Marketing FAQs | Understanding discounts and promotions

Discount rules are a powerful tool for increasing sales and attracting new customers. This guide explains how to set up different discounts, such as flash sales and coupons, to drive conversions and boost customer engagement. We'll cover the various discount options available in Shoplazza, from promotions and flash sales to coupons, promo codes, and app-based solutions. Using these tools effectively can significantly impact your sales performance and customer satisfaction.

Amount off promotions

Use Amount Off promotions to encourage customers to buy more. Promotions can be a great way to incentivize larger orders and increase your overall sales. Discounts in Shoplazza are applied in a specific order, which is important to understand when combining promotions. The order is: Specific Product, then Specific Collection, then Storewide. This means if you have a discount that applies to a specific product and another to the collection that the product is in, the specific product discount will be applied first. Then, any applicable collection discount will be applied. Finally, storewide discounts are applied last. This hierarchy lets you create very targeted promotions. For example, you could offer a big discount on a single popular item (Specific Product), a smaller discount on all items in its category (Specific Collection), and a small, general discount for all customers (Storewide).

1. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Marketing > Amount off.

2. Activity types: Choose from these promotion types:

• Spend X Save Y: Encourage customers to spend more to unlock savings. For example, offer $10 off when they spend $50.
• Buy X Get Discount: Offer discounts for buying multiple items. This could be a percentage off, like 20% off when you buy 3 items, or a discount on a specific item, like "Buy 2, get the 3rd at 50% off."
• Buy X Save Y: Similar to "Buy X Get Discount," this option allows you to set a specific amount off instead of a percentage. For example, buy 2 items and save $5.
• Spend X Get Discount: Offer a discount on a specific item or group of items when customers spend a certain amount. For example, you could give away a free t-shirt when you spend $100.

3. Discount rules: The discount is applied to the product's selling price.

4. Detailed instructions: See our Creating a Buy X Get Y campaign guide.

Flash sales promotions

Create exciting flash sales to drive quick purchases. Flash sales create a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging customers to take advantage of limited-time offers.

1. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Marketing > Flash Sales.

2. Activity types: Choose the type of flash sale you want to run:

• Fixed discount: Offer a consistent discount percentage across all sale items. For example, 25% off everything in the sale.
• Fixed price reduction: The price of each item in the sale is reduced by a set amount, such as $10 off all sale items.
• Fixed price: Set a specific price for each item in the sale, regardless of its original price. This is great for clearance sales.

3. Discount rules: The promotional price is discounted based on the product's original price.

Coupons

Offer coupon codes to give customers a special discount. Coupons give customers a tangible incentive to purchase, helping to drive conversions and increase customer loyalty.

1. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Marketing > Coupons.

2. Activity types: Choose how your coupons will work:

• Discount: Offer a percentage-based discount with the coupon. For example, a 15% off coupon.
• Fixed price reduction: Reduce the price by a set amount with the coupon. For example, a $5 off coupon.

3. Discount rules: The discount applies to the product's selling price.

Discount codes

Use promo codes to give targeted discounts. Promo codes allow for targeted promotions and can be used to track the effectiveness of specific campaigns. Remember, customers can only use one promo code per order.

1. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Marketing > Discount codes.

2. Activity types: Choose the type of discount code you want to create:

• Discount: Use the discount code to offer a percentage-based discount, such as 10% off for email subscribers.
• Fixed price reduction: Reduce the price by a set amount with the discount code. For example, a $20 off code for first-time customers.
• Buy X Get Y: Offer a free gift with a qualifying purchase using the discount code. For example, get a free tote bag with a purchase of $50 or more.
• Free shipping: Offer free shipping on qualifying orders with the discount code.

3. Discount rules: The discount applies to the product's selling price.

Gift with purchase

Encourage spending by offering free gifts. The Discount with Purchase app   incentivizes customers to spend more by offering a free gift with qualifying purchases, increasing overall order value. Some gifts require customers to select them on a separate page during checkout.

1. Discount rules: The discount applies to the product's selling price.

2. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Apps > Visit App Store. Search for Discount with Purchase and install the app.

3. Activity types: Set up different types of gift with purchase promotions:

• Buy X Get Free: Offer a free gift when customers buy a certain number of items. For example, buy 3 items and get a 4th free.
• Spend X Get Free: Offer a free gift when customers spend a certain amount. For example, you could give away a free travel bag when you spend $150.

Bundle sales app

Offering bundle deals can increase average order value. The Bundle Sales app   allows you to create attractive bundle deals, encouraging customers to purchase more items and increasing your average order value. Customers need to add the entire bundle to their cart to get the discount.

1. Discount rules: The discount applies to the product's selling price.

2. Access: Go to your Shoplazza Admin and click Apps > Visit App Store. Search for "Bundle Sales" and install the app.

3. Activity types: Create different types of bundle deals:

• Priced bundles: Offer a set of items for a special price. For example, offer a bundle of shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask for $40.
• Combo bundles: Offer different pricing options for bundles, like fixed price reductions or discounts. For example, allow customers to choose 3 items from a specific collection for $25.

Combining Discounts: How it works

Understanding how different discounts work together is key to creating effective promotions. Here's a breakdown of how Shoplazza handles combined discounts:

1. Coupons and Promo Codes: Coupons and promo codes can often be used alongside other discounts, like flash sales or buy-one-get-one deals. If the product's price, after those initial discounts, still meets the coupon or promo code requirements, that additional discount will apply. However, if other discounts have already reduced a product's price to zero, then a coupon or promo code won't be able to take any further discount on that item. Think of it this way: you can't discount something already free!

• Example: Imagine you have a "buy two, get one free" deal on shirts and a promo code for 20% off. If someone buys three shirts, they get one free, and then the promo code will take 20% off the price of the other two shirts. However, if a different discount made one of the shirts completely free ($0), the 20% off promo code wouldn't apply to that free shirt.

2. Other Discounts: Deals like "buy-one-get-one," flash sales, and discounts created with the "Buy X Get Y" or "Bundle Sales" apps can usually be combined with other offers. There's a safeguard in place: if all the discounts on a single product add up to more than the product's original price, some discounts will be automatically reduced or removed. This prevents prices from going below zero. The system follows a specific order when adjusting these discounts, starting with flash sales and then moving through other offers like post-purchase marketing discounts, buy-one-get-one deals, bundle combinations, and promo codes and coupons.

• Example: Let's say you have a "buy two get one free" offer on hats, and a "buy one get one for $2 off" deal applies to hats. If someone buys two hats, one is free due to the first offer. Then, the second offer would make the other hat $2 cheaper. But, if another discount had already made that second hat free, the "buy one get one for $2 off" wouldn't work on that specific hat because it's already at the lowest possible price.

Remember, a well-planned discount strategy can be a powerful tool for driving sales and increasing customer engagement. By understanding the different types of discounts available and how they can be combined, you can create compelling offers that attract new customers and encourage repeat business.