---
title: Engaging Customers with Subscriptions | Shopware Community Hub
description: >-
  Learn how Shopware’s subscription feature helps merchants keep customers
  engaged by allowing them to subscribe to specific products.
canonical_url: 'https://hub.shopware.com/learn/unit/user-subscription-feature'
---

# Engaging Customers with Subscriptions

<LearningObjectives>

- Describe the purpose and business value of Shopware’s Subscriptions feature in an eCommerce context.
- Configure a subscription plan in Shopware, including naming, description, intervals, and discount settings.
- Assign subscription plans to products and test the setup using Shopware’s admin interface.
- Apply subscription use cases to improve customer retention and sales predictability.
- Evaluate the benefits of offering subscriptions for both customers and merchants in a guitar store scenario.

</LearningObjectives>

# Enhancing Customer Loyalty with Subscriptions: A Guitar Store Scenario

Imagine in your online guitar store, **Strum & Co.**, you want to offer your customers the convenience of receiving guitar strings or other accessories automatically at regular intervals. Manually reordering can be a hassle for customers, and you risk losing repeat sales.

That's where **Shopware's Subscriptions** feature comes in!

## What is the Subscriptions Feature?

The **Subscriptions** feature in Shopware allows you to offer products on a recurring basis. Customers can subscribe to products and receive them at defined intervals without placing a new order each time. This feature is available from version 6.5.4.0 and is part of the Shopware Commercial extension, specifically in the Beyond plan.

### Key Benefits

- Provide convenience to customers with automatic deliveries
- Encourage repeat purchases and increase customer loyalty
- Predictable revenue streams for your business

## Scenario: Offering Guitar String Subscriptions

A local guitar institute runs daily classes with a large number of students and guitars in constant use. To maintain instrument quality and avoid disruptions, they need a steady supply of fresh guitar strings each month.

Instead of placing manual orders every few weeks, the institute opts for a monthly subscription with **Strum & Co.**, which automatically delivers the required quantity of strings, now with a **10% discount** as part of the subscription. This ensures a reliable supply while reducing the administrative workload and overall cost.

Let's look at how to handle subscriptions in this case.

<ShopdevInstance plugin="lp15" step="DoNotDisplay" plan="beyond" />

### Step 1: Access the Subscriptions Settings

1. Navigate to **Settings** -> **Subscriptions** in the Shopware admin panel.
2. Click the **Add Plans** tab.
    ![Shopware Plans](./assets/add-subscription.jpg)

### Step 2: Create a New Subscription Plan

1. In the **General** section:

    - **Name**: "Monthly Guitar Strings"
    - **Label**: "Monthly Guitar Strings Subscription"
    - **Description**: "Receive a fresh set of guitar strings every month at a discounted price."
    - **Active**: Toggle to activate the plan.

### Step 3: Define Availability and Intervals

1. In the **Availability** section, set any rules if needed (e.g., only available for certain customer groups).
2. In the **Intervals** section:

    - Select interval period to be "Every first of the month"
    - **Minimum Term**: "12" (for a 12-month minimum subscription)
    - **Discount (%)**: "10"

    ![Shopware Plans](./assets/configure-subscription.jpg)

### Step 4: Assign the Subscription Plan to Products

1. Navigate to **Catalog** -> **Products**.
2. Select the guitar strings product you want to offer as a subscription.
3. In the product details, assign the newly created subscription plan.
4. Save the changes.

    ![Shopware Plans](./assets/map-subscription.jpg)

### Step 5: Test Your Subscription Setup

<ArticleQuestionnaire>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireQuestion>What happens when a customer subscribes to the guitar strings?</ArticleQuestionnaireQuestion>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>They receive a one-time order</ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer correct>They receive guitar strings every month automatically</ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>
</ArticleQuestionnaire>

<ArticleQuestionnaire>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireQuestion>Is the 10% discount applied to each recurring order?</ArticleQuestionnaireQuestion>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer correct>Yes</ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>
    <ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>No</ArticleQuestionnaireAnswer>
</ArticleQuestionnaire>

![Shopware Plans](./assets/storefront-subscription.jpg)

## Activity Checkpoint: Exploring More Subscription Possibilities

Beyond guitar strings, consider offering subscriptions for:

- **Guitar Picks**: Monthly delivery of assorted picks with 15% discount.
- **Guitar Care Kits**: Quarterly delivery of cleaning and maintenance products.

## Final Thoughts

With Shopware's [Subscriptions](https://docs.shopware.com/en/shopware-6-en/settings/shop/subscriptions) feature, you can provide added convenience to your customers, encourage repeat business, and create a steady revenue stream for your store.