RCS for retail stores

RCS messaging for retail stores

Show new stock in a swipeable carousel, tell loyalty members their points balance and give shoppers directions to the store in one tap.

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Apparel and footwear storesElectronics and mobile retailersJewellery showroomsSupermarkets and kirana chainsFurniture and home decor stores

RCS message from a verified clothing store showing a new arrivals card with price and sizes, Reserve in store and Shop online buttons

How do retail stores use RCS messaging?

Retail stores use RCS to send carousels of new arrivals with photos and prices, preview sales for loyalty members, share points balances and expiring vouchers, and invite shoppers to store events with directions and calendar buttons. The verified store name and logo build trust, and read and tap data show which products drew interest. Promotions need consent.

Updated 15 Nov 2026

Key facts: RCS for retail stores

Channel: RCS messaging
Best for: New arrivals carousel; Members-only sale preview; Points and voucher reminder
Formats: Carousel, Rich card, Text with actions, Suggested replies
Who it suits: Apparel and footwear stores, Electronics and mobile retailers, Jewellery showrooms, Supermarkets and kirana chains, Furniture and home decor stores
Sender: Brand name, logo and verified mark, set up as an RCS agent; DLT-approved SMS fallback for phones that cannot receive RCS
Pricing model: Per message, by message type; fallback billed as SMS. How pricing works
Integration: REST API and webhooks (message.delivered, message.read, message.clicked) into your own software. RCS API

What problems does RCS solve for retail stores?

Offer SMS that look like spam'FLAT 50% OFF* T&C' from a six-letter header looks like every other bulk SMS, and most shoppers delete it without reading.

No idea what a shopper wantsYou send the same sale message to everyone, whether they bought sarees, school shoes or a refrigerator last time.

Loyalty points nobody remembersMembers have points and vouchers that expire unused because the only reminder is a line on a paper bill.

Which RCS messages work for retail stores?

Carousel

New arrivals carouselUp to 10 products with photo, price and Reserve in store or Shop online buttons, picked by what the shopper bought before.→ Visits for specific items

Rich card

Members-only sale previewEarly access to the end-of-season sale for loyalty members, with Add to calendar and Find my store buttons.→ First-day footfall

Text with actions

Points and voucher reminderTells members their points balance and a voucher expiry date, with a Show my voucher button for the billing counter.→ Points redeemed

Text with actions

Store directions and timingsA Show location action for the nearest outlet, plus timings and a Call store button.→ Easier store visits

Rich card

Back-in-stock alertShoppers who asked about a size or model get a card when it arrives, with Reserve for 24 hours.→ Saved sales

Suggested replies

Bill and warranty follow-upAfter an electronics purchase, a message with warranty details and Installation needed or All good chips.→ Service requests captured

Ready-to-use RCS message templates for retail stores

Copy, edit and use these as a starting point.

New arrivalsCarousel

Title: {product_name}, ₹{price}
Body: New at {store_name}. Sizes {sizes}. In stock at {outlet}.
Buttons: Reserve in store | Shop online | Find my store

Points expiringText with actions

Title: {points} points expire on {date}
Body: Hi {name}, use your points at any {store_name} outlet. Worth ₹{value} on your next bill.
Buttons: Show my voucher | Find my store

Sale previewRich card

Title: Members' preview, {date}
Body: End-of-season sale opens a day early for you at {outlet}, {time} onwards.
Buttons: Add to calendar | Find my store | Not interested

Rich cards and buttons are set up per campaign in your MsgClub panel; text is editable.

How does RCS work for retail stores?

Shoppers opt in at billingYour POS or loyalty program captures the number and consent to receive offers.
Segments are builtPurchase history decides who sees kidswear, electronics or new festive stock.
MsgClub sends the carouselRCS-capable phones get product cards; others get a promotional SMS within permitted hours.
Taps show demandClick events reach your POS or CRM, so stores know which items to keep ready.

Connect your softwareRetail POS and billing systems can pass customer and purchase details to the MsgClub API, and loyalty systems receive taps and replies by webhook. MsgClub's Tally, BUSY and Marg plugins cover SMS; ask whether they can trigger RCS for your setup. RCS API · API and webhooks · Pricing

ComplianceOffers and new-arrival messages are promotional: send only to shoppers who consented, honour opt-outs, and keep the SMS fallback to promotional headers, non-DND numbers and 10 am to 9 pm. Show sale terms clearly instead of hiding them behind an asterisk.

Which other channels suit retail stores?

Use them together from one account, with shared contacts, reports and webhooks.

SMS for retail storesHow do retail stores use bulk SMS?See SMS

WhatsApp for retail storesHow do retail stores use WhatsApp Business API?See WhatsApp

IVR for retail storesHow do retail stores use IVR?See IVR

Voice broadcast for retail storesHow do retail stores use voice broadcast?See Voice broadcast

Missed call for retail storesHow do retail stores use missed call marketing?See Missed call

AI calling for retail storesTwo-way AI agents that talk to callers in Hindi, English and other Indian languages, unlike a recorded message.See AI Voice

Compare every channel for retail stores

Questions about RCS messaging for retail stores

Can a retail store show products in an RCS message?

Yes. A carousel holds up to 10 product cards, each with a photo, title, price and up to 4 buttons such as Reserve in store or Shop online. It works best with a few relevant items rather than your whole catalogue.

Do we need customers' consent for RCS offers?

Yes. Promotional RCS should go only to shoppers who agreed to receive offers, typically at billing or on your loyalty sign-up form. Record the consent, include a way to opt out and stop messaging anyone who asks.

Can RCS bring people into the physical store?

That is one of its best uses for retail. Reserve in store, Show location and Add to calendar buttons turn an offer into a visit, and members-only previews give a reason to come on a specific day.

What if a shopper uses an iPhone?

iPhone support for RCS business messages in India is limited so far, mainly on Jio since September 2026. Shoppers who cannot receive RCS get your promotional SMS instead, sent only to non-DND numbers during permitted hours.

Can we link RCS with our billing software?

Yes, through the API: any POS or billing system that can call an API can trigger RCS cards, and taps and replies flow back by webhook so your loyalty records show who engaged. MsgClub's Tally, BUSY and Marg plugins cover SMS; ask our team before assuming they send RCS.

How often should a store send promotional RCS?

For most stores, 2 to 4 messages a month is plenty, timed to new stock, sales and festivals. Watch read rates and opt-outs; if they fall, cut frequency and make the products more relevant to each shopper's past purchases.