Partner Tiers
A guide to setting up and managing VIP tiers specifically designed for business-to-business customers.
What is the B2B VIP Tier feature
The B2B VIP Tier feature provides specialized loyalty tiers designed exclusively for business customers. Unlike regular tiers that focus on individual consumers, B2B tiers offer benefits that matter to business buyers, such as payment terms, catalog access restrictions, volume-based discounts, and company-wide tier management.
This feature integrates seamlessly with Shopify's B2B functionality to provide personalized experiences based on how much a business has spent over their lifetime relationship with your store. Companies automatically inherit tier benefits that apply to all business account members.
Why you should use B2B VIP Tiers
B2B VIP Tiers create powerful incentives for businesses to increase their spending while providing appropriate rewards for your highest-value customers. Unlike individual loyalty programs, B2B tiers recognize that business purchases are typically higher value, recurring, and involve multiple decision-makers within the organization.
These specialized tiers help you retain valuable business customers by offering benefits that align with B2B purchasing patterns. Extended payment terms, access to exclusive product catalogs, and volume discounts all address the specific needs of business buyers. When companies see clear progression paths and increasingly valuable benefits, they're motivated to consolidate their purchasing with your business.
Requirements before setting up B2B VIP Tiers
Before configuring B2B VIP Tiers, ensure you have:
Setting up B2B VIP Tiers
1. Access B2B VIP Tier settings
From your Shopify admin, go to Apps
Click on Joy Loyalty
In the Joy Loyalty dashboard, navigate to Membership → VIP Tiers
Select the Partner tier tab to access B2B tier settings
2. Create and configure B2B tiers
Click Add New Tier to create your first B2B tier
Configure the tier criteria:
Tier Name: Give your tier a descriptive name (e.g., "Silver Partner," "Gold Partner," "Platinum Partner")
Spend Threshold: Set the minimum lifetime spending required to reach this tier
Start Date: Choose when the tier system will begin tracking spending
3. Set up tier benefits
For each tier, you can configure multiple benefit types:
Catalog Access
Restrict access to specific product catalogs based on tier level
Create exclusive product lines for your highest-tier partners
Control which products are visible to different tier levels
Payment Terms
Offer extended payment terms (Net 30, Net 60, etc.) for higher tiers
Configure different payment options based on tier level
Set automatic approval limits for purchase orders
Automatic Discounts
Order Discounts: Percentage or fixed amount discounts on entire orders
Product Discounts: Targeted discounts on specific products or collections
Shipping Discounts: Reduced or free shipping based on tier level
Free Products and Samples
Automatically include free products with orders
Offer samples of new products to higher-tier customers
Provide exclusive promotional items
4. Launch your B2B tier system
Review all tier configurations
Click Launch to activate the B2B tier system
The system will automatically calculate tier levels for existing companies based on their historical spending
Managing B2B VIP Tiers
Viewing company tiers
To see which tier a company belongs to:
Navigate to Customers in Joy Loyalty
Search for or select a company account
View their current tier status and spending history
Track their progress toward the next tier level
Tier calculation and updates
The system automatically:
Calculates tier levels based on company lifetime spending
Updates tiers when companies reach new spending thresholds
Recalculates tiers if you modify tier requirements
Maintains tier benefits for all company members
Handling refunds and tier adjustments
When orders are refunded:
The refunded amount is deducted from the company's lifetime spending
If this causes the company to fall below a tier threshold, they are downgraded automatically
All company members lose access to the previous tier's benefits immediately
Best practices for B2B VIP Tiers
Setting spending thresholds
Research your customer spending patterns before setting tier thresholds
Ensure gaps between tiers are meaningful but achievable
Consider your average order values when determining tier levels
Plan for 3-5 tiers maximum to avoid overwhelming customers
Designing tier benefits
Bronze/Silver tiers: Focus on early engagement benefits like extended payment terms
Gold/Platinum tiers: Offer exclusive catalog access and significant discounts
Top tiers: Provide premium services like dedicated account management references
Communication and promotion
Clearly explain tier benefits in your B2B welcome materials
Send notifications when companies reach new tiers
Display current tier status prominently in customer accounts
Create tier-specific marketing materials and product catalogs
Frequently asked questions
How are company tiers calculated?
Tiers are calculated based on the total lifetime spending of the entire company across all company members and locations. This includes historical orders placed before the tier system was launched.
What happens when a company changes tiers?
When a company moves to a new tier:
Benefits apply immediately to all company members
Changes are reflected in the next order placed
Previous tier benefits are removed automatically
All company locations inherit the new tier level
Can I create different tier structures for different types of businesses?
Currently, B2B VIP Tiers uses a single tier structure that applies to all B2B customers. You can use Shopify's customer tags or metafields for additional segmentation if needed.
How do refunds affect tier status?
Refunds reduce the company's lifetime spending total. If a refund causes the company to fall below their current tier's threshold, they will be automatically downgraded to the appropriate tier level.
Will tier-specific discounts stack with my other discounts?
Tier discounts are automatically applied, but how they combine with other discounts depends on your Shopify discount stacking settings. Generally, the best discount available will be applied to the customer.
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