For a local shop, click and collect is the perfect Christmas service: no shipping deadline, no lost parcels, and the customer comes into your shop, where they often buy something else. Here is how to set it up and promote it.
1. Enable local pickup
In WooCommerce › Settings › Shipping, add “Local pickup” to your local zone, at no cost. The block checkout shows it as a clear choice between delivery and pickup.
2. Set preparation times
Tell customers when the order will be ready: “Ready in 2 hours” or “Ready the next day from 10 am”. Send an email when it is ready.
3. Show your holiday hours
Customers must know when to come. Show your December hours, Sunday openings and closures on every page. OpenHours displays an “Open now” badge and special holiday hours (demo). See holiday opening hours.
4. Offer local delivery too
Some customers prefer delivery within a few kilometres. Let them check instantly if their postcode is covered. Zonecheck adds a postcode checker (demo).
5. Use click and collect after the shipping deadline
When parcels can no longer arrive in time, click and collect keeps selling until 24 December. Change your announcement bar: “Too late for delivery? Order now, collect in store until 24 December, 5 pm.”
6. Make the pickup pleasant
- A dedicated counter or shelf for orders.
- Orders ready, gift-wrapped if requested.
- A small display of stocking fillers near the pickup point.
See also the Christmas website checklist for local businesses.
Messages to prepare
- Checkout: “Collect in store — ready in 2 hours during opening hours.”
- Ready email: “Your order is ready! Come to 12 Rue du Port, open today until 7 pm. Bring your order number.”
- Announcement bar after the shipping deadline: “Order online, collect in store until 24 December, 5 pm.”
Local search
Update your Google Business Profile with your December hours and mention click and collect in the description. Customers often search “gift shop near me” in December, and your opening hours appear right in the results.
How to measure the result
Compare the same weeks before and after the change in WooCommerce › Analytics: conversion rate (orders divided by visits in your statistics tool), average order value and the share of mobile orders. Change one thing at a time when you can, and give each change at least a week of traffic before judging it. In December, compare with the first half of November rather than with last year, because your catalogue and traffic have changed.
Frequently asked questions
Is click and collect free to set up in WooCommerce?
Yes, local pickup is a built-in shipping method.
Until when can I offer click and collect?
Until your last opening day before Christmas, often 24 December.
Does click and collect bring extra sales?
Customers who come to collect often buy additional items in the shop.