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Retailer Workshop on March 23rd @ 2pm EST - "Strategy, Team Roles, Plant/Product Selection & Marketing"
What are the E-Commerce Connect™ Program Fees?
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.
E-Commerce Connect™ program fee ($750 Annually) covers administration, supplier vetting and onboarding, education, workshops, marketing resources, Canva templates, and ongoing program support.
Middleware Setup Fee ($250 One Time) establishes and configures the underlying technology that connects your store to approved suppliers.
Monthly Platform fee ($50+) scales with your e-commerce activity and supports the operational infrastructure that powers ordering, fulfillment, and integrations.
*These fees assume that your garden center already has an existing e-commerce website, typically on Shopify or WooCommerce. If you do not yet have an online store, you will need to establish one before participating in the dropshipping program. For retailers who need support, we can build a store in-house through our developer, who offers a starter e-commerce package beginning at $2,100 designed specifically for garden centers entering the E-Commerce Connect ecosystem.
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 dropshipping 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, and those have been successfully implemented.
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.
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. 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.
These components work together: suppliers, technology, education, marketing assets, and operational support all play a critical role in making drop-shipping successful at scale. The result isn’t just access to drop-shipping—it’s a fully supported, retailer-led e-commerce operation designed to work in the real world.
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 dropshipping network for independent garden centers.
Your membership includes:
Supplier onboarding and integrations
Retailer onboarding and integrations
Technology coordination with our platform partners
Program management and support
Marketing assets, templates, and promotional campaigns (including Hot Buys)
Education, training, and workshops
Expansion of new suppliers and product categories
Strategic partnership that support compliance, operations and network growth.
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