This article introduces the specific steps for running early access sales on Shopify exclusively for VIP members (users with the "VIP" customer tag).
By using the RuffRuff Pre Order app, you can easily implement a staged sales strategy like the following.
- Until July 31, 2025, 23:59:59: Coming soon period (no users can purchase)
- August 1, 2025, 00:00 – August 8, 2025, 00:00: VIP member-only early access period
- From August 8, 2025, 00:00 onward: Regular sale begins (all users can purchase)
This article explains in detail, with actual screen captures, everything from installing the app to configuring settings and verifying the behavior. If you have already completed the basic setup of RuffRuff Pre Order, you can skip the preparation section and proceed directly to Step 1.
What is early access
Early access is a sales method that allows only specific customers or members to purchase a product ahead of the regular sale start, giving them priority.
In the early access approach introduced in this article, the add-to-cart button on the product page is shown only to VIP members for a set period before the general sale, allowing purchases on a limited basis. This provides VIP members with a more special experience and priority purchasing opportunities, which also helps improve member satisfaction and gain repeat customers.
Recommended Shopify app for early access
RuffRuff Pre Order
RuffRuff Pre Order is a Shopify app that makes it easy to run pre-orders on your online store. It is the only pre-order app in Japan selected by Shopify as a top-quality app.
Beyond pre-orders, this single app can also handle member-exclusive sales, VIP member-exclusive sales, limited-time sales, limited-time offers, deferred payments, purchase restrictions, and quantity limits.
How to run early access exclusively for VIP members
This section introduces the steps from installing the app through implementing "early access exclusively for VIP members."
By configuring the settings in this section, the product will be in the following states depending on the access date.
- Until July 31, 2025, 23:59:59: Coming soon
- No users can purchase
- From August 1, 2025, 00:00 to August 8, 2025, 00:00: Early access
- Only VIP members can purchase
- Other users cannot purchase
- From August 8, 2025, 00:00 onward: Regular sale
- All users can purchase
Preparation. Install the app and enable the app embed
* If you have already completed the preparation for RuffRuff Pre Order, skip this preparation section and proceed to Step 1.
Install the app
(1) Install RuffRuff Pre Order from the Shopify App Store
You can find "RuffRuff Pre Order" by searching "ruffruff" in the Shopify App Store.
Subscribe to a paid plan
(2) Open the app and select 'Plans' from the left menu
(3) Review the Terms of Service and check 'I agree to the Terms of Service'
(4) Click 'Change Plan' for the plan you want to subscribe to
(5) Review the plan details and click 'Approve'
Enable the app embed
(6) Go from the Shopify admin to Online Store > Themes
(7) Click 'Customize' on the Shopify theme where you want to add the app
(8) Select 'App embeds' on the left of the screen
(9) Enable the app embed named 'RuffRuff Pre Order'
(10) Click 'Save'
Step 1: Create a pre-order rule
First, create a pre-order rule.
(1) Click 'Pre-order rules' in the left menu
(2) Click 'Create rule' from the Pre-order rules page
(3) Select 'Simple pre order' from the pre-order rule types
Configure the early access conditions
(4) Set any name you like in Rule name
(5) Enter '2025-08-01 0:00' as the early access start date/time in Starts at
(6) Enter '2025-08-08 0:00' as the early access end date/time in Ends at
(7) Check 'Sell only to customers have registered for an account.'
(8) Add 'VIP' to Customer tags
Configure the action for VIP members during early access
(9) In the 'Pre-order' actions tab, configure the action for VIP members during the early access period
The following settings are used here.
- Cart button text: 'Add to cart'
- Product message: any text you like (here, "Early access")
Configure the action for users who don't meet the conditions during early access
(10) In the 'If not met' actions tab, configure the action for non-VIP users during the early access period
The following settings are used here.
- Cart button appearance: 'Hide cart button'
- Product message: 'Currently, only VIP members can purchase. Non-VIP members will be able to purchase from August 8, 2025.'
Configure the coming soon message before early access begins
(11) In the 'Before start date' actions tab, configure the action before early access begins
The following settings are used here.
- Enable actions before start date: checked
- Cart button appearance: 'Hide cart button'
- Product message: 'VIP members can purchase from August 1, 2025. Other members can purchase from August 8, 2025.'
Configure the action after early access ends
(12) In the 'After end date' actions tab, configure the action after early access ends
The following settings are used here.
- Enable actions after end date: checked
- Cart button appearance: 'Show cart button'
Enable the check to prevent unintended orders
(12) Optional: Enable Checkout validation
With this setting, even if a non-VIP customer unintentionally adds the product to their cart during the early access period, the order can be blocked on the checkout page.
(13) Click 'Save'
Step 2: Apply the pre-order rule to products
Next, apply the pre-order rule created in Step 1 to the products you want to offer early access for.
(1) Click 'Products' in the left menu
(2) On the Products page, check the products you want to offer early access for
(3) Click 'Apply rule' shown at the bottom of the screen
(4) From the popup that appears, select the pre-order rule created in Step 1
(5) Click 'Apply rule'
Step 3: Verify the behavior
Finally, verify that the settings are working as intended.
Verify the behavior before early access begins
Access the target product by '2025-07-31 23:59:59' and confirm the following results.
- Guest: The cart button is hidden and the coming soon message is displayed
- Regular member: The cart button is hidden and the coming soon message is displayed
- VIP member: The cart button is hidden and the coming soon message is displayed
Verify the behavior during early access
Access the target product during the period from '2025-08-01 00:00' to '2025-08-08 00:00' and confirm the following results.
- Guest: The cart button is hidden and a message indicating the product cannot be purchased is displayed
- Regular member: The cart button is hidden and a message indicating the product cannot be purchased is displayed
- VIP member: The cart button is displayed along with a message indicating early access is in progress
Verify the behavior after early access ends
Access the target product on or after '2025-08-08 00:00' and confirm the following results.
- Guest: The cart button is displayed and the product can be purchased
- Regular member: The cart button is displayed and the product can be purchased
- VIP member: The cart button is displayed and the product can be purchased
Conclusion
After completing the settings, be sure to verify the behavior for each period and check that it works as intended. When checking the behavior, you can adjust the Starts at and Ends at of the pre-order rule to verify each period's behavior without waiting for the actual dates.
By leveraging RuffRuff Pre Order, you can implement effective member-exclusive marketing to improve customer satisfaction and maximize sales opportunities.
