Templates · Marketing
Shop closed message for customers: 21 holiday, timing change and closure notices for WhatsApp
Holiday, closure and timing-change notices for shops, clinics and offices, as Meta templates and plain WhatsApp Business app texts, with which ones Meta treats as marketing and which as utility.
By Broadchat teamPublished 9 min read
Before you submit these templates
- A closure or timing notice sent to everyone is a general announcement, so submit it as Marketing. Choosing Utility to save cost risks recategorisation and, on repeat, Meta's category-misuse limits.
- Write the utility versions only for customers whose own order, pickup or appointment is affected, and keep greetings and offers out of them.
- Put dates in variables with realistic samples ("8 Nov to 10 Nov") so one template works for every holiday of the year.
- Do not end the body with a variable: finish with a sentence such as "We open again on {{4}} at our usual time."
- Add a Stop updates quick reply to marketing notices and honour it in your contact list; it protects your quality rating.
- Get an "unplanned closure" template approved in advance. Meta review can take up to 24 hours, which is too slow on the morning of a power cut.
- Name templates by purpose (closed_timing_change_notice), because a template name cannot be changed after you create it.
The short answer
A good shop closed message for customers says four things in two or three short lines: which days you are closed, why (in a few words), when you reopen, and what the customer can do meanwhile (order before a date, order online, or message you). Send it two or three days before you close, not on the closing day, and only to customers who agreed to hear from you on WhatsApp.
Below are 14 WhatsApp Business API templates with {{1}} variables, ready to submit to Meta, and 7 plain messages you can send from the WhatsApp Business app. They cover festival holidays, weekly offs, timing changes, renovation, relocation, unplanned closures, clinics and offices, and the cases where a closure moves a customer's own order or appointment.
Marketing or utility? It depends on who you send it to
Meta's template categorisation guide says utility templates must be non-promotional and specific to a transaction or account the customer already has, such as an order or a booking. A holiday or timing notice sent to your whole customer list is not tied to any one transaction, so expect Meta to categorise it as marketing, even when it contains no offer. That means it needs marketing opt-in, counts towards Meta's per-user marketing limits and is charged at the marketing rate (see WhatsApp API pricing).
| Situation | Category to expect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "We are closed 8 to 10 Nov for Diwali" to all customers | Marketing | A general business announcement |
| "Our new timing is 9 am to 10 pm" to all customers | Marketing | Not about one customer's transaction |
| "Your pickup on 8 Nov moves to 11 Nov because we are closed" | Utility | Updates that customer's own order |
| "Your appointment falls on our holiday, moved to 25 Nov" | Utility | Updates that customer's own booking |
| A customer asks "open today?" and you reply within 24 hours | No template needed | A normal reply in the customer service window |
Meta decides the final category and can recategorise a template later, so write the utility versions without greetings or offers. The template categories guide explains the rules in detail.
Plain closed and holiday messages for the WhatsApp Business app
Copy, change the details and send from your phone. In the app these are ordinary messages, so there is no template review.
1. Diwali holiday for a kirana or general store
Namaste Sharma ji, Diwali ke liye hamari dukaan 8 se 10 Nov tak band rahegi. 7 Nov raat 10 baje tak order bhej dijiye, sab pack karke de denge. 11 Nov se roz ki tarah subah 8 baje khulegi. Happy Diwali!2. Boutique closed for a family function
Hi Pooja, the boutique will be closed on Saturday 14 Nov for a family wedding. Your blouse fitting can be on Friday 13 Nov after 4 pm or Sunday 15 Nov. Which works for you?3. Restaurant closed for a private event
Hi Rahul, Brew Street Cafe is closed to walk-ins on Friday 20 Nov evening for a private booking. Delivery orders on Swiggy and Zomato will run as normal. See you on Saturday!4. Coaching centre holiday
Dear parents, Bright Minds Classes will be closed from 8 to 11 Nov for Diwali. Regular batches restart on 12 Nov at the usual time. Homework sheets for the break are shared in the class group.5. Gym closed for maintenance
Hi Arjun, FitZone will be closed on Monday 16 Nov from 6 am to 2 pm for machine servicing. The evening session from 4 pm runs as usual. Your membership end date has been extended by one day.6. Short notice closing
Hi Neha, sorry for the late message: we have to close the salon today at 3 pm because of a water problem in the building. Your 5 pm haircut can move to tomorrow 5 pm or Saturday morning. Please tell me what suits you.7. Status or broadcast text for all customers
Holiday notice: Kumar Electronics will be closed on 8 and 9 Nov for Diwali. Service requests booked during these days will be attended from 10 Nov. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Diwali.Tips that keep the notice useful
- Give exact dates, not "a few days". "Closed 8 to 10 Nov, open 11 Nov" is something a customer can plan around.
- Tell people what to do now. Order by 7 Nov, collect on 11 Nov, or order online: the notice should save a sale, not lose one.
- One notice and one reopening message is enough. A daily "still closed" message invites blocks and reports, which hurt your quality rating.
- Update Google Business Profile and your WhatsApp Business profile hours too. Customers check those first.
- For doctors and clinics, always give an emergency alternative. A closure notice must never leave a patient without a next step.
How to send these
WhatsApp Business app (free, manual). Send the plain versions one by one, post them as a Status, or use broadcast lists of up to 256 contacts who saved your number; see the broadcast list guide.
WhatsApp Business API (to your whole opted-in list). In Broadchat:
- Create the notice in CRM → WhatsApp Templates with the Marketing category, and the order or appointment versions with Utility. Submit them a few days early: Meta's review can take up to 24 hours.
- In CRM → Segment, pick customers who opted in to updates and bought from you in the last year. Leave out people who tapped Stop updates.
- Open CRM → Bulk Campaign, choose the template and segment, map the dates and schedule it for a sensible hour (10 am to 7 pm), two or three days before you close.
- For open orders and bookings, send the utility versions from Automations → Workflow or upload just those customers with Quick Contacts, and connect the quick replies to a flow in Chatbots → Chatbots.
Related libraries: festive greeting templates for the wishes themselves, appointment reminder templates and delay apology messages when a closure pushes back an order. The WhatsApp message templates guide covers the format rules, and agencies managing many local shops can run these notices for clients under their own brand with white-label WhatsApp.
Sources
- Template categorization — Meta for Developers, checked 1 November 2026
- Template components — Meta for Developers, checked 1 November 2026
- Template review — Meta for Developers, checked 1 November 2026
- Per-user marketing template limits — Meta for Developers, checked 1 November 2026
Broadchat team · Product and partner success team
The people who build and support Broadchat, the white-label WhatsApp Business API platform. We write from what we see while onboarding partners and their clients on the official WhatsApp Cloud API, and we check every article against Meta's current documentation.
Last updated:
14 holiday and closure notices templates
Copy the wording, then submit it from CRM → WhatsApp Templates with the sample values shown. Meta reviews every template; approval is never guaranteed.
Namaste {{1}}, {{2}} will stay closed from {{3}} for the festival. We open again on {{4}} at our usual time. Happy festive season from all of us, and thank you for shopping with us.
- Stop updates
Festival holiday: shop closed for a few days
Marketingclosed_festival_holiday_noticeLanguage: en
Use it when: A few days before Diwali, Holi, Eid, Pongal or any festival when the shop or office shuts.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Priya {{2}} Shop name Rangoli Home, Malviya Nagar {{3}} Closing date range 8 Nov to 10 Nov {{4}} Reopening date 11 Nov - Send it 2 to 3 days before you close so regular buyers can stock up; a notice on the closing day helps nobody.
Hi {{1}}, a small reminder: {{2}} is closed every {{3}}. On all other days we are open from {{4}}. You can still send your order here on our off day and we will pack it first thing the next morning.
- Stop updates
Weekly off day
Marketingclosed_weekly_off_reminderLanguage: en
Use it when: Once, after a customer's first order, or when you change your weekly off day.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Arjun {{2}} Shop name Sharma Kirana Store {{3}} Weekly off day Tuesday {{4}} Opening hours 8 am to 9:30 pm Hi {{1}}, from {{2}}, {{3}} will be open from {{4}}. These timings stay in place until further notice. Thank you for your patience while we adjust.
- Stop updates
Shop timing change
Marketingclosed_timing_change_noticeLanguage: en
Use it when: When opening hours change for winter, Ramzan, a new staff shift or a mall's new rules.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Meera {{2}} Date the new timing starts 16 Nov {{3}} Shop name Annapurna Sweets {{4}} New timings 9 am to 10 pm, Monday to Sunday - Put the full new timing in one variable with a realistic sample so the reviewer reads a natural sentence.
Hi {{1}}, {{2}} will be closed from {{3}} for renovation. We reopen on {{4}} with a bigger counter and more seating. Online orders on our website will keep running as usual during this time.
- Order online
Closed for renovation
Marketingclosed_shop_renovationLanguage: en
Use it when: When you close the premises for more than a couple of days for work, a shift or repairs.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Rahul {{2}} Shop name Brew Street Cafe {{3}} Closing date 16 Nov {{4}} Reopening date 30 Nov Hi {{1}}, we are moving. From {{2}}, {{3}} will be at {{4}}. Same team, same prices, more parking. Tap below for directions to the new shop.
- Get directions
Shop moving to a new address
Marketingclosed_relocation_new_addressLanguage: en
Use it when: One week before the move, and again on the opening day at the new address.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Neha {{2}} Moving date 1 Dec {{3}} Shop name Kumar Electronics {{4}} New address Shop 14, Ganesh Market, near Sector 5 Metro, Noida Hi {{1}}, sorry for the short notice: {{2}} is closed today because {{3}}. We will be open again tomorrow from {{4}}. For anything urgent, please message us here.
Closed today (unplanned)
Marketingclosed_unplanned_todayLanguage: en
Use it when: Power cuts, a family emergency, a bandh or bad weather that shuts the shop without warning.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Vikram {{2}} Shop name Shree Ganesh Hardware {{3}} Reason as a short phrase of a power cut in the whole market {{4}} Opening time tomorrow 9 am - Meta reviews templates in advance, so get this one approved before you need it. Review can take up to 24 hours.
Hello {{1}}, {{2}} will be closed from {{3}} as {{4}} is on leave. The clinic reopens on {{5}}. For a medical emergency during this time, please visit the nearest hospital.
Clinic closed, doctor on leave
Marketingclosed_clinic_doctor_leaveLanguage: en
Use it when: To all registered patients when the clinic closes for the doctor's leave or a conference.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Patient first name Sunita {{2}} Clinic name Sunrise Clinic {{3}} Closing date range 20 Nov to 24 Nov {{4}} Doctor's name Dr Anil Mehta {{5}} Reopening date 25 Nov - If a patient has an appointment in those dates, send them the utility template below instead, with their own booking details.
Dear {{1}}, our office will be closed on {{2}} for {{3}}. Requests sent on that day will be handled on {{4}}. Our online portal stays available for downloads and payments.
- Open portal
Office closed on a public holiday
Marketingclosed_bank_holiday_officeLanguage: en
Use it when: For B2B suppliers, CA firms, insurance agencies and service offices before a public holiday.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name or company Mr Nair {{2}} Holiday date 25 Dec {{3}} Holiday name Christmas {{4}} Next working day 26 Dec Hi {{1}}, {{2}} is open again from today. Thank you for waiting during our {{3}} break. Our timings are back to {{4}}, and we look forward to seeing you.
- Stop updates
We are open again
Marketingclosed_reopening_after_holidayLanguage: en
Use it when: On the reopening morning, only to customers who received the closing notice.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Pooja {{2}} Shop name Meera's Boutique {{3}} Break name Diwali {{4}} Usual timings 11 am to 8:30 pm Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} was due for pickup on {{3}}, but our shop is closed that day for the festival. You can now collect it on {{4}} from 10 am. Reply here if you need a different day.
- New date is fine
- Need another day
Your pickup date moves because we are closed
Utilityclosed_order_pickup_movedLanguage: en
Use it when: When a closure affects a customer's own order, pickup or delivery. It is about their transaction, so it can be utility.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Priya {{2}} Order number #7712 {{3}} Original pickup date 8 Nov {{4}} New pickup date 11 Nov - Keep it free of offers or festive greetings; a "Happy Diwali, shop our sale" line would make it marketing.
Hello {{1}}, your appointment at {{2}} on {{3}} falls on a day the clinic is closed. We have moved it to {{4}}. Please confirm or choose another slot.
- Confirm
- Choose another slot
Booked visit falls on a closed day
Utilityclosed_appointment_moved_holidayLanguage: en
Use it when: When you add a holiday after people have already booked slots on that day.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Patient or client first name Arjun {{2}} Clinic or salon name Sunrise Clinic {{3}} Original date and time 24 Nov, 11 am {{4}} New date and time 25 Nov, 11 am Hi {{1}}, our delivery team is off on {{2}} for the festival, so your order {{3}} will be delivered on {{4}}. We are sorry for the wait. Reply CANCEL if you no longer need it.
- OK
- Cancel order
Deliveries paused for the holiday
Utilityclosed_delivery_paused_holidayLanguage: en
Use it when: For open orders that cannot be delivered because your courier or delivery staff are off.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Meera {{2}} Holiday date 8 Nov {{3}} Order number #48530 {{4}} New delivery date 9 Nov नमस्ते {{1}} जी, {{2}} दीवाली के कारण {{3}} तक बंद रहेगी। दुकान {{4}} से फिर खुलेगी। आपको और आपके परिवार को त्योहार की शुभकामनाएँ।
- अपडेट बंद करें
त्योहार की छुट्टी (हिंदी)
Marketingclosed_festival_notice_hiLanguage: hi
Use it when: For customers who chat with you in Hindi. Submit it with the Hindi (hi) language code.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} ग्राहक का नाम शर्मा {{2}} दुकान का नाम गुप्ता जनरल स्टोर {{3}} बंद रहने की तारीखें 8 से 10 नवंबर {{4}} दुकान खुलने की तारीख 11 नवंबर Namaste {{1}} ji, {{2}} se hamari dukaan ka naya time hoga {{3}}. Sunday ko {{4}}. Order WhatsApp par pehle ki tarah bhej sakte hain.
- Stop updates
Timing change (Hinglish)
Marketingclosed_timing_hinglishLanguage: en
Use it when: For local shops whose customers write in Roman Hindi. Submit with the English (en) language code because the script is Latin.
Variables Variable Meaning Sample {{1}} Customer first name Rakesh {{2}} Date the new timing starts 16 Nov {{3}} New weekday timing subah 9 se raat 9 baje tak {{4}} Sunday timing dukaan band rahegi
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a shop closed message for customers?
State the dates you are closed, the reason in a few words, the reopening date and what customers can do meanwhile. For example: "Rangoli Home is closed 8 to 10 Nov for Diwali. Order by 7 Nov 10 pm and we will pack it before we close. We reopen on 11 Nov."
Is a holiday closure notice a utility or marketing template?
If you send it to your whole customer list, expect marketing, because it is a general business announcement and not tied to one customer's order or booking. If it updates a specific order pickup, delivery or appointment, it can be utility. Meta makes the final decision.
How many days before a holiday should I send the closure message?
Two or three days before you close works for most shops. It gives regular buyers time to order or collect, without being so early that they forget. Send one short reopening message on the day you open again.
How do I tell customers about new shop timings on WhatsApp?
Send one message with the start date and the full new timing, for example "From 16 Nov we are open 9 am to 10 pm, all seven days", and update the hours in your WhatsApp Business profile and Google Business Profile on the same day.
Can I send a closure notice to customers who never messaged me?
Only if they agreed to receive WhatsApp messages from your business. With the API you need opt-in before sending any template. In the WhatsApp Business app, broadcast lists reach only people who saved your number.
What should a clinic closure message include?
The closed dates, the reopening date, what happens to patients already booked (moved slot or a call back), and an emergency alternative such as the nearest hospital. Patients with appointments in those dates should get a separate message about their own booking.