Retail SMS is the fastest and most efficient channel to reach your customers. From quickly answering customer questions and sending promotions and invites to keeping staff up to speed and communicating with vendors, texting is ideal for rapid communications.

Customer Service

There are countless ways to use SMS for retail to boost customer service. People enjoy responsive service, and while texting completely satisfies that desire, it can also be used proactively to convert browsers to customers.

Let’s say a prospective customer comes into your brick-and-mortar store. They look around but can’t find a dress for a special occasion. Instead of thanking them for coming in and sending them on their way, a sales associate can let them know a new shipment of summer dresses is expected in the next few days, offering to text the customer as soon as it arrives. The text will come from the store’s number, not a personal mobile number, giving your store a more professional feel.

You can promote your texting ability with each customer, letting them know if they need anything, such as checking on products or asking questions about the store or sales, they can simply text the number and someone will reply within the hour. 

You can also use SMS texting in your store to let customers know that you shipped them their product and provide them with a tracking number. Perhaps their alterations are ready for pickup or you want to remind them they have an item on hold. Texting is the perfect way to gently remind them and provide excellent customer service.

Promos, Sales and Invites

Speaking of sales, SMS for retail is perfect for sending your subscribers invitations to exclusive sales, notifying them of upcoming sales and events, announcing updated store hours, keeping them in the know about new arrivals, and even follow-up thank yous.

For example, maybe you are looking to get more people in the door in the late afternoons because it’s typically the slowest time of day for your store. Announce a flash sale via text to your opt-ins, saying something like: “FLASH SALE @ Molly’s today only! All sales 4-6:00 are 20% off + FREE glass of wine!” 

Texting is a personal way to communicate and build relationships with customers. In turn, those customers develop a greater sense of loyalty to your brand.

Staff Communications

It’s much easier to manage shifts and your staff when everyone is on the same page. Instead of texting from your personal device, use your own business landline to text your team. Everyone gets the same message, including shift needs, assignments and changes. 

You can also use the texting platform to inform staff of upcoming events, such as training, sales, VIP promos and inventory audits. Yes, you could use a regular texting channel, but when you use a business SMS texting platform instead, all of your business text messages are organized in one place, easily accessible and trackable. 

Vendor Communications

You run a business, so show your vendors you are professional by texting them directly from your business phone number instead of a personal number. With texting, you likely have less wait for a response than you do with emails. You can check on an order, inquire about an out-of-stock item for a customer while they’re still in your store, request a catalog, or use it for many other types of communication.

Of course, your vendors will need to accept text messages from their own platform or mobile device. If they aren’t, you can take the opportunity to convince them how much more efficient it is than email or phone calls.