How to Bulk Import Hundreds of Store Locations (CSV Guide)

Adding store locations one by one is fine when you have five stores. When you have 50, 200, or 1,000+ locations, you need a bulk import process that actually works. Here’s exactly how to do it with Pinbly.

When You Need Bulk Import

Bulk import is essential for:

• Franchise brands launching a locator for the first time
• Retail chains migrating from another store locator tool
• CPG companies listing all retail partners that carry their products
• Seasonal updates — adding pop-up locations or removing closed stores

Preparing Your CSV File

Pinbly accepts standard CSV files. Here’s the recommended column structure:

• name — Store or location name
• address — Full street address
• city — City name
• state — State or province
• zip — Postal code
• country — Country code (US, CA, UK, etc.)
• phone — Contact number
• email — Contact email
• website — Location-specific URL (optional)
• hours — Business hours (e.g., “Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM”)
• lat — Latitude (optional — Pinbly geocodes automatically)
• lng — Longitude (optional)

Step-by-Step Import Process

1. Download the Template

In your Pinbly dashboard, go to Locations > Import and download the CSV template. This ensures your columns match exactly what Pinbly expects.

2. Fill In Your Data

Paste your store data into the template. A few tips:

• Use consistent formatting for addresses (don’t abbreviate “Street” in some rows and spell it out in others)
• Include country codes for international locations
• Leave lat/lng blank if you don’t have coordinates — Pinbly will geocode from the address

3. Upload and Review

Upload your CSV file. Pinbly will preview the data, flag any rows with issues (missing address, invalid format, etc.), and let you fix them before importing.

4. Confirm and Import

Once everything looks good, hit Import. Pinbly processes locations in batches, so even large files (1,000+ rows) complete in under a minute.

After the Import

All imported locations immediately appear on your store locator map and get their own SEO-optimized location pages. You can edit any location individually if you need to add photos, custom attributes, or unique descriptions.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Duplicate locations — Pinbly detects duplicates by address, but double-check your CSV first
• Special characters — Make sure your CSV is UTF-8 encoded to handle accents and international characters
• Missing required fields — Name and address are required; everything else is optional but recommended

Need help with your import? Our support team can review your CSV file and help you get set up. Start your free trial and import your first batch today.