Running a Flash Sale Without the Chaos: Discount Codes & Coupons on Whizzly

Promotional codes have been around since department stores started mailing paper coupons in the early 1900s. The format has changed. The psychology hasn't.

A discount code feels like a secret. Like you're part of an in-group. Like you're getting something that not everyone gets. That feeling — even when the code is plastered all over Instagram — drives real purchasing behaviour.

Here's how to use them well on Whizzly.

What the Discount Codes Powerup Gives You

Code types:

• Percentage off: 10% off, 20% off, up to 100% (for giveaways or free items)
• Fixed amount off: £5 off, £10 off any order
• Free delivery: Waive the delivery charge when a code is applied
• Minimum order requirement: "Spend £30 to unlock this code" — great for increasing average order value

Code controls:

• Expiry date: Set a hard end date so urgency is real
• Usage limit: "First 50 redemptions only" — genuinely limited, not fake-limited
• Single-use per customer: Prevent the same customer from using a code multiple times
• Product or category restriction: Apply the discount only to a specific product, a category, or across the entire catalogue

Using Codes Well: A Few Principles

Don't train your customers to wait for sales

The biggest trap in promotional codes is running them too frequently. If your customers learn that you always have a code available, they'll never pay full price. Codes should be occasional and meaningful — not a permanent fixture.

Match the code to the moment

• New customer codes: Give a first-purchase incentive to people who haven't bought yet (e.g., WELCOME10)
• Loyalty rewards: Give a code to repeat customers as a thank-you (e.g., THANKS15)
• Event codes: Tie a code to a real moment — your birthday, a local event, a product launch (e.g., LAUNCH20)
• Rescue codes: If someone has had a bad experience and you want to make it right, a personal code says more than a generic apology

Be honest about what's a real deal

Don't inflate your regular prices and then run a "50% off" sale. Customers see through this, and it damages trust far more than it helps. Your promotions should represent genuine value — a real reduction on a price you'd otherwise charge.

How Customers Use Codes

At checkout in your Whizzly storefront, a "Have a discount code?" field appears. Customers type or paste their code, the discount is applied instantly, and they see the updated total before confirming.

Simple and familiar — no friction.

Activation

Dashboard → Powerups → Discount Codes & Coupons. Create your first code in about 60 seconds.

Available as a modular add-on on Starter, included free in Pro.