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Jan 30, 2026

Storefront (Elite Only) — Setup & Configuration Guide

                                            

Use this guide to configure your Elite Storefront’s branding, navigation, pages, and merchandising using native Storefront tools...

                                                                

Find what you need in under 30 seconds

                                                           

 

                                               

1. Quick Start: How Storefront Works (Start here if this is your first time)

Storefront is the customer-facing website connected to Elite. It allows you to control how products, categories, and pages appear online without changing your counter-side setup. Changes made in Storefront affect what customers see online only.

 

A) What Storefront Is (and Isn’t)

  • Storefront is: A configurable website for customer rentals and sales

  • Storefront is not: A replacement for Elite configuration or counter workflows

 

B) What You Can Customize vs. What Comes from Elite

Automatically comes from Elite

  • Items

  • Categories

  • Specifications

  • Pricing logic

 

Configured in Storefront

  • Navigation structure

  • Page layout and content

  • Branding (colors, logo, favicon)

  • Category visibility

  • Promotions and collections

  • Product sorting behavior

 

C) Key Capabilities at a Glance

  • Navigation up to four levels deep

  • Products can appear in multiple categories

  • Custom pages and homepage layouts

  • Mobile-first design and modern checkout experience

  • Manual, on-demand RMS data synchronization

  • Automatic customer quote confirmation emails

 

D) Backend Mental Model (Important)

To simplify setup, think of Storefront like this:

  • Themes = Colors

  • Front End Configuration = Branding & identity, and system-level settings

  • Front End Custom Menu = Pages, navigation, and structure

 

E) Where to Get Started

  1. Gear icon in the top right corner > ECommerce under Configuration Areas > Storefront Configuration Screen.
     

  2. Sign in. 



  3. Once logged in, go to Configuration and choose an option. 

     
    • Themes = Colors
    • Front End Configuration = Settings
    • Front End Custom Menu = Pages

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2. Branding & Visual Setup (Everything that controls how your site looks)

 

A) Themes (Colors & Accessibility)

Themes control storefront colors, including headers, navigation bars, buttons, and highlights.

 

Steps

  1. In Elite, go to Storefront Configuration > Themes.

  2. Click Confirm on the accessibility warning.

  3. Edit an existing theme or select New Theme.

  4. Enable Advanced Mode.

 

Supported formats

  • RGB (RGB(255,255,255))

  • Hex (#FFFFFF)

 

B) Accessibility Guardrails (What You Can & Can’t Change)

  • Text and icon colors automatically adjust for contrast.

  • This supports accessibility compliance.

  • Some combinations are intentionally restricted.

 

C)  Pro Tips for Color Usage

  • Use 3–4 colors for best results.

  • Match:

    • Header Color + Header/Date Background Button

    • Title/Heading Color + Category Text Highlight Color

 

D. Saving & Publishing Changes

  1. Ensure Front End is selected.

  2. Click Save.

  3. Wait for confirmation.

  4. Refresh the storefront to view changes.

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3. Logos, Icons & Identity (Your brand assets)

 

A) Uploading Your Main Logo

  1. Go to Front End Configuration.

  2. Locate the Logo field.

  3. Click Choose File, select your image, and click Open.

  4. Click Save.

  5. Refresh the storefront.

 

B) Logo Requirements (Light vs Dark Backgrounds)

  • Use a .png file.

  • Transparent background required for dark headers.

  • White logos may appear invisible in the upload preview.

 

C) Adding a Favicon

Favicons appear in browser tabs and saved mobile links. See the example below.

 

Requirements

  • File type: .png

  • Recommended: square image

 

Steps

  1. In Front End Configuration, locate Favicon.

  2. Upload the image.

  3. Click Save.

  4. Refresh the storefront.

 

D) Best Practices for Image Quality

  • Use high-resolution images.

  • Avoid placing text near image edges.

  • Follow recommended dimensions when available.

 

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4. Navigation & Site Structure (The most powerful part of Storefront)

 

A) How Navigation Works (Up to 4 Levels Deep)

  • Navigation can be nested up to four levels.

  • Changes do not affect Elite’s counter-side setup.

 

B) Folders vs Pages vs Item Containers

  • Menu Category: Folder for organizing pages

  • Custom Content: Informational page

  • Item Container: Displays products

 

C) Reordering Menu Items

  1. Open Front End Custom Menu.

  2. Drag items using the six-dot handle.

  3. Release in the desired position.

 

D) Saving Navigation Changes (Critical)

  1. Click the Save button for the menu hierarchy.

  2. Refresh the storefront.

 

The navigation hierarchy has its own Save button and must be saved separately.

 

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5. Product sorting( Catalog Display Order)

Unified Storefront includes product sorting controls that allow Store Admins to customize how products appear within their catalog. This setting applies across all catalog categories.

A) Who Can Configure Sorting

  • Store Admins via Front End Configuration

                                                

B) Where to Configure Product Sorting

  1. Navigate to Front End Configuration

  2. Locate the Item Sorting section (rightmost column)

  3. Find the dropdown labeled Item Field Sorting on Storefront

              

                                           

C) Available Sorting Options

  • Sort by Item Name

  • Sort by Web Group

                                                           

D) How Sorting Works

  • Storefront always considers both Item Name and Web Group

  • The selected option becomes the primary sort field; the other acts as a secondary sort field

                                    

If Sort by Web Group is selected:

    • Items with a Web Group appear first

    • Those items are sorted alphabetically by Web Group

    • Remaining items are sorted alphabetically by Item Name

If Sort by Item Name is selected:

    • All items are sorted alphabetically by Item Name

    • Web Group acts as the secondary rule

                             

E) Important Behavior to Know

  • Sorting applies across every catalog category

  • Item Name sorting is alphanumeric (items starting with numbers appear before letters)

                                                               

F) Saving Changes

  1. After changing the sort option:

    • Refresh the storefront to view updated sorting.

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6. Managing Categories from Elite (What customers see — and what they don’t)

                                    

A) Imported Categories from Elite.

All Elite categories are imported into Storefront by default.

 

B) When to Delete vs Blacklist

  • Delete from menu: Hides a category from navigation only (items remain available internally). For example, the items still exist, and you can select them to add to any menu item you create.

  • Blacklist: Removes storefront references and is best for internal-only categories.

 

C) Blacklist/Delete Categories from Navigation

Use this option to hide a category from customers while keeping it available internally.

  • In Front End Custom Menu, find the category.

  • Click the trash can icon next to the category.

  • Click Save (menu hierarchy), then refresh the storefront.

 

 

D) Blacklisting Categories (Advanced)

ℹ️ Blacklisting removes storefront references for that category (including associations and images). Use with care.

 

Use blacklisting for internal-only categories (for example, Labor or Customer Work Orders) that should not appear in Storefront.

 

  1. In Front End Custom Menu, click Manage Storefront Categories.

     

  2. Search for the category (or use pagination).

  3. Select the category checkbox.

  4. Click Toggle Category Blacklist.

     

  5. Refresh the storefront.

 

E) Viewing Disabled Categories

  1. Open Manage Storefront Categories.

  2. Click Quick Filters.

  3. Select Show Disabled to view blacklisted categories.

 

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7. Pages & Page Types 

 

A) Menu Categories (Folders)

Menu Categories are folders used to organize pages and sub-pages.

 

  • Best for: top-level navigation groups (for example, Rentals, Sales, Resources)

  • Can contain: Custom Content pages, Item Containers, links, and other folders

 

B) Custom Content Pages (About, Delivery, Resources)

Custom Content pages are informational pages that support formatted text and HTML.

 

Each Custom Content page typically includes:

  • Custom Header Content (above the main section)

  • Main Content

  • Footer Content (below the main section)

 

C) Item Containers (Product Displays)

Item Containers display products on a page. Use them to show:

  • All products from an Elite category

  • A hand-picked list of products (for collections or promotions)

 

 

D) Internal vs External Links

  • Internal Link: Links to another page within the storefront

  • External Link: Links to a URL outside the storefront

 

E) Contact Page Setup

Contact Pages create a contact form that sends inquiries to the email address you specify.

 

F) Create a new page (any type)

  1. Select Configuration > Front End Custom Menu Setup

     

  2. In Front End Custom Menu, click New Top Level Menu Item.

      

  3. Select the page type.

     

  4. Configure settings in the right panel.

  5. Click Save (menu hierarchy if changed), then refresh the storefront.

 

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8. Homepage Configuration (Designing your storefront’s first impression)

A) Setting a Page as the Home Page

  1. Select Configuration > Front End Custom Menu Setup
     
     

  2. Open the page you want to use as the homepage (typically a Custom Content page).

  3. Select This is the Home Page.

     

  4. Click Save, then refresh the storefront.

 

B) Category Grid Display

Use the Category Grid to highlight best-selling or seasonal categories on your homepage.

 

  1. Open your Home Page in Front End Custom Menu.

     

  2. Scroll to Category Grid Display.

  3. Select the number of boxes (3–12). Recommended: 4, 8, or 12.

     

  4. Select the categories to display.

     

  5. Arrange categories in the order you want them to appear.

  6. Click Save, then refresh the storefront.

 

💡Homepage Best Practices

 

  • Highlight your most-requested categories and seasonal items.
  • Refresh the grid seasonally (for example, swap Lawn & Garden with Snow Removal).
  • Avoid overcrowding—choose categories that customers search for most.

 

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9. Sliders & Visual Merchandising (Hero images, banners, and promotions)

A) When to Use Sliders

  • Homepage hero content

  • Category header images

  • Promotions or announcements

 

B) Slider Types

  • X-Large: Full-screen hero. Image size: X-Large: 1920 × 953

     

  • Large: Category header / wide banner. Image Size: Large - 1920 × 500


  • Banner: Inline graphic. Image Size - 1200 × 236

 

C) Creating a Slider (Step-by-Step)

  1. Open the page (Home Page or Item Container) in Front End Custom Menu.

     

  2. Click Add Custom Slider.

     

  3. Select the slider size.

     

  4. Select Image (most common) or Color.

       

  5. Click the + area to upload an image.


  6. Click Done to complete the upload.


  7. Add slide text (optional).

     

  8. Add up to two call-to-action buttons (text + URL) if needed. You can add up to two buttons per slide. Each button requires button text and a URL.

     

  9. Click Save, then refresh the storefront. Add additional images.

 

D) Transitions & Timing Best Practices

  • Recommended timing: 6–9 seconds

  • Fade is the most commonly used transition

  • If you use a single image, the slider behaves like a static banner

 

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10. Content Editing & Layout (What appears on the page)

A) Custom Header Content

Appears above the main content area on a Custom Content page.

 

B) Main Content Area

The primary section for text, links, and embedded media.

 

C) Footer Content

Appears below the main content area.

 

D) Text Editor vs HTML Editor

Storefront uses a single Toggle HTML button for editing content.

Whether content is sanitized depends on user permissions, not the field being edited.

  • Use the visual editor for basic formatting and quick updates.

  • Use the HTML editor for advanced layout control.

 

Non-Privileged Users

  • Content is always sanitized.

  • Unsupported HTML elements (such as forms or scripts) are stripped on save.

  • Behavior is identical to the previous visual editor.

Privileged Users (Admin / PR Admin)

  • Sanitization is disabled.

  • Full HTML content is preserved.

  • Users may insert custom HTML, scripts, or forms.

  • HTML remains editable after saving when toggling HTML view.

Permissions follow the same rules previously used for Raw View access.

 

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11. RMS Data Synchronization 

Unified Storefront supports manual, on-demand data synchronization with your RMS. This allows you to update website data without waiting for scheduled background processing.

                                  

A) What This Solves

  • Eliminates delays between RMS changes and website updates

  • Reduces reliance on Support for timing-related sync questions

  • Provides clear visibility into sync activity and outcomes

                                         

B) Who Can Run a Manual Sync

  • Store Admins (for their own store)

  • Super Admins (across stores)

  • Sync activity is shared across roles. If one user starts a sync, the other will see it in progress.

                                                  

C) How to Run a Manual Sync (Store Admin)

Manual sync allows admins to update storefront data immediately without waiting for the daily sync.

  1. Open Front End Configuration

  2. Locate the RMS Data Synchronization section

  3. Click Sync All Data from RMS

   

                                           

D) What Happens During Sync

  • The sync button disables and shows an in-progress state

  • Once complete, the Last Synced date/time updates automatically

  • Only one sync can run at a time to prevent conflicts

  • The sync refreshes key website data such as categories, inventory, and supporting catalog data

                                         

E) Visibility & Status (Super Admin)

Super Admins can view:

  • Last sync time per data set

  • Status (Running, Completed, Failed)

  • Records processed vs. updated

  • Completion timestamps

 

                                                                                    

F) Timing Expectations (Important)

  • Manual sync leverages the same background tasks that run every 60 minutes

  • Changes may not appear immediately after clicking Sync

  • Most updates appear within the next processing window

  • If changes are not visible after 60 minutes, run the sync again

This behavior is expected and does not indicate a failure.

 

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12. Collections, Promotions & Advanced Merchandising (High-impact, optional setup)

A) What Is a Collection?

A collection is a custom grouping of products independent of Elite categories.

 

B) Use Cases

  • Seasonal promotions

  • Project-based groupings

  • Weather-driven events

 

C) Creating a Collection (Step-by-Step Example)

  1. In Front End Custom Menu, Click New Top Level Menu Item.


  2.  Create a Menu Category named Collection. 

  3. Add a nested Item Container (for example, Storm Cleanup). (in the example it is within the “Catalogs” section) 

     

  4. Click Save (menu hierarchy).

  5. On the Item Container page, select items:

    • Choose a full category (dropdown), or

    • Search and select specific items (checkboxes)
        

  6. Click Save, then refresh the storefront.

 

D) Adding Items to Multiple Categories

Items can appear in more than one Storefront category without duplication. Scroll down to the item selection section. 

 

E) Best Practices for Cross-Merchandising

  • Group products by customer needs (use-case), not internal naming.

  • Reuse high-demand items across relevant collections.

  • Keep collections seasonal or campaign-based so they stay current.

 

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13. Quote Confirmation Emails 

Unified Storefront automatically sends a quote confirmation email when a customer submits a rental request during checkout.

                              

A) Who Gets This Feature

  • All Elite customers using Unified Storefront

  • All future customers adopting Unified Storefront

                                           

B) How It Works

  • When a customer submits a rental request at the end of checkout, a confirmation email is automatically sent

  • The email is sent to the address provided during checkout

  • No configuration or setup is required

                                             

C) Important Behavior to Know

  • Email delivery is enabled by default

  • This setting cannot be disabled

  • No action is required from Store Admins

  • Sender address appears as a no-reply or system-generated store email in production

                                                      

D) What Customers Receive

The email includes:

  • Subject line such as: Your Quote Request with

  • Confirmation that the quote request was submitted

  • Rental start and end dates

  • List of requested items with quantities

  • Store name in the signature

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14. Final Review & Best Practices

A) Refreshing & Validating Changes

  • After every Save, refresh the storefront to confirm the update.

  • Test navigation on desktop and mobile.

  • Confirm hidden/blacklisted categories are not visible to customers.

                                                        

B) Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting to click the menu hierarchy Save button after reordering navigation

  • Making too many color changes at once (hard to diagnose)

  • Overusing sliders (can distract from shopping)

  • Blacklisting categories that you still need for storefront merchandising

  • Assuming manual sync failures when updates are delayed

  • Expecting quote emails to be configurable

                                      

C) How to Think Like a Customer

Organize navigation and categories based on how customers search for equipment—not how your internal categories are structured. Aim for simple, intuitive labels and a small number of clicks to reach popular items.

 

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Release Information

Several features in this guide are scheduled for release in USF 2026.01.

Tentative release window:

  • Week of January 12, 2026

 

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