority, presentation is also important.

We recommend:

• Clean outer packaging
• Professional presentation
• Branded packaging where possible
• Neat packing materials and presentation

Good presentation improves customer confidence and repeat purchases.

11. Courier & Delivery Expectations

Sellers are responsible for selecting suitable courier services.

You should:

• Choose services appropriate for the product type
• Use tracked services where possible
• Package products to withstand standard courier handling

Important

Wholesale Plant Shop is not responsible for damage caused by insufficient packaging from marketplace sellers.

12. Handling Delivery Issues

If a customer reports:

• Damage
• Missing items
• Leaks
• Incorrect products
• Delivery issues

You are expected to:

• Respond promptly
• Investigate the issue
• Offer an appropriate resolution

Best Practice

We recommend:

• Responding within 24 hours
• Requesting photos where appropriate
• Resolving issues quickly and professionally

13. Fulfilment Performance Standards

To remain an approved seller, you should maintain:

• Reliable dispatch times
• Low damage rates
• Low complaint rates
• Consistent packaging quality

Failure to maintain fulfilment standards may result in:

• Reduced visibility
• Temporary suspension
• Removal from the marketplace

14. Best Practice Tips

✔ Dispatch promptly
✔ Use strong outer packaging
✔ Prevent movement inside parcels
✔ Protect fragile or live products appropriately
✔ Use tracking where possible
✔ Communicate delays early
✔ Prioritise customer experience

15. Need Help?

If you are unsure about:

• Packaging methods
• Product suitability for courier delivery
• Fulfilment standards
• Dispatch expectations

Please contact the Wholesale Plant Shop team before dispatching orders.

Bulk Uploading Products to the Marketplace

This guide explains how to bulk upload products to the marketplace using CSV files. Bulk uploading is ideal if you have a larger product range or need to update multiple products at once.

The marketplace provides two upload methods:

• Method 1: Upload one product CSV file with image URLs included in the spreadsheet.
• Method 2: Upload a product CSV file, image ZIP file and image CSV file separately.

You can upload a maximum of 500 rows at a time, including product variants.

Before You Start

• Download the example files from the upload page.
• Use the correct CSV format.
• Complete all required fields.
• Check pricing, stock quantities and SKUs carefully.
• Make sure product tags and collections follow the agreed marketplace format.
• Save your spreadsheet as a .csv file.

Important: Products uploaded by CSV are not automatically approved. They will be reviewed by the marketplace team before going live.

Method 1: Upload Product CSV Only

Method 1 is the quickest option if your product images are already hosted online.

With this method, you upload one product CSV file and include image URLs directly inside the spreadsheet.

Best For

• Sellers with images already hosted online.
• Sellers exporting products from Shopify, WooCommerce or another ecommerce platform.
• Smaller or simpler uploads.

Uploading With Method 1

1. Click Upload CSV.
2. Select your completed product CSV file.
3. Click Validate.
4. Fix any errors shown by the system.
5. Click Submit.

Method 2: Upload Product CSV, Image ZIP and Image CSV

Method 2 is used when you want to upload image files directly instead of using image URLs.

With this method, you upload three files:

1. Product CSV file
2. Image ZIP file
3. Image CSV file

Best For

• Sellers who do not have hosted image URLs.
• Large product catalogues.
• Uploads with several product images.
• Suppliers exporting product data and images separately.

Image Rules

• Images must be in .jpg format.
• Image names must not be numbers only.
• Every image listed in the image CSV must be included in the ZIP file.
• The image folder name and ZIP file name must match.

ZIP File Naming

The folder containing your images must have the same name as the ZIP file.

Folder NameZIP File NamePicturesPictures.zip

Uploading With Method 2

1. Click Upload Product CSV.
2. Upload your completed product CSV file.
3. Click Upload Image ZIP.
4. Upload your ZIP file containing the images.
5. Click Upload Image CSV.
6. Upload the image CSV file that links products to image filenames.
7. Click Validate.
8. Fix any errors shown by the system.
9. Click Submit.

Working With Variants

Variants are used when one product has multiple options, such as different sizes, colours or pack quantities.

Variants of the same product should share the same Unique ID, but have different option values, SKUs, stock quantities or prices where required.

Product Tags and Collections

Product tags are very important. They help the marketplace display your products in the correct collections, filters, search results and product recommendations.

Before uploading your full product range, we will agree the exact tags and collection names to use.

Examples of tags may include:

• Pot size
• Plant type
• Indoor or outdoor
• Rare plants
• Fast dispatch
• Peat free

Please do not create your own tag structure without agreeing it with us first, as this may stop your products displaying correctly on the website.

SEO Fields

Where possible, complete the product SEO fields in the CSV.

FieldRecommendationProduct Meta TitleKeep under 60 characters. Include the product name and key detail.Product Meta DescriptionKeep under 120 characters. Include the main selling point, size or product type.

Good Product Title Examples

• Monstera Thai Constellation 12cm
• Ficus Tineke 3 Stem Plant
• Philodendron Pink Princess 11cm

Recommended First Upload

For new sellers, we recommend uploading around 10 products first.

This allows us to review:

• CSV formatting
• Product titles
• Descriptions
• Images
• Variants
• Tags
• Collections

Once the first upload has been checked, larger product uploads can be completed more confidently.

Need Help?

If you have any issues with your bulk upload, please send us:

• Your product CSV file
• Your image CSV file, if using Method 2
• A screenshot of any validation errors
• A short explanation of which upload method you are using

We can then help check the file and advise what needs changing.