Retail Widgets turn spare merchant space into a selling channel
A Retail Widget is the small printable commerce layer that makes SideStore work in the real world. It connects one product, one merchant host and one placement to a mobile checkout, live stock count and settlement record.
What a Retail Widget does
A Retail Widget is not a generic QR code. It is a placement-aware commerce object: shoppers scan it, buy on mobile, and SideStore records which product sold, where it sold, which merchant hosted it and how the payout should split.
Why makers need it
Independent makers can access physical distribution without opening a store, renting a booth or managing a point-of-sale system. The widget makes each side placement measurable, payable and repeatable.
- Mobile scan-to-pay checkout
- Product and merchant attribution
- Stock tracking by placement
- Automatic maker and merchant split settlement
Why merchants need it
Merchant hosts can monetize idle shelf, counter or floor space without buying inventory. They host products that fit their space, earn commission when they sell, and avoid card fees, stock ownership and manual reconciliation.
Built by PolyCraft Studios
Retail Widget is an innovation of SideStore, built by PolyCraft Studios. It brings programmable consignment into small physical retail environments without asking either side to run enterprise retail software.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Retail Widget just a QR code?
No. The QR is the visible entry point, but the widget also carries placement context, stock state, checkout routing, merchant attribution and settlement logic.
Where can a Retail Widget be placed?
On a product tag, shelf label, counter display, hang tag or small sign beside the product. The goal is to make checkout self-serve and obvious at the point of discovery.
Who owns the product stock?
The maker keeps ownership of consigned stock until it sells. The merchant hosts the product and earns the agreed commission on each completed sale.