Create a countdown banner
Pick the timer type and set it to end when the sale ends.
Use case
Run a flash sale or BFCM campaign that actually feels urgent
Put a countdown on the page that ends when your sale ends, and let the banner and the sale labels switch on and off on a schedule. TA Banner runs the countdown and the banner schedule. TA Labels marks the sale products for the same dates.
Apps used
Banner & Pop-upMain appProduct Labels
Goal
ConversionEfficiency & support
Works for
Any store
The problem
A sale that runs on manual switches loses its edge
A flash sale works because it has a clear start and a clear end. When you switch things on and off by hand, the page rarely matches the plan. Each problem below has a matching fix in this setup.
Who it is for: stores running a flash sale, a Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaign, or any sale with a fixed window.
Problem 01
Shoppers cannot see when the sale ends, so there is no reason to buy today.
How it gets fixed
Show the deadline on the page
A countdown banner counts down to the end of your sale. Choose one of four timer types: a specific date, daily, by interval, or evergreen.
Problem 02
Someone has to switch the banner on at the start of the sale and off again at the end.
How it gets fixed
Let a schedule switch the banner
Visibility time turns the whole banner on and off by itself. It is available on the Advanced plan and above. When the countdown reaches zero, the banner can show 00:00:00 or hide.
Problem 03
Sale labels stay on products after the sale is over.
How it gets fixed
Give each label a start and an end date
Schedule conditions show a label between the dates you set, and can repeat it in a recurring window. The label comes off on its own when the window closes.
Set it up
Four moves to a sale that runs itself
Each card shows what the result looks like. Decide the start and end time first, then use the same moment in every setting.
Set when it shows and what happens at zero
Turn on Visibility time, then choose whether the banner shows 00:00:00 or hides at the end.
Schedule the sale label
Set a start date, an end date and, if you need it, a repeating window.
Add a countdown to a text label
Use the {countdown} variable in a text label so the timer sits on the product image.
Need the exact clicks? Step-by-step guides:
Countdown timer bannerBanner schedule and triggerLabels schedule conditionsCountdown in a text label
Tips
Before you go live
Match the timer to the real end
Urgency only works when the deadline is real. End the countdown when the sale ends. Label schedules follow the browser time of the person who sets them up, and banner schedules follow the time zone set in the app, so check both against the same moment.
Countdown and schedule are different settings
The countdown timer is the clock shoppers see. The schedule decides when the banner is shown at all. For a visible timer that also switches on and off by itself, set both.
Check your plan before the sale
Banner Visibility time needs the Advanced plan or above. Find this out before launch day, not during it.
What to measure
Check these after launch
Orders and conversion rate during the sale windowShopify Analytics
Sales of products that carried the sale labelShopify Analytics
Banner and labels switched on and off at the planned timeCheck the storefront at the start and the end
Traffic to your sale collectionShopify Analytics
FAQ
Common questions
What is the difference between a countdown timer and schedule time?
The countdown timer is the clock that shoppers see on the banner. Schedule time, called Visibility time, decides when the banner appears and disappears. You can use either one or both.
What kinds of countdown can I use?
There are four: a specific date, daily, by interval, and evergreen. Pick the one that fits how your sale runs.
What happens when the countdown reaches zero?
You choose. The banner can show 00:00:00, or it can hide.
Can sale labels switch on and off by themselves?
Yes. Schedule conditions let a label show between a start date and an end date, and repeat in a recurring window.
Can a label show a countdown too?
Yes. Add the {countdown} variable to a text label.
Related use cases
Encourage bigger orders with a free shipping goal
Banner & Pop-up A banner shows how much more shoppers need to spend for free shipping and updates as the cart changes. See how
Make discounts impossible to miss on product and collection pages
Product Labels Discount badges next to the price, shown by discount range, collection or variant. See how
Set up conversion essentials for a new store on a zero budget
All 5 apps Labels, an announcement bar and restock alerts on free plans, plus optional subscriptions and a locator. See howSet this up on your store.
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