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A store locator service is a website or app feature that helps people find a business’s physical locations. Visitors can search by address, postal code, or area—or, if they choose, use their device’s location—and see nearby results with details such as hours, services, contact information, and directions.
What a store locator can help people find
“Store” can mean more than a retail shop. A locator may list branches, dealers, stockists, or other places where a business offers products or services. Its purpose is to connect someone’s starting point with a relevant physical location, then provide enough information to decide where to go.
Google’s store locator best practices describe the kinds of location information that can help, including hours, contact details, and directions. Depending on the business, results may also include available services, images, or other location-specific details.
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How a store locator works
- The business maintains location records. Each record can include a name, address, map coordinates, opening times, contact information, images, and services offered.
- The visitor chooses a starting point. They can type an address or postal code, choose an area, or allow the browser or device to share its current location.
- The locator finds relevant places. It uses the starting point and location records to show nearby results in a list, on a map, or both. Results may include details about each place.
- The visitor decides what to do next. The locator may provide route information or directions to help the visitor reach a location.
Using device location generally requires the visitor’s permission. A locator should also offer a typed address or another manually selected starting point, so people can search if they deny permission or prefer not to share their location. Google’s Locator Plus implementation guide describes combining maps, place data, location discovery, and routing to support this kind of experience.
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What a useful locator should show
A map alone may show where a business is, but location details help someone judge whether that place suits their needs. Useful information can include:
- Location name and full address
- Opening hours and contact details
- Services offered at that location
- A map, route information, or directions
- Filters for relevant location types or services
The right details depend on the business. For example, a locator for a service network may need to distinguish the services available at each branch. A commerce locator may also connect locations to inventory or in-store pickup. Shopify’s Storefront API documentation for Location describes locations that hold inventory, support in-store pickup, and can be sorted by proximity.
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How businesses add a store locator
Businesses typically choose between a packaged locator feature and a custom implementation. A packaged widget can reduce the amount of interface work required. A custom, API-based approach gives a team more control over how location data appears and connects to the rest of a storefront, but the team must build and maintain the frontend.
One documented BigCommerce example, Hypa Apps’ Store Locator app, manages location data, provides a Page Builder widget, and offers an API for custom storefronts. Its documentation says the app uses Mapbox for maps and address search, requiring a separate Mapbox account with separate usage-based billing. This is an example of one implementation, not a requirement for every locator.
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An API-based locator may combine map display, place data, user-location discovery, and routing services. Google’s implementation guide also discusses selecting only the place-data fields the experience needs as a way to manage API costs. The specific providers, capabilities, and charges depend on the implementation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to consider when choosing an approach
Before adopting a locator, consider what the business needs it to do and who will keep it accurate:
- Effort and control: A widget can limit custom interface work; an API-based build allows more control but requires ongoing frontend development and maintenance.
- Location-data upkeep: Establish how records will be entered, updated, grouped, and connected to business or inventory data.
- Search and results: Decide whether visitors need address or postal-code search, optional device location, map and list views, filters, or directions.
- External services and costs: Check which mapping or place-data providers are required, what data fields are requested, and how usage is billed.
- Business-specific features: Determine whether branch discovery is enough or whether visitors also need service filters, product availability, appointments, or pickup information.
Location information also needs careful handling. For a public storefront API, avoid putting private information in public location fields. If the locator renders rich text supplied through location data, validate and sanitize that content before displaying it. Hypa Apps’ Store Locator API documentation describes these data-handling cautions for its public storefront API.
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