How to add a restock message to keep your customers informed

STOQ lets you add a restock message below the Notify Me button on individual product variants. This short note tells customers when you plan to restock — for example, "Back in stock March 15" or "Restocking soon." It helps set expectations, build anticipation, and reduce support questions about product availability.


Restock messages are managed in the Back in stock alerts > Products tab alongside button visibility and template settings.



How Restock Messages Work


When you add a restock message to a product variant, STOQ displays it below the Notify Me button on your storefront. Customers see the message when they view the product page, giving them context about when the item will be available again.


  • Restock messages are set per variant, so you can show different messages for different sizes, colors, or options of the same product.
  • Messages are synced to your storefront automatically after you save.
  • If you leave the restock message field empty, no message is shown below the button.


Add a Restock Message


  1. In your STOQ dashboard, go to Back in stock alerts > Products.
  2. Find the product variant you want to update. Use the search bar to filter by product name or SKU.
  3. In the Restock message column, type your message in the text field — for example:
  • "Back in stock March 15"
  • "Restocking soon"
  • "Expected restock: 2 weeks"
  • "Pre-spring collection — available April 1"
  1. Click Save in the top bar to apply your changes.


The message now appears below the Notify Me button on your storefront for that variant.



Note: Per-product configuration must be enabled for restock messages to appear on the storefront. If this is your first time editing the Products tab, STOQ will prompt you to enable customization when you try to make a change. Click Enable in the confirmation modal to proceed.


Edit a Restock Message


  1. Go to Back in stock alerts > Products.
  2. Find the variant with the existing restock message.
  3. Update the text in the Restock message field.
  4. Click Save in the top bar.


The updated message replaces the previous one on your storefront immediately after saving.


Remove a Restock Message


  1. Go to Back in stock alerts > Products.
  2. Find the variant with the restock message you want to remove.
  3. Clear the text in the Restock message field so it is empty.
  4. Click Save in the top bar.


The message is removed from your storefront and no text appears below the Notify Me button for that variant.


Update Multiple Variants at Once


You can add or edit restock messages for several variants on the same page before saving. STOQ batches all changes into a single save operation.


  1. Go to Back in stock alerts > Products.
  2. Update the Restock message field for each variant you want to change.
  3. Click Save in the top bar to apply all changes at once.


Tip: Use the pagination controls and search bar to navigate through your product list efficiently. You can display 20, 50, or 100 variants per page using the Per page filter.


Best Practices for Restock Messages


Keep your restock messages short, specific, and helpful. Here are some tips:


  • Be specific about timing — "Back in stock March 15" is more useful than "Coming soon." Customers are more likely to sign up when they know a concrete date.
  • Update messages as dates change — If your restock date shifts, update the message so customers are not disappointed. Outdated messages can lead to support tickets.
  • Use messages for seasonal launches — For example, "Pre-spring collection — available April 1" builds anticipation for upcoming product lines.
  • Remove messages after restocking — Once a product is back in stock, clear the restock message so it does not show stale information to customers who view the product page.


Troubleshooting


Problem

Solution

Restock message is not showing on the storefront

Make sure per-product configuration is enabled. Go to Back in stock alerts > Products and check if you can edit the restock message field. If a modal asks you to enable customization, click Enable. Also verify you clicked Save after entering the message.

Message shows on one variant but not another

Restock messages are set per variant. Each variant has its own message field. Check that the correct variant has a message entered and saved.

Saved message disappeared after page reload

Ensure you clicked Save in the top bar before navigating away. If you see a "Discard" option, your changes have not been saved yet.

Restock message is showing below the wrong element

The restock message position is controlled by your theme's layout. If the message appears in an unexpected location, contact STOQ support to adjust the placement for your theme.

Old restock message still showing after clearing it

Clear the field completely, click Save, and do a hard refresh on your storefront (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R). Shopify may cache the page briefly.


FAQs


Q: Is there a character limit for restock messages?

A: There is no strict character limit, but keep messages short — ideally under 60 characters. The message appears below the Notify Me button, so long messages may affect your product page layout.


Q: Can I add a restock message without changing button visibility?

A: Yes. The restock message, button visibility, and template assignment are independent settings. You can add a restock message while keeping the button visibility set to its default "When out of stock" option.


Q: Do restock messages appear on non product pages?

A: No, the restock messages are not supported on the non product pages at the moment


Q: Can I format the restock message with bold text, links, or emojis?

A: The restock message is plain text only. It does not support HTML formatting, links, or rich text. You can include emojis by typing or pasting them directly into the field.


Q: Does the restock message automatically disappear when the product is back in stock?

A: No. Restock messages do not update automatically based on inventory changes. You need to manually clear the message once the product is restocked. If you leave the message in place, it will continue to show on the storefront even when the product is in stock (assuming the Notify Me button is set to "Always show").


Q: What happens to restock messages if I disable per-product overrides?

A: When you disable per-product overrides, restock messages are no longer shown on the storefront. However, the messages are preserved in STOQ. If you re-enable per-product overrides later, your restock messages will appear on the storefront again without needing to re-enter them.

Updated on: 21/04/2026

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