
Napiers the Herbalists, is a 165 year old, Edinburgh-based brand specialising in herbal remedies, skincare and natural health products. They offer a diverse range of products, including herbal medicines, food supplements, skincare items, natural beauty products, and aromatherapy oils.
Despite having a healthy-sized email list, Napiers was seeing the usual suspects when it came to challenges:
The team knew that to reignite engagement, they needed a channel that was more immediate, personal, and friction-free.
Rather than pushing harder on email, Napiers took a bold step: they introduced WhatsApp as a primary marketing and communication channel.
Here’s what the strategy looked like:
1. WhatsApp Call-to-Action on Website
Visitors were invited to subscribe to exclusive offers via WhatsApp. The message was simple: “Get VIP deals, straight to your phone.”
2. Value Exchange
In return for sharing basic data - like birthday and shopping preferences, users received exclusive discount vouchers and early access to promotions.
3. Ongoing Campaigns via WhatsApp
Once subscribed, customers received timely, personalised messages through WhatsApp. These weren’t spammy blasts - they were curated updates, birthday offers, and tailored product promotions that felt useful, not intrusive.
Why it worked: The WhatsApp Advantage
The shift to WhatsApp as a primary marketing channel proved successful for several key reasons:
- High visibility: WhatsApp messages are nearly impossible to ignore - unlike emails that get lost in cluttered inboxes.
- Direct and personal connection: The conversational nature of WhatsApp creates an intimate connection that feels more like a one-to-one interaction than a broadcast.
- Frictionless UX: Signing up was easy, and the rewards were instant.
Our WhatsApp campaigns consistently deliver the highest ROIs across our marketing channels. It's become an essential part of our toolkit especially as the team at Merx are extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Some Metrics: