GridlyWhat is what: plugin, connector and skills
Three things are called "plugin" or "connector" around Gridly. Here is what each one does, with one example shop.
Meet Priya. She sells candles with WooCommerce. She wants to ask Claude "how did my shop do last week?" and get a real answer. Three pieces make that work.
1. The Gridly plugin in WordPress (free): connects your shop
This is what you install in WordPress. It adds WooCommerce → GridlyPaper with a Connect to Gridly button. Priya clicks it, clicks Approve, and Gridly can now read her shop. Without this step, Claude cannot see her orders at all. Prefer not to install it? You can connect from Gridly instead, so the plugin is the easy way, not the only way. Install the plugin.
2. The Gridly connector in Claude: the phone line
This lives on Claude's side. In Claude it is listed under Customize → Connectors. Priya clicks Connect once and signs in with her email. From then on Claude can phone Gridly to ask about her shop. The connector is the product itself: it holds all the questions Claude can ask (sales, stock, orders, customers) and all the safe changes (with a preview and an undo).
3. Skills and shortcuts: ready-made routines (optional)
A skill is a recipe card that tells Claude how to do a common job well. For example, "weekly check": compare this week with last, list the top 3 products, mention only what needs attention. A command is a shortcut for a skill: Priya types /gridly:low-stock instead of explaining what she wants. Skills and shortcuts come in an optional Claude plugin (a starter pack of the connector plus skills) that we have submitted to Claude's directory and that Anthropic is reviewing. You do not need it: the connector alone already answers every question.
Do I need all three?
| Piece | Needed? | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Gridly plugin in WordPress | Recommended (or connect from Gridly) | Connects your shop in one click |
| Gridly connector in Claude | Yes | Lets Claude ask Gridly about your shop |
| Skills and shortcuts (Claude plugin) | Optional | The same answers in a consistent, ready-made form |
A common mix-up
The WordPress plugin (step 1) and the Claude plugin (step 3) have the same name but are different things. The first sits in your shop and connects it. The second sits in Claude and holds routines. If you only remember one thing: install the WordPress plugin once, connect Gridly in Claude once, then ask your questions.
Next: Getting started or the prompt library.