Program Costs
E-Commerce Connect is built as a partner-driven ecosystem, not a single software subscription. Each fee supports a distinct part of what makes the program work end-to-end.
OUR PROGRAM COSTS:
E-Commerce Connect™ program fee ($750 Annually) covers administration, supplier vetting and onboarding, education, workshops, marketing resources, Canva templates, and ongoing program support.
Annual Member Fee
OrderEase Middleware One-Time Setup Fee ($250 One Time) connects your existing online store with approved suppliers. Includes a one-hour onboarding session covering product selection, pricing, and uploading products to Shopify or WooCommerce.
There are no additional charges if more suppliers join the network. The one time connection to your online store covers all suppliers connectivity in our program.
One Time SetUp
The monthly platform fee starts at $50 and is based on your annual e-commerce sales. Most members fall within the under-$50,000 sales tier. Retailers exceeding $100,000 in annual online sales typically have multiple locations.
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Under $50K in e-sales: $50/month
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$50K–$100K in e-sales: $100/month
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$100K –$350K+in e-sales: $250/month
The fee covers the technology needed to process orders, coordinate fulfillment, and maintain integrations.
Monthly Cost
QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED.
What does the E-Commerce Connect™ Membership Includes:
E-Commerce Connect™ is a program that provides far more than just product access. Membership fees support the infrastructure, services, and ongoing management required to operate a national drop-shipping network for independent garden centers.
Your membership includes:
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Supplier onboarding and integrations
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Retailer onboarding and integrations
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Technology coordination with our platform partners
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Program management and support
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Marketing assets, templates, and supplier promotions
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Education, training, and workshops
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Expansion of new suppliers and product categories
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Strategic partnership that support compliance, operations and network growth.
What Powers the E-Commerce Connect™ Ecosystem?
E-Commerce Connect™ serves as the program owner and the connective layer—bringing together the technology, suppliers, training, web development and ongoing support under one coordinated framework within the E-Commerce Connect Member Portal. We are deeply embedded in the independent garden center industry and uniquely positioned to manage this ecosystem. Our team understands the suppliers, the associations, and the operational realities of garden centers, and we maintain in-house technical expertise to adapt and troubleshoot in real time. That means fewer delays, faster solutions, and a program that evolves alongside the industry.
OrderEase serves as the middleware connecting participating suppliers with your Shopify or WooCommerce online store. It allows supplier products, pricing, and inventory to flow directly into your website, making it easier to expand your online selection without stocking those products in your store.
When a customer places an order, the supplier receives the order information and ships the product directly to the customer. You maintain the relationship with your customer while the supplier handles fulfillment.
The standard program does not include a direct connection to your in-store point-of-sale system. Most members do not need one because their drop-ship products are sold and managed through their online store. This keeps setup straightforward and costs manageable. Retailers with multiple locations or more complex reporting needs may choose to connect their POS system. These integrations are available but require additional development and are priced separately.
If you do not yet have an online store—or your current store needs updating—our agency partners can assist with Shopify or WooCommerce design, development, and setup. Our team is deeply involved in the independent garden center industry. We understand the suppliers, associations, and day-to-day challenges retailers face. We also have the technical knowledge needed to address issues, adapt the program, and keep everything moving.
Each part of the program plays an important role: suppliers, technology, education, marketing resources, web development, and operational support. Together, they provide more than access to drop-shipping. They create a fully supported, retailer-led e-commerce program designed to work in the real world.
Does E-Commerce Connect™ Integrate into Point of Sale Systems?
Our current process is designed to move products and plants directly into your Shopify or WooCommerce online store, allowing you to quickly expand your assortment online with minimal complexity. To keep the program accessible and affordable for independent garden centers, E-Commerce Connect does not integrate directly with in-store point-of-sale (POS) systems by default.
For most retailers, this approach works well because the primary goal is to push supplier catalogs and products into their online storefront, allowing them to sell a much broader assortment through drop-shipping without needing to manage the inventory in-store. If a retailer prefers full integration with their POS system to create a single reporting environment, that can be done, but it does require additional development and costs outside of the standard program setup. We do have a few garden centers with multiple locations that require deeper integrations, each request is reviewed based on the point of sale system and its ability to integrate.
However, most garden centers choose the simpler model, where products are pushed directly into their online store, allowing them to quickly expand their online assortment without the added complexity of POS integration. This approach keeps implementation fast, affordable, and operationally straightforward while still enabling retailers to offer an extended catalog through dropshipping.