How to start receiving orders from buyers

Once your Tradeit shop is set up, the next step is what really matters — getting your first sales.

This guide walks you through everything you need to do to start receiving orders successfully: from store visibility to pricing, shipping setup, and building buyer trust.

Whether you’re a clothing seller in Mbare, a furniture maker in Mutare, or a farmer in Mazowe — follow these steps to get your Tradeit store active and profitable.

✅ 1. Ensure Your Shop Is Fully Set Up

You must first complete all the basic setup steps:

✔️ Vendor registration
✔️ Store logo & banner added
✔️ Shop address, phone, and map pin saved
✔️ EcoCash or bank payment method added
✔️ At least one product listed with image, price & description
✔️ Shipping configured for delivery zones

👉 If you skipped any of the above, click here to complete the setup checklist

🧲 2. Add Products That Are in Demand

Buyers shop on Tradeit looking for value and convenience. Make sure your products:

• Have clear, high-quality photos (at least 600x600px)
• Use keywords in the title like “school shoes”, “Roller Meal 10kg”, or “Samsung Galaxy A12”
• Include pricing in ZWL and/or USD
• Have short but helpful descriptions with key details (e.g. size, origin, colour, expiry, delivery info)

💡 Tip: Products that are cheap, useful, and needed daily (e.g. groceries, phone accessories, beauty products) often sell the fastest.

🚚 3. Set Fair and Accurate Shipping Rates

No one wants to place an order and discover they can’t get it delivered.

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Shipping and make sure you:

• Enable shipping zones like Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza
• Set fair flat rates (e.g. $2–$5 depending on area)
• Offer Free Pickup if customers can collect from your location
• Clearly indicate Delivery Time in product descriptions (e.g. “1-2 days in Harare”)

💬 Example: “We deliver Harare, Ruwa, and Chitungwiza — $2 flat. Pay on delivery available.”

💳 4. Make Sure You Can Receive Payments

Tradeit supports local payment methods:

• EcoCash
• ZIPIT or Bank Transfers
• USD Bank Accounts
• Cash on Delivery (if enabled in your store)

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Payment and confirm your details are correctly saved. This is how you get paid after a sale.

📢 5. Promote Your Store

Tradeit brings many buyers, but promoting your store boosts results.

Try:

• Sharing your store link on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram
• Posting weekly product deals or specials
• Using Tradeit Ads (via your dashboard) to promote your store and products across the platform
• Asking customers to leave positive reviews after delivery

✅ When buyers trust your store, your orders will grow.

🧭 6. Keep Stock Updated

Out-of-stock items can cause cancelled orders and negative reviews.

• Check your product inventory weekly
• Update stock levels in Dashboard → Products
• Unpublish or pause items that are temporarily unavailable

🔄 Consistency builds credibility.

📥 7. Check Your Orders Page Regularly

Once buyers place orders, you will receive:

• A notification by email or SMS
• A new entry under Dashboard → Orders

Click on the order to:

• View buyer contact and delivery info
• Mark it as Processing, then Completed once delivered
• Add tracking info (if using courier)
• Print or save invoices if needed

📲 You can even use Tradeit from your phone to manage orders on the go.

🛡️ 8. Build Trust to Boost Orders

Buyers feel confident ordering from stores that:

• Have clear return policies
• Answer messages quickly
• Deliver as promised
• Use real store names and logos

✅ The more trust you build, the more repeat buyers you’ll attract.

🎯 Summary: How to Start Receiving Orders

📦 Orders Will Start Coming — Stay Ready!

Once your store is ready and visible, orders may come in at any time — even at night or on weekends. Keep your phone nearby and notifications on.

Next:
👉 How to Process and Deliver Orders Step-by-Step
👉 How to Create Product Variations (Size, Colour)

Need help getting your first sale? Use Dashboard Chat to contact Tradeit Support.