Did you know you can use Shopify to issue birthday coupons based on specific conditions? In this article, we'll walk through the concrete steps for issuing a coupon using Shopify's built-in features and apps — for example, a "20% off birthday coupon, valid only in March, for customers born in March (March 1–31)." If you're considering a marketing initiative that makes use of your customers' birthday information, this article offers practical, hands-on guidance, so be sure to read on.
How to Issue Birthday Coupons in Shopify
Using the Discount Feature
This method uses Shopify's built-in discount feature. Since the discount feature is a native part of Shopify, you can use it free of charge.
By using the discount feature, you can issue a coupon code that's limited to a specific usage period and available only to customers whose birthday falls in that month.
The blog article below explains the different types of discounts and how to use them in detail. Please check it out for reference.
Using a Shopify App
Next is the method of using a Shopify app. This is recommended if you want to issue birthday coupons with more complex conditions than the discount feature can support, or if you want to automate the issuance of birthday coupons. The downsides include the possibility of app usage fees, and some apps may not support Japanese.
Issuing a Birthday Coupon Using the Discount Feature
In this article, we'll show you how to issue a "20% off birthday coupon, valid only in March, for customers born in March (March 1–31)."
Prerequisite: Managing Date of Birth via a Customer Metafield
The method introduced here assumes that date-of-birth information is managed using a customer metafield (metafields.facts.birth_date).
Step 1: Create a Segment for Customers Born in March
(1) In the Shopify admin, click Segments
(2) On the segment list page, click "Create segment"
(3) Change the segment name to whatever you'd like
In this example, we've named it "March Birthdays."
(4) Enter the filter condition "anniversary('metafields.facts.birth_date') BETWEEN 2025-03-01 AND 2025-03-31"
(5) Apply the filter
(6) Click "Save"
Step 2: Issue a March-Only Birthday Coupon
(1) In the Shopify admin, click "Discounts"
(2) On the discounts list page, click "Create discount"
(3) From the pop-up that appears, select "Amount off order"
(4) Under Method, select "Discount code"
(5) Enter any string you like for the discount code
(6) In the Discount value section, select "Percentage" and enter 20
(7) In the Eligibility section, select "Specific customer segments"
(8) In the input field just below, select the segment you created in Step 1
(9) In the Maximum discount uses section, check "Limit to one use per customer"
(10) Under Active dates, set the period you want the coupon to run (in this example, 2025-03-01 0:00 to 2025-03-31 23:59)
(11) Click "Save discount"
Step 3: Test the Coupon
(1) Access the store as a customer whose birthday falls in the target month, and enter the coupon code on the checkout page
In this example, we'll test in March 2025 using a customer born in March.
(2) Confirm that the discount is applied
(1) Access the store as a customer whose birthday does not fall in the target month, and enter the coupon code on the checkout page
In this example, we'll test in March 2025 using a customer not born in March.
(2) Confirm that the discount is not applied and that an alert message is displayed
Once you've confirmed that the coupon code works as intended, the setup is complete.
Bonus: How to Distribute Birthday Coupons via Email
By using Shopify Messaging, you can send a newsletter that distributes birthday coupons only to customers in the segment you created in Step 1.
The blog article below explains the features, pricing plans, and usage of Shopify Messaging in detail. Please check it out for reference.
In Closing
By making use of Shopify's discount feature and apps, you can easily issue and distribute birthday coupons. Using the built-in feature lets you issue simple coupons for free, while using an app enables more complex conditions and automation. You can also use Shopify Messaging to efficiently distribute coupons to a specific customer segment. Use this article as a reference to put these strategies into practice and improve your customers' experience.
Finally, the blog article below introduces some of the most common discount strategies you can implement in Shopify. Find the strategy that's the perfect fit for your store, and use it as a springboard to boost your sales.
