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When you’re running a craft store, you’re competing with online giants, local rivals, and constant shifts in customer attention. The right retail marketing tools help you reach the right people without spending hours on tasks that could run automatically.
As a craft store owner, your time is better spent on the floor with customers than managing campaigns manually. The tools below cover the marketing functions that matter most — and how to choose between them.
Attract Customers With 6 Top Retail Marketing Tools
These six tools form the core of a marketing mix that connects you with your customers and keeps them coming back.
1. Customer Relationship Management
A customer relationship management (CRM) system centralizes your customer data — purchase history, contact info, and preferences — so you can market to people based on what you actually know about them.
Without a CRM, you’re marketing blind. Studies show 71% of consumers prefer marketing messages tailored to their interests. For a craft store, that means knowing which customers buy yarn versus paint supplies — and marketing accordingly.
If your point of sale (POS) system includes a CRM, it’s often the most practical starting point. Customer data is captured automatically at checkout, with no manual imports or syncing required.
Tools to try: HubSpot and Zoho CRM are solid standalone options if you need advanced pipelines or B2B wholesale account management beyond what a POS-based CRM typically offers.
If your primary goal is to use your retail marketing tools to reach existing customers, the CRM built into your POS usually covers it. Consider a dedicated CRM only if you’re managing complex sales funnels or wholesale relationships.
2. Email Marketing
Email marketing involves sending targeted messages — promotions, newsletters, event announcements — directly to customers who’ve opted in.
Email consistently delivers one of the highest returns in marketing, averaging $36 for every dollar spent. It’s particularly effective for driving repeat purchases and reengaging lapsed customers. For example, you can run a seasonal campaign promoting fall wreath-making kits to customers who purchased floral wire last year.
It’s low cost, highly personalized, and measurable, but retail email open rates average around 21%, so list quality and subject lines matter.
Many POS systems include basic email marketing tools that let you send campaigns directly from your customer database, keeping your list current and segmented without exporting data.
Tools to try: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Constant Contact offer more advanced automation, A/B testing, and drag-and-drop templates. Klaviyo is particularly well suited for abandoned cart flows if you’re also selling online.
POS-based email marketing works well for straightforward promotions and announcements. If you want multistep drip campaigns or detailed behavioral triggers, a dedicated tool like Klaviyo may be worth the added cost.
Related Read: Email Marketing for Craft Stores: Beyond Generic Newsletters
3. SMS Marketing
SMS marketing lets you send short promotional texts — flash sales, restock alerts, event reminders — to customers who’ve opted in via their mobile numbers.
SMS has a 98% open rate compared to roughly 21% for email, and messages are typically read within three minutes of delivery. For a craft store, it’s an effective tool for time-sensitive promotions: “This weekend only — 20% off all Cricut supplies — in-store and online.”
Its near-instant reach and high open rates make it ideal for driving foot traffic, but message length is limited, over-messaging can quickly lead to opt-outs, and TCPA compliance is mandatory.
If your POS supports SMS, opt-ins can be captured at checkout and messages can be sent from the same platform you already use — no third-party integration required.
Tools to try: Postscript, Attentive, and SimpleTexting offer more robust segmentation, automation, and compliance features for higher-volume programs.
POS-based SMS covers most independent retailers’ needs. Upgrade to a dedicated platform if you’re managing a large subscriber list, multiple locations, or complex automated flows.
4. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing uses platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to build brand awareness, engage your community, and drive traffic to your store or website.
82% of consumers use social media to research products before buying, and platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are especially influential in craft and hobby retail. A time-lapse of an in-store project, a “craft of the week” series, or a class promotion can organically grow your following without a large ad budget.
Strong for brand personality and community building, visual platforms are a natural fit for product-driven retail. While organic reach has declined significantly, paid ads are often necessary to scale, and managing multiple platforms can be time-intensive.
Tools to try: Buffer, Later, and Hootsuite let you plan and schedule posts across platforms in advance. Canva is widely used for creating professional social graphics without a designer. Meta Ads Manager (Facebook/Instagram) and Pinterest Ads work well for craft and hobby retailers targeting DIY audiences.
Some POS systems include social media integrations that link your online product catalog to your social channels, so customers can move from a post to a product page without friction.
5. E-Commerce
An e-commerce platform extends your retail store online, letting customers browse and buy your products from anywhere. After all, the anxious search for ⅜-inch ribbon for a graduation lei doesn’t always start during business hours.
U.S. e-commerce sales now account for over 16% of total retail and continue to grow. For craft stores, selling online expands your market well beyond local foot traffic and keeps revenue flowing around the clock.
Online sales broaden your geographic reach, generate revenue outside store hours, and open access to organic search traffic. But they also require keeping inventory in sync, managing shipping logistics, and creating product content.
If your e-commerce platform is part of your POS, inventory syncs automatically between your physical and online store. This eliminates the risk of selling something online that’s already sold in-store — a common issue with disconnected systems.
Tools to try: Shopify or WooCommerce offer more advanced storefront customization and app ecosystems. The trade-off is that they require a separate integration with your POS, which adds complexity and can occasionally lead to sync errors.
For most independent retailers, integrated e-commerce is the simpler and more reliable choice. Consider a standalone platform only if you have significant customization needs or high online sales volume.
Related Read: 8 Tips for Running a Craft Workshop
6. Loyalty and Rewards Programs
A loyalty program encourages repeat purchases by rewarding customers with points, discounts, or perks earned over time.
Acquiring a new customer costs five times more than retaining an existing one, and loyalty program members typically spend 12–18% more than nonmembers. For a craft store, a points-based program where customers unlock rewards like free classes or early access to seasonal collections keeps regulars coming back consistently.
Loyalty programs drive repeat visits, increase average order value, and generate valuable purchase data. Make sure you create programs that are simple and easy to understand — complexity can reduce engagement.
POS-based loyalty programs are some of the simplest options. Customers enroll at checkout, points are tracked automatically, and staff can see reward balances during any transaction.
Tools to try: Smile, Yotpo, and LoyaltyLion offer deeper customization — tiered VIP levels, referral programs, and gamification — for retailers who want to build a more advanced loyalty program.
POS-based loyalty is sufficient for most independent retailers. Consider a dedicated platform only if you want referral mechanics or a highly branded program experience.
Get the Retail Marketing Tools You Need With Rain POS
Every marketing strategy works better when the underlying data is connected. When your CRM, email, SMS, loyalty program, e-commerce, and inventory all live in separate tools, you spend time on maintenance instead of marketing — and gaps in data lead to gaps in your results.
Rain POS brings all of these capabilities into a single system built specifically for independent retailers.
Customer data captured at checkout flows directly into your marketing tools. Your online store stays in sync with your physical inventory. Loyalty points are tracked without a separate app. And campaigns — whether email or SMS — are sent from the same platform where you already manage your store.
For craft store owners running classes, rotating seasonal products, and balancing an e-commerce store, that level of centralization saves time and frees up mental bandwidth to focus on customers.
Build your POS system now to see how it all works together.
