Build your vendor directory
Import a spreadsheet, match your website, and add it like a video. No credit card required.
A vendor, supplier or provider directory has one job: let people find the right entry near them, filtered by what they need. StoreRocket is a store locator, so it fits a directory where location matters: entries with addresses, a map and distance sorting. A short list that rarely changes can live on a simple page or table. A directory with many entries, categories to filter by and a team that updates a spreadsheet instead of editing a web page needs search, filters and a map, and that is what StoreRocket is built for.
StoreRocket makes only store locators, and we have been building them since 2018. StoreRocket hosts the locator and delivers updates through the embed already on your site, so your team edits entries in the dashboard or a spreadsheet and nobody maintains map code. You can create your locator and load your own entry list during the free trial. We make StoreRocket, so weigh our view with that in mind.
Related: Searchable database guide · Healthcare networks · Manufacturers & distributors
The short answer
A simple map is enough when
- Your list is short, rarely changes and a table or PDF already does the job.
- People do not need to find an entry near them, so distance does not matter.
- Visitors only browse, and never filter by category or search by place.
- Someone is happy to edit the page by hand whenever an entry changes.
Use StoreRocket when
- Visitors need to find an entry near them, filtered by category, service or specialty.
- Entries have addresses, and a map with distance sorting is the reason people use the directory.
- Your team keeps the list in a spreadsheet and wants the directory to follow it (sync depends on the plan).
- You want to see what visitors search for and which entries they click (depends on the plan).
Only a few locations and no budget? You may not need a store locator at all. A free embedded map with a pin for each location is fine when the list is short, rarely changes and visitors only need to see where you are. Our guide to free store locator options compares them.
Who Publishes Directories Like This
- Associations and chambers — member and vendor directories your members actually get found in
- Franchises and buying groups — approved supplier directories for franchisees
- Manufacturers — authorized distributor and dealer directories
- Healthcare networks and insurers — public provider finders patients can search by specialty and location
- Municipalities and universities — approved vendor and contractor lists
- Event organizers — exhibitor and vendor directories that outlive the event
If the entries have a name, attributes, and (usually) a location, it fits.
What a Real Directory Needs
| Requirement | The directory-software version | The static-page version |
|---|---|---|
| Finding an entry | Search by address or place, with results sorted by distance (name search depends on the plan) | Ctrl+F and scrolling |
| Filtering | Filter by category, service, certification, region | None |
| Entry details | Contact details, custom fields and buttons in each entry's details panel | One cramped table row |
| Updates | Edit a spreadsheet or dashboard — the directory updates itself | Edit HTML, hope nothing breaks |
| Scale | Plans sized by the number of entries, with nearby pins grouped into clusters | Harder to scan as the list grows |
| Mobile | A phone layout | Pinch and zoom |
How It Works in StoreRocket
- Import your list — upload a CSV or Excel file. Google Sheets sync and the REST API depend on the plan (see pricing). Columns become fields and filters on each entry.
- Model the entries — custom fields hold whatever your directory needs: services, certifications, specialties, contract status, hours.
- Add categories and filters — vendors by trade, suppliers by product line, providers by specialty. Visitors narrow a long list to the right handful.
- Embed it — paste one embed code, copied from the Install page, on the page of your site where the directory should appear.
- Keep it current — edit locations in the dashboard, or create a StoreRocket-linked Google spreadsheet and edit that sheet. Run Sync from Sheets or enable automatic daily sync for sheet changes to reach the directory.
Because every entry can carry an address, you get what a directory of places needs most, already built and maintained: "near me" search, distance sorting and an interactive map.
Directory Software vs. Generic No-Code Databases
Tools like Airtable or Knack are excellent general-purpose databases. The difference is specialization: StoreRocket is built for directories where location matters. Imports place each address on the map for you, you set the search distance, and, on a plan with analytics, you see what visitors search for and which entries they click. If your directory is really a list of places or organizations people need to reach, the specialized tool wins. If it's project tracking or inventory, use the general tool.
The growth layer that comes built in
Because StoreRocket is a full store locator platform, your directory inherits the revenue features:
- Buttons on each entry — "Contact this vendor" or "Request a quote", each linking to that vendor's own website or your quote form
- Lead capture (depends on the plan) — when a search finds nothing nearby, visitors can leave their details, and the lead lands in your dashboard: a record of unmet demand
- Analytics and a search map (depends on the plan) — see what visitors search for and where, spot gaps in your network
- Multi-language support (depends on the plan) — the locator's built-in text switches between languages; your entry content is not translated
Get your directory live
StoreRocket gives teams that publish a vendor, supplier or provider directory a store locator for their own website: import your entries from a spreadsheet, match it to your brand and paste one embed code. Create your locator with a free trial, no credit card needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a store locator cost to run for a vendor, supplier or provider directory?
It depends on the plan, which is sized by the number of locations: see pricing. You can start with a free trial, no credit card needed. During the trial StoreRocket supplies the map. After you subscribe you connect your own Google Maps or Mapbox key and pay that provider directly for map usage.
What is vendor directory software?
Vendor directory software lets an organization publish a searchable list of vendors on its website — each with categories and contact details — managed from a central data source instead of hand-edited pages. StoreRocket does this from a spreadsheet import and adds search, filters, a map and, on some plans, lead capture.
Can I build a supplier directory from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Import your supplier list via CSV or Excel and map its columns to fields and filters. For ongoing Google Sheets sync (depends on the plan), create a linked spreadsheet from StoreRocket's dashboard, then edit that sheet using its template columns. Run Sync from Sheets or enable automatic daily sync to update the directory. See the Google Sheets setup guide.
Does it work for healthcare provider directories?
For public-facing provider finders, yes: patients can search by address or place, filter providers by specialty, and open each provider's details and directions in Google Maps. Name search depends on the plan. Note that StoreRocket is a website directory and finder — it's not credentialing or payer data-management software, and doesn't replace compliance systems.
Do directory entries need a physical address?
Each entry needs an address or coordinates to appear on the map. Imports place each address on the map for you, and rows that already have latitude and longitude keep them. A full street address puts the pin on the exact spot and makes distances precise.
How many entries can a directory hold?
It depends on the plan, which is sized by the number of locations: see pricing. Nearby pins group into clusters on the map, so a long list stays readable.
Can visitors filter by category or service?
Yes — filters and categories are core features. Tag entries by trade, specialty, product line, certification, or anything else in your data, and visitors combine filters with search and location.
How is this different from a WordPress directory plugin?
It runs on any website that accepts an embed block, not just WordPress. StoreRocket hosts the locator, and you paste one embed code.
People are looking for a vendor right now
Import your locations from a spreadsheet, match the locator to your website, and add it where you would add a video.
7 days free · No card · No automatic charge · see a live locator first