How to Let Customers Search for Stores by Name or Location on Shopify

Quick Answer

A flexible Shopify store locator lets customers search either by a specific store name or by a general location such as a city or postcode, rather than forcing one search method. SC Store Locator Map supports both, so returning customers looking for a specific branch and new customers exploring a general area both get a fast, relevant result, without needing to know in advance which type of search the page expects.

Not every customer searching a store locator has the same starting point. Some know exactly which branch they want to visit, while others are simply trying to find something nearby without a specific location in mind. A search bar built around only one of these habits leaves the other group with a frustrating experience.

This guide covers how to support both search styles on a single store locator, so the page works well regardless of what information a customer starts with. It also looks at how location naming choices affect how well name search actually performs, since search quality depends as much on the underlying data as on the app itself.

What Is Name and Location Search?

Name and location search refers to a store locator's ability to match a customer's search query whether they type a specific store name, such as a branch identifier, or a general location, such as a city or postcode. Supporting both means the search bar does not need to guess which type of input the customer is providing. In practice, this usually means the same search field checks a query against both location data and store names before returning results, so the customer never has to think about which field to use.

Who Needs Flexible Search?

Flexible search matters most for businesses such as:

• Retailers with named branches that returning customers refer to directly
• Multi-location brands serving both new and repeat customers with different search habits
• Franchise businesses where individual locations may have distinct names
• Brands running location-specific promotions that reference a store by name
• Businesses with loyal, repeat customers who already know which branch they prefer

Why Supporting Multiple Search Types Matters for Your Business

Allowing both name and location search has a few practical benefits:

• Returning customers can jump straight to a familiar branch by typing its name
• New customers exploring an area are not required to know a specific store name
• It reduces frustration for customers who are unsure which type of search the bar expects
• It supports marketing campaigns that reference a specific store by name
• It makes the store locator useful across a wider range of customer starting points
• It avoids forcing customers to translate what they already know into a different kind of search
• It gives the business a single search bar to maintain instead of two separate systems

How to Set Up Flexible Store Search on Shopify

Step 1: Install and Configure SC Store Locator Map

Install the app, which supports search by store name alongside postcode and city search as part of its standard search functionality, so both search styles work from the same search bar.

Step 2: Add and Organize Your Locations

Give each location a clear, distinct name in addition to its address, especially if branches are commonly referred to by name rather than address in your marketing or customer communications. Avoid overly similar names that could make results ambiguous. Reuse the same naming convention consistently across every location you add.

Step 3: Customize the Store Locator

Confirm the search bar accepts both store names and general location terms without requiring the customer to specify which type of search they are performing. A single, unified search field tends to feel more natural than two separate inputs, and it keeps the page simpler for customers to understand at a glance.

Step 4: Test the Customer Experience

Test the search bar using a specific store name, then again using a general city or postcode, to confirm both return accurate results without confusion. Try a few partial or misspelled queries as well to see how the search handles them.

Examples and Use Cases

Industry: Boutique gym chain
Problem: Members often searched for their specific gym by name, while prospective members searched by area instead.
Setup: The brand ensured its store locator search bar handled both types of queries equally well.
Result: Both existing members and new prospects could find what they needed without confusion.

Industry: Regional bookstore chain
Problem: Loyal customers often referred to a specific store by its neighborhood nickname rather than a formal address.
Setup: The brand named each location clearly and confirmed name search returned the right results.
Result: Regular customers could jump straight to their preferred store without extra searching.

Explore more Shop Circle case studies covering flexible store search setups.

Best Practices

A few habits help keep both search types working well over time, no matter how many locations are added or how they are named:

• Give every location a clear, consistent name in addition to its address
• Test search using both store names and general locations regularly
• Avoid overly similar store names that could confuse search results
• Keep naming conventions consistent across marketing materials and the store locator
• Review search behavior after adding new locations with similar names to nearby ones
• Consider adding a nickname or neighborhood reference for stores known informally by customers
• Check that store names remain accurate after any rebrand or renovation of a specific location

Summary

Supporting both name and location search means a store locator works well whether a customer already knows which branch they want or is simply exploring what is nearby. Clear, consistent location naming makes this flexibility easier to maintain, and testing both search styles regularly helps catch naming conflicts before they confuse customers looking for a specific branch.

The store locator app supports search by name or location out of the box, giving every customer a search method that fits how they think about finding a store, without extra configuration on your part or a separate feature to enable.