RegularhoodNew shop
How to get customers for a new shop and turn them into regulars
The first weeks after opening decide a lot. People in the area will try you once out of curiosity. Whether they come a second and third time is what builds the shop.
Get the first visit
- Make the shop easy to notice: a clear board, good light and the door open.
- Tell the neighbours: nearby shops, societies and offices.
- Add your shop to Google Maps with photos, timings and your phone number.
- Put a WhatsApp status up every day of opening week.
- An opening-week offer is fine, but keep it short.
Turn the first visit into a second
This is where most new shops lose people. The first visit was curiosity; the second needs a reason. Start your loyalty card on day one, so the very first customer leaves with a stamp and a goal.
Say it at the counter: “That’s your first stamp — 4 more and the next one is a free gift.” A new customer with one stamp already has a reason to come back to you instead of the shop they used before.
A plan for the first month
- 1
Week 1: stamp everyone
Every customer gets a stamp and hears the rule. Put the poster on the counter.
- 2
Week 2: send the cards
Send customers their card on WhatsApp so they see how many visits are left.
- 3
Week 3: learn your regulars
Notice who has come back two or three times. Learn their names and their usual.
- 4
Week 4: bring back the one-timers
A short “hope to see you again” message to people who came once and haven’t returned.
Doing it with Regularhood
Regularhood takes a minute to set up, so it can be ready on opening day. You set one rule — every N visits (3 to 10), one reward you choose — and add visits by typing the customer’s phone number and tapping Add visit.
You get a printable counter poster and a WhatsApp status image with your rule, one-tap WhatsApp cards for customers, and a list of customers who haven’t come back with a ready message. Free to start.
Questions
How do I attract customers to a new shop?
Make the shop visible, tell everyone nearby, get on Google Maps and use your WhatsApp status. Then give first-time customers a reason to come back.
Should a new shop start a loyalty card right away?
Yes. The first weeks are when people decide whether to switch to you. A stamp on their first visit gives them a reason to return.
Is an opening offer a good idea?
A short one is. Keep it to opening week, so customers come for the shop and not only for the offer.
How long does it take to build regular customers?
It depends on your kind of shop, but a simple reward and a friendly counter usually show you your first regulars within the first month.
Your next regular walks in today.
Set up takes two minutes on the phone you already have. Free to start.