Unique discount code

Written by Hylke Reitsma, co-founder of TouchDrop

A unique discount code is a Shopify discount code generated specifically for one postcard recipient. Unlike a shared code (e.g. "WINBACK15" used by everyone), a unique code is printed on a single postcard and can only be used by that recipient. This enables attribution: when the code is redeemed at checkout, TouchDrop knows exactly which postcard, which campaign, and which customer it corresponds to.

Why unique codes matter for direct mail attribution

Shared discount codes are untrackable at the individual level — you can see that WINBACK15 was used 47 times, but you can't know which of those redemptions came from customers who received the postcard vs. customers who found the code somewhere else. A unique code closes this gap: every redemption is attributed to a specific postcard send.

How TouchDrop generates unique codes

TouchDrop integrates with the Shopify API to generate a unique discount code for each postcard recipient at campaign launch. The codes follow a configurable format (e.g. TD-XXXX-YYYY), are set with your chosen discount value and expiry date, and are created directly in your Shopify account. When a customer enters the code at checkout, Shopify processes it as a standard discount — no additional integration required.

Code redemption tracking

TouchDrop monitors your Shopify order feed for discount code redemptions. When a code created by TouchDrop is used in an order, the order value is attributed to the corresponding campaign in your ROAS dashboard. Customer email and shipping-address matching then catch orders placed without the code, and the three methods together give the most complete picture of campaign-attributed revenue.

Code format and expiry

You configure the discount type (percentage or fixed amount), the discount value, and the code expiry date when setting up the campaign. Codes expire in Shopify on the end date you set, and a code with no end date does not expire. A redemption of a TouchDrop code is attributed to the campaign whenever it happens.