What your customers see

Simulated text messages. These fictional conversations illustrate the flow; this demo does not receive calls or send texts.

When a call goes unanswered because you’re mid-cut, the caller gets a text within seconds. If they reply with a question, an assistant answers from a list of answers you’ve approved. Anything not on the list comes to you.

Every message below is under 160 characters, so it sends as one text. Marketing texts say how to stop them. Automated replies say they’re automated.

The eight messages

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

1. Missed call

Missed call · 11:42

Tidemark: Hi, it's Tidemark Barbers. Sorry we missed you, we're mid-cut. Book here: tidemark.example/book or reply with your question.

Our text: 124/160 characters

Sent within seconds of an unanswered call during opening hours.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

2. Assistant reply

Customer: How much for a skin fade?

Tidemark: A skin fade is £22 and takes 45 mins. Book here: tidemark.example/book. This is an automated reply; the team see all messages.

Our text: 126/160 characters

The question matches an approved answer, so it replies at once and says it is automated.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

3. Handed to the owner

Customer: Is Dan in Saturday?

Tidemark: Good question, I've passed that to the team and someone will reply shortly.

Sent to Dan’s phone · waiting for reply

Our text: 75/160 characters

Not on the approved list, so it is passed on. The owner gets a notification and replies between clients.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

4. Reminder

Tidemark: Reminder: skin fade with Dan tomorrow at 2:15pm, Tidemark Barbers. Need to change? tidemark.example/manage

Our text: 106/160 characters

Sent the day before at 10am. Cuts no-shows without anyone picking up the phone.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

5. Review request

Tidemark: Thanks for coming in today. If you've a minute, a Google review really helps us: tidemark.example/review. Reply STOP to opt out.

Our text: 128/160 characters

Sent two hours after the appointment, only to customers who opted in.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

6. Rebook nudge

Tidemark: Hi Sam, it's been 4 weeks since your last cut. Book your next one: tidemark.example/book. Reply STOP to opt out.

Our text: 112/160 characters

Sent four weeks after a cut if nothing is booked. Opted-in customers only.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

7. Gap fill

Tidemark: A 3pm slot has just come free today at Tidemark. Reply YES to take it. First reply gets it. Reply STOP to opt out.

Customer: YES

Our text: 114/160 characters

A same-day cancellation goes to a short list of opted-in regulars. The first YES gets the slot; later replies are told it has gone.

Tidemark Barbers07700 900 527

8. Opt-out

Customer: STOP

Tidemark: You're unsubscribed from Tidemark Barbers texts. You'll still get booking confirmations.

Our text: 88/160 characters

Stops all marketing texts to this number straight away.

The rules the assistant follows

It only answers from the owner’s approved list: prices, hours, parking, walk-ins, payment, kids’ cuts.
It never makes up an answer. Anything else goes to the owner with “someone will reply shortly”.
It never confirms a specific barber or time by text. It sends the booking link, which shows real availability.
One missed-call text per number every two hours, so a caller who rings three times gets one text.
Withheld numbers get no text, and landlines can’t receive one.
STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE and similar words opt the number out at once. Booking confirmations still send.
Marketing texts (review, rebook, gap fill) only go to customers who opted in when booking.
Marketing texts never go out late: anything queued after 8pm waits until 9am.

What this adds up to after 60 days: the sample owner report →