How to Show Real-Time Store Status to Your Customers

One of the most common frustrations customers face: driving to a store only to find it's closed. It wastes their time, costs you a sale, and damages trust in your brand.

The solution? Real-time store status indicators.

Why Store Status Matters

The data is compelling:

What Is Real-Time Store Status?

Real-time store status means your website automatically shows whether each location is currently open or closed—right now, at this moment.

Basic Status Display

Advanced Status Options

How to Set Up Store Status in Mapify

Step 1: Enter Your Regular Hours (30 seconds)

In the Mapify dashboard, click on any location and add your standard hours:

Mapify's AI can even understand natural language: "weekdays 9-6, closed weekends"

Step 2: Add Special Hours (15 seconds)

Click "Add Special Hours" for:

Special hours automatically override regular hours on those dates.

Step 3: Enable Real-Time Status (5 seconds)

Toggle on "Show real-time status" in your widget settings. That's it.

Mapify automatically:

Best Practices for Store Hours

1. Be Specific and Accurate

Bad: "Open daily"

Good: "Monday-Saturday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM"

2. Update Holiday Hours in Advance

Add holiday hours at least 2 weeks before the date. Your customers are planning ahead—you should too.

3. Communicate Temporary Closures

If you're closing for renovations, training, or emergencies, update your status immediately with an explanation and reopening date.

4. Consider Time Zones

If you have locations across different time zones, Mapify automatically handles this. Each location displays in its local time.

5. Add "Closing Soon" Warnings

Show a warning 30-60 minutes before closing. This sets expectations and prevents frustrated last-minute arrivals.

Advanced Features

Different Hours for Different Services

Some businesses need separate hours for different services:

Mapify supports service-specific hours, so customers know exactly when they can access what they need.

Appointment-Only Hours

Mark certain hours as "By Appointment Only" to manage customer expectations.

Seasonal Hours

Set up seasonal schedules:

The Impact of Real-Time Status

Before Real-Time Status:

After Real-Time Status:

Common Questions

Q: What if I forget to update holiday hours?

A: Mapify sends you reminder emails 2 weeks and 3 days before major holidays.

Q: Can I bulk-update hours for multiple locations?

A: Yes! Update all locations at once or update by region/group.

Q: What about unexpected closures (power outage, emergency)?

A: Quick-close any location instantly from your phone. The status updates everywhere in real-time.

Q: Do I need to manually update status throughout the day?

A: No. Once you set your hours, Mapify automatically updates the status 24/7.

Get Started with Real-Time Status

Real-time store status isn't a luxury anymore—it's an expectation.

Mapify makes it effortless to show accurate, up-to-date store hours across all your locations. Set it up once, and it runs automatically forever.

Try Mapify free for 14 days and eliminate the number one question your customers ask: "Are you open?"