How to Import Store Locations to Shopify Using a CSV File

Quick Answer

You can import store locations to Shopify using a CSV file by formatting your location data into a spreadsheet and uploading it directly into a store locator app, rather than adding each address by hand. SC Store Locator Map supports CSV import so merchants can add many locations at once, which is the practical starting point for any brand with more than a handful of addresses to list. This guide walks through preparing the file and completing the import step by step.

Short Intro

Adding store locations one at a time through a dashboard works fine for a small number of addresses, but it quickly becomes impractical once a merchant has dozens or hundreds of locations to add. Typing each address, phone number, and set of hours by hand also increases the chance of small mistakes that are easy to miss until a customer reports them.

This guide focuses specifically on the mechanics of CSV import: how to prepare a file that imports cleanly, what fields are commonly required, and how to check the results once the upload finishes. It is written for merchants setting up a store locator for the first time as well as those adding a large batch of new locations to an existing one.

What Is CSV Import for Store Locations?

CSV import is a way to add multiple store locations to a Shopify store locator at once by uploading a spreadsheet file instead of entering each location manually through the dashboard. Each row in the file typically represents one location, and each column represents a field such as store name, address, or phone number. The format needs to match what the app expects, which is why preparing the file correctly matters as much as the upload itself.

Who Needs CSV Import?

CSV import is especially useful for businesses such as:

• Merchants setting up a store locator for the first time with an existing list of locations
• Brands adding a large batch of new dealers, stockists, or retail partners at once
• Businesses migrating location data from another platform or spreadsheet system
• Retailers who already maintain location data in a spreadsheet for other purposes
• Teams that need to add locations faster than manual entry allows

Why CSV Import for Store Locations Matters for Your Business

Using CSV import instead of manual entry has a few practical benefits:

• It saves significant time compared with entering each location by hand
• It reduces typing errors by letting data be prepared and checked before upload
• It makes it easier to reuse existing spreadsheet data the business already has
• It supports adding large batches of new locations without disrupting existing ones
• It gives merchants a repeatable process for future location updates
• It keeps formatting consistent across every location added in the same file

How to Import Store Locations to Shopify Using a CSV File

Step 1: Gather Your Location Data

Collect the information for every location you plan to add, including store name, address, phone number, and any additional details such as working hours or tags. Having this ready before opening a spreadsheet makes the next step faster.

Step 2: Install and Configure SC Store Locator Map

Install SC Store Locator Map app from the Shopify App Store, which includes a CSV import feature built for adding locations in bulk rather than one at a time.

Step 3: Format Your CSV File Correctly

Structure your spreadsheet with one location per row and consistent column headers that match the fields the app expects, such as name, address, and phone number. Save the file in CSV format before uploading.

• Keep column headers exactly as the app expects them
• Avoid merged cells or extra header rows above the data
• Fill in every required field for each location before saving

Step 4: Upload and Import the File

Upload the completed CSV file through the app dashboard and run the import. Most imports process quickly, but larger files with hundreds of rows may take a little longer to complete.

Step 5: Check the Imported Data

Review a sample of the newly imported locations to confirm addresses, phone numbers, and other details came through correctly. Catching a formatting issue here is much easier than finding it later through a customer complaint.

Step 6: Add Tags and Groups to the Imported Locations

Once locations are imported, apply search tags or location groups in bulk if your setup requires them, rather than assigning these one location at a time after the fact.

Step 7: Test the Customer Experience

Search a handful of newly imported addresses and postcodes to confirm they display correctly on the live map, and check that pin card details match what was in the original file.

Examples and Use Cases

Industry: Regional grocery chain
Problem: Forty store locations needed to go live on a new Shopify store locator before launch day.
Setup: The team formatted existing location data into a CSV file and imported all forty locations at once.
Result: The full store network was live on the locator well before the site launched.

Industry: Fashion wholesale brand
Problem: A spreadsheet of stockist addresses existed but had never been connected to the website.
Setup: The brand cleaned up the spreadsheet formatting and imported it directly into the store locator app.
Result: The stockist list became searchable on the site without re-entering any address by hand.

See more examples from Shop Circle of brands importing location data into their Shopify store locators.

Best Practices

A few habits make CSV imports go smoothly:

• Test the import with a small sample file before uploading the full location list
• Keep a backup copy of the original spreadsheet before any formatting changes
• Use consistent formatting for addresses and phone numbers across every row
• Review a sample of imported locations rather than assuming every row imported correctly
• Document your column format so future imports follow the same structure
• Re-import corrected data rather than manually fixing many rows one at a time

Summary

Importing store locations using a CSV file replaces slow manual entry with a single upload, provided the spreadsheet is formatted correctly beforehand. Testing with a small file first and reviewing a sample of the results afterward are the two habits that prevent most import problems before they reach the live store locator.

SC Store Locator Map makes CSV import part of the standard setup process, so adding a full list of store locations does not require entering each one by hand.