Marketing
Using Announcements to Keep Customers Coming Back
Announcements let you email everyone who subscribed to your shop — about a new menu, an open pre-order window, or a seasonal drop — without ever seeing their email addresses. You write a subject and message, can also post it publicly as a 'From the Kitchen' update, and review delivery stats afterward. There's a short rate limit, so make each send count.
Your subscribers already raised their hands — they asked to hear from you. Announcements are the direct line to them, and used well they're the cheapest repeat-sales channel you have.
What an announcement is
You write a subject and a message, preview the email, and send it to everyone subscribed to your shop. The platform handles delivery privately, automatically skipping addresses that have bounced. You're shown a subscriber count and, after sending, how many messages were delivered, failed, or skipped.
Post it publicly too
When it fits, tick the option to also publish the announcement as a 'From the Kitchen' update on your storefront. That way subscribers get the email and new visitors see the news when they browse — one message, two audiences.
What to actually announce
- A new menu or product drop with a clear order-by date
- An open pre-order window for a holiday or weekend
- A change to your pickup windows or location
- A limited batch of a seasonal favorite
Lead with the action and the deadline ('Holiday pre-orders close Sunday'). A specific, time-bound subject line gets opened and acted on far more than a vague 'Update from our kitchen.'
Grow the list you're emailing
Announcements only reach people who subscribed, so growing that audience matters — understand the difference between followers and subscribers in followers vs. email subscribers, and turn one-time buyers into subscribers by delivering a great order and asking for a review.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I see my subscribers' email addresses?
No. For privacy, the platform sends on your behalf and only shows you an aggregate subscriber count and per-send delivery stats. You never see or export individual email addresses.
How often can I send announcements?
There's a short rate limit of about 30 minutes between broadcasts. In practice that's plenty — sending too often tires a list, so most sellers send when they genuinely have news.
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