# QR codes for retail

> How to use QR codes in retail: shelf-edge product detail, after-hours window shopping, receipt review requests and till-point loyalty sign-up that works.

Source: https://qr-code-build.com/qr-code-for-retail/  
Last reviewed: 2026-08-24  
Publisher: QR Code Builder

## Summary
Retailers use QR codes at the shelf edge for product detail and reviews, in windows for after-hours browsing, on receipts for reviews and returns, and at the till for loyalty sign-up. Each should link to the specific item or action, never to a generic homepage.

## Answering the question in the customer's hand
A shopper holding a product has a specific question: does it fit, what is in it, does it come in another colour, what do reviews say. A shelf-edge code that opens the homepage answers none of them and gets abandoned in one tap.

- Link to that exact product page, not a category.

- Put reviews, sizing and specification above the fold. The shopper is standing up, one-handed, in a hurry.

- Show live stock for other sizes and colours in that store. This is the single highest-value thing a shelf code can do.

- Add a click-to-buy for delivery when the shelf is out of stock — the code turns a lost sale into an order.

- Keep it under 25 mm and it fits the shelf strip without redesigning the fixture.

## Selling when the shop is shut
Window codes work on a specific behaviour: someone walking past a closed shop, interested, with nothing to do about it. A code turns that into a browse.

- Size for the pavement — 80–100 mm read through glass from a metre or two.

- Mount at chest height. Codes at ankle level and above head height do not get scanned.

- Watch reflections. Glass plus a streetlight defeats a camera; matte vinyl on the inside surface helps, and so does positioning away from direct light.

- Link to the window display's products specifically, if you can. *Everything in this window* is a better landing page than the whole catalogue.

- Include opening hours on the landing page. It is the second thing they want after the price.

## The two highest-converting placements
| Placement | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Printed on the receipt | Review request | Best timing — the visit is still fresh |
| Receipt footer | Returns and warranty registration | Reduces counter queries |
| Counter card | Loyalty sign-up | Works while the card machine processes |
| Bag insert | Review or reorder | Read at home, unhurried |
| Till screen | Payment | Region-dependent, needs a payment provider |

Thermal receipt printers run around 203 dpi with visible dot spread, so keep receipt codes at 25 mm or larger and use error correction M or Q. Thermal paper also fades — a receipt in a wallet for three weeks may no longer scan, which is a reason to keep the important code on the bag insert instead.

## Frequently asked questions
### What should a shelf-edge QR code link to?
The specific product page with reviews, sizing and local stock. A homepage link wastes the scan.

### How big should a shop window QR code be?
80–100 mm for scanning from the pavement through glass. Mount it at chest height and away from direct reflections.

### Do QR codes work on till receipts?
Yes, at 25 mm or larger with error correction M or Q. Thermal printing is coarse and thermal paper fades over weeks.

### What is the best place in a shop for a review code?
Printed on the receipt or inside the bag. Both catch the customer while the visit is fresh, unlike a window sticker nobody stops for.

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