24/7 Call Answering for retail stores
Never miss a customer call or inquiry. Our AI receptionist handles customer calls professionally and manages inquiries instantly.
Why retail stores are switching to AI phone answering
Running a retail store means juggling a dozen tasks at once. You're helping customers on the floor, restocking shelves, processing returns, and managing staff. When the phone rings, you face an impossible choice: leave the customer in front of you or let the call go to voicemail. Neither option is good for business.
The economics of retail phone support don't add up. Hiring a dedicated phone person costs $30,000-40,000 per year, but call volume is unpredictable. Some days you get 50 calls, others just 5. Traditional answering services charge per minute and still just take messages that pile up.
AI phone answering changes the equation entirely. When a customer calls to check if an item is in stock, ask about store hours, or inquire about a return, they get an immediate answer. No hold music, no voicemail, no waiting for a callback that might come too late.
For retail customers, speed matters more than you realize. Someone checking if you have a product in stock is ready to buy now. If they get voicemail, they call your competitor. If they get an instant answer and a hold on the item, they're walking through your door within the hour.
Store managers report the biggest wins during peak hours and holidays. Black Friday, back-to-school season, holiday shopping. These are exactly the times when your floor staff can't answer phones. AI handles the surge while your team focuses on in-store customers.
This isn't about replacing the personal touch that makes retail special. The AI handles routine calls about hours, inventory, and policies. Your staff stays focused on creating great in-store experiences that turn shoppers into loyal customers.
Retail staff miss most calls while helping floor customers or during busy periods.
AI answering costs 95% less than dedicated phone staff and handles peak volume effortlessly.
Customers who can't reach you about product availability buy from competitors instead.
Common retail stores calls we handle
Our AI understands your business and handles these calls automatically.
| Call Type | Peak Timing | What AI Captures | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
📦Product availability / Stock check | All day | Item details, size/color, quantity needed | Info provided |
🕐Store hours / Location questions | Mornings, evenings | Location preference, special hours inquiry | Info provided |
↩️Return / Exchange policy questions | Business hours | Purchase date, item, receipt status, reason | Info provided |
🏷️Price check / Sale inquiries | Weekends, sale periods | Item details, current promotions interest | Info provided |
📋Special order / Product request | Business hours | Product details, contact info, timeline | Order confirmed |
🎁Gift card balance / Loyalty program | Anytime | Card number, account details | Info provided |
🚚Delivery / Pickup status | Business hours | Order number, customer name | Info provided |
❓"Do you carry [brand/product]?" | Anytime | Brand interest, product category, contact info | Lead captured |
Integrates with your retail stores tools
After every call, NextPhone can update your CRM, add new contacts, book appointments, and trigger workflows automatically.
Shopify POS
Check inventory and order status in real-time
Square
Access product info and customer data
Lightspeed
Sync inventory and customer information
Clover
Connect orders and customer history
Google Calendar
Schedule appointments and callbacks
Zapier
Connect to 5,000+ other apps
From ring to booked revenue.
NextPhone handles the entire booking process autonomously, creating a seamless flow of data from the first ring to your calendar.
Trained on your website
We customize NextPhone to YOUR services, pricing, and booking flow.
Books into your calendar
Checks YOUR availability in real-time and schedules jobs instantly.
Syncs to your stack
Everything flows to YOUR CRM, calendar, and tools automatically.
Call Resolution Rate
First 7 Weeks
Every call picked up,
and handled perfectly.
When phones get busy or the office is closed, NextPhone takes over instantly—no more voicemail black holes.
Unlimited calls included
Flat monthly rate. No per-call or per-minute charges, ever.
Instant transfers
Complex calls route to your team immediately when needed.
Phone numbers anywhere
Get local numbers from any US, Canadian, or international area code.
20+ languages
Serve customers in Spanish, French, Mandarin, and more.
During the holiday rush, we were missing half our calls because everyone was on the floor. Now our AI handles inventory questions and hold requests while we focus on in-store customers. We've seen a 30% increase in foot traffic from people who called ahead.
Simple, transparent pricing
Most customers recover the monthly cost from a single appointment.
Nextphone Pro
For lean teams getting started.
- Converts leads to booked appointments automatically
- Syncs with your calendar & CRM
- Unlimited calls (no per-minute charges)
- Call transcripts & summaries
- Custom training included
- No contracts, cancel anytime
Nextphone Enterprise
For multi-location teams.
- Multiple lines & locations
- Advanced routing & integrations
- Dedicated onboarding support
- Priority 24/7 support
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about NextPhone
Yes! The AI can answer questions about products, availability, pricing, and store hours. For specific questions, it routes to your team.
Yes! NextPhone integrates with popular retail systems. Customer information and inquiries sync automatically.
The AI can answer common questions about products, returns, and policies. For complex issues, it routes to your team.
The AI works 24/7, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. It can handle customer inquiries or schedule callbacks.
The AI can collect return and exchange information and route to your team while ensuring all necessary details are captured.
The AI tracks every callback request and ensures you never miss a follow-up. It can schedule callbacks at your preferred times.
Yes! The AI can answer questions about store hours, locations, and directions. For specific questions, it routes to your team.
NextPhone costs $199/month with unlimited calls - no per-minute charges or hidden fees. Includes custom training, CRM integration, call transcripts, and summaries. No contracts, cancel anytime.
Still have questions? Contact our support team
Industries We Serve
NextPhone works for businesses like yours
Turn your phone lines into a
24/7 booking engine.
See a live demo and have NextPhone answering calls in under a week.