Promo codes are the simplest nudge toward an order: a code in a mailing, a subscription discount, a personal offer for a loyal customer. In Turboshop promo codes are not a flat "code + percent" table but a complete marketing mechanic. Here is how it works and how to set up your first promotion: from creating the rule to discount accounting in orders and promo codes on the storefront.
How it is organized: program → promotion → codes
The admin side lives in the Marketing / Ads menu group with two sections:
- Marketing programs — reporting "umbrellas" that group promotions of one campaign (say, "Black Friday" or "Retention mailings");
- Promotions — the discount rules themselves: mechanics, conditions, validity period and scope;
- each promotion has its own codes tab: any number of codes, all triggering the same discount.
Creating a promotion: mechanics, conditions, scope
Click + Create in "Promotions" and fill in the form:
- Promotion name — internal, for the list; shoppers see a generated discount description;
- Marketing program — optional;
- Mechanics — a percentage or a fixed amount (the fixed amount is correctly distributed across order lines);
- Validity period "from / to" — leave empty for an open-ended promotion;
- Minimum order amount — empty means "any cart total";
- "Applies to" — the scope: the whole storefront, specific brands, categories with subcategories or a "brand AND category" combination, plus price-type restrictions (retail only, for example — wholesale stays untouched).
Note: by default the discount does not apply to products already sold at a sale price — no double discounts.
A promotion is the rule and a code is just a key that triggers it: one promotion can have thousands of keys for different channels.
Codes: regular, personal and bulk-generated
On the promotion's codes tab you can:
- create a code manually — short and memorable, for a banner or social media;
- make a code personal — bound to a specific customer: it will not work in anyone else's hands;
- use the "Generate" button to mass-issue any number of unique codes — for email or SMS campaigns where every recipient gets their own code;
- set a usage limit per code and switch any code off with a toggle at any moment.
How discounts are calculated in an order
A percentage discount is calculated from the total of the lines the promotion covers. A fixed amount is distributed across order lines proportionally to their value — in reports every line carries its share of the discount rather than one "minus" row.
Most importantly, on editing: an order stores the discount rule, not a frozen amount. When a manager changes quantities, adds or removes lines — the discount is honestly recalculated. Example: an order has five identical discounted items, the shopper keeps one — the discount shrinks proportionally instead of disappearing or staying inflated.
What the shopper sees
The cart and checkout have a promo code field. Once applied, the shopper sees a "Promo code discount" line in the totals and a discount mark next to the products it affects. If a code does not work — expired, minimum amount not reached, personal or exhausted — the shopper gets a clear explanation of the reason instead of a silent rejection.
Promo codes can also be shown right on the storefront: the promotion form has "Show the promo code on the product page" and "Show promo codes in catalogs" toggles — a bright badge with the code and a discount hint appears next to the product name. The promotion is visible before the cart. The quick-order modal has a promo code field too — one-click purchases keep the discount.
Promo codes inside an order in the admin
A manager can apply or remove a promo code right on the order card — with "Apply" / "Remove" buttons, using the same engine as the storefront. The order has a "Discounts" block storing a self-contained snapshot of the granted discounts, so even if the promotion is later changed or deleted, the order keeps an honest history. When quantities or line items change, discounts are recalculated by the promotion's rule rather than frozen as an amount. This is handy for phone orders: the manager applies the code exactly like the storefront would.
Usage examples
- subscription discount — a shared code in the welcome email plus a badge on product pages;
- a seasonal category sale — a promotion scoped to "category + subcategories" with a two-week period;
- winning back dormant customers — bulk-generated personal codes for an SMS campaign, a limit of 1 use;
- margin protection — a "retail only" price-type scope: wholesalers and dropshippers stay unaffected;
- influencer collaborations — a separate code per blogger: the usage counter shows whose channel actually sells.
Frequently asked questions
Can a promotion require a minimum cart total? Yes — the "Minimum order amount" field on the promotion form.
What happens when a promotion ends? Codes stop being accepted and shoppers see an explanation. Existing orders are unchanged — the discount is fixed in the "Discounts" block.
Does a promo code apply to discounted products? By default, no: sale-priced products are excluded so discounts do not stack.
How many codes can I create? Any number — all codes of one promotion trigger the same discount rule.
Can several promotions run at once? Yes, promotions are independent; group them under a marketing program for convenient campaign reporting.
Summary
Promo codes in Turboshop cover the whole cycle: from bulk code generation for mailings to honest discount accounting inside orders. Everything is configured in the admin panel, no developer needed. Follow new platform capabilities in the "Updates" rubric, and try promo codes on your own store. Start simple: one shared code for a subscription discount — and you will immediately see how codes affect conversion.