Bulk SMS for retail
Bulk SMS for shops, salons and restaurants
Bring customers back with specials, new stock and birthday offers, and tell them the moment their order is ready or their booking is due.
- Specials and new stock
- Order-ready alerts
- From 22c an SMS
Main Street Butchery: Braai packs 20% off this Friday and Saturday. Show this SMS at the till. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Lounge Hair Studio: See you tomorrow at 14:00 for your cut and colour. Reply C to cancel.
Corner Cafe: Hi Sam, your order is ready for collection at the counter. Thank you!
Bulk SMS for retail
What shops, salons and restaurants send by SMS
Specials bring people in. Order and booking messages keep them happy.
Main Street Butchery: Braai packs 20% off this Friday and Saturday. Show this SMS at the till. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Bloom Boutique: Hi Naledi, the dress you ordered is in. We're open until 17:00 today and 13:00 on Saturday.
Lounge Hair Studio: See you tomorrow at 14:00 for your cut and colour. Reply C to cancel.
Corner Cafe: Payday special! 2 burgers and 2 cooldrinks for R149 until Sunday. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Bloom Boutique: Happy birthday, Anele! Enjoy 15% off one item this week. Show this SMS in store. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Bloom Boutique: Winter sale! Up to 50% off coats and boots from Thursday. Come early for the best sizes. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Specials end with Reply STOP to opt out. Order and booking messages don't need it. More ideas in our SMS templates.
Why SMS
Why SMS works for retail
Specials on the lock screen
Weekend deals, payday offers and new stock arrive as a notification.
Order-ready alerts
Tell customers the moment their order or alteration is ready to collect.
Booking reminders
Salons, spas and restaurants remind clients the day before and take cancellations by reply.
Birthday and loyalty offers
Personal offers with the customer's name bring regulars back.
Easy to measure
Ask customers to show the SMS at the till and count the sales it brings in.
Lists per store or interest
Send specials only to the customers who care, like one branch or one product type.
Getting started
Send your first special in four steps
Build your list
Ask at the till, on your website and on order forms if customers want SMS specials, with a box they tick themselves.
Write a short offer
Your name, the offer, the deadline and how to claim it, ending with Reply STOP to opt out.
Send at the right time
Weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00 or Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00. Plan a Sunday special for Saturday morning.
Count the results
Count the SMS shown at the till and compare sales with a normal week.
What bulk SMS costs a shop
Here's a typical month for a shop with 2,000 customers on its SMS list.
| Message | How many | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Specials to the whole list | 2 × 2,000 | 4,000 |
| Order-ready messages | 300 | 300 |
| Total a month | 4,300 |
The Growth pack (5,000 SMS for R1,350) covers a month like this. The credits used cost about R1,161, or 58c per customer on your list, with no VAT added.
SMS packsPer SMS · Pack
- 1,000 SMSR0.30R300
- 5,000 SMSR0.27R1,350
- 10,000 SMSR0.25R2,500
- 20,000 SMSR0.23R4,600
- 50,000 SMSR0.22R11,000
Final prices · No VAT added · No monthly fees
SMS marketing rules for shops
Specials and offers are direct marketing, so POPIA and the Consumer Protection Act apply.
- Only send specials to customers who opted in, or to existing customers about products like the ones they bought, if you offered an opt-out when you took their number and include one in every message.
- Start with your business name and end with Reply STOP to opt out.
- No marketing SMS on Sundays or public holidays, unless the customer agreed to it. Saturdays are 09:00 to 13:00, and weekdays 08:00 to 20:00.
- Order-ready messages and booking reminders aren't marketing, so keep promotions out of them.
People on a bought list never agreed to hear from you, so marketing to them breaks POPIA.
A simple slip or tablet form works: name, cellphone number and an unticked box that says Yes, send me SMS specials. Keep the slips or the record of when people signed up.
Questions
Questions shops and salons ask
How do I collect customer numbers legally?
Ask customers if they want SMS specials, with a box they tick themselves, at the till, on your website or on order forms. Keep a record of when and how each person said yes.
Can I send specials on a Sunday?
No. The Consumer Protection Act regulations don't allow direct marketing on Sundays or public holidays, unless the customer agreed to it. Send a Sunday special on Saturday morning instead.
What should a special SMS include?
Your business name, the offer, when it ends, how to claim it and Reply STOP to opt out. Show this SMS at the till is an easy way to claim.
Can I add the customer's name?
Yes. Upload a spreadsheet with a name column and the portal adds each customer's name to their message.
How often should a shop send specials?
Start with one or two a month and watch your opt-outs. Regular, useful offers keep people on your list.
Can salons send booking reminders?
Yes. Booking reminders aren't marketing, so they can go to every client with a booking. Clients can reply to cancel.
More industries
Bulk SMS for other industries
Bulk SMS for schools
Hillview Primary: School closes at 12:00 on Friday for the staff meeting. Aftercare runs as normal.
Fee reminders, closures and sports updates to every parent.
See how it worksSMS reminders for medical practices
Smile Dental: Your check-up is tomorrow at 10:00. Reply YES to confirm or call us to move it.
Appointment reminders that patients confirm by reply.
See how it worksBulk SMS for churches and NGOs
Grace Community Church: This Sunday's service starts at 09:30. Bring a friend!
Service times, events and urgent notices for members.
See how it worksReady to fill your shop this weekend?
WhatsApp us your business name and how many customers are on your list. We'll help you send your first special.