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How do customers subscribe to email and SMS in Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) POS

Collect customer permission for email and SMS marketing in Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) to stay compliant with GDPR, TCPA, and CCPA.

Updated today

For Lightspeed Retail R-Series merchants

Formerly known as Lightspeed Retail


Capture your customers' marketing opt-in preferences

When a new customer makes an in-store purchase, it’s important that staff ask whether they’d like to join your database and receive marketing via email and SMS. Permission is required by International Law (including GDPR, TCPA, TCIA & CCPA) and our Terms of Use.


Capturing marketing consent (opt-in) means:

  • If you already use Marketing or SMS add-ons → you can immediately send campaigns and automations to those opted-in customers.

  • If you don’t yet use Marketing or SMS add-ons → you’ll be building your list now, so when you decide to upgrade, you’ll have a database ready to go from day one.

⚠️ Important: Opt-in is required
By default, customers are not subscribed to marketing. They must provide explicit consent (opt-in) before they can receive campaigns and automations through Marsello. Capturing their preferences early means you won’t miss out on future opportunities to engage them when you’re ready to start marketing.


Before you get started

Here are some key details to know about customer opt-in for marketing messages:

Collecting SMS Subscribers

  • To collect mobile numbers for SMS marketing, your staff must ask customers if they would like to receive both SMS and/or email marketing from your store.

  • In Lightspeed Retail R-Series, the customer profile includes separate consent options for email and SMS under Contact > Yes, I have consent from my customer. Staff must select the specific channels (email and/or SMS) that the customer agrees to receive marketing from.

Age Restrictions

  • The TCIA prohibits any unlawful or inappropriate promotions to individuals under 18 years of age.

  • Based on your industry standards, you should actively discourage underage visitors from creating accounts or subscribing to your marketing programs.

Opt-Out Requirements

  • Customers must always have a clear way to unsubscribe from marketing.

  • Marsello includes this by default:

    • Email: an unsubscribe link in all templates.

    • SMS: the instruction Reply STOP to unsubscribe in all templates.

We strongly recommend consulting a legal advisor who specializes in GDPR, TCPA, and TCIA to confirm your store’s compliance before gathering contacts or sending promotional emails and SMS campaigns.


How do customers opt in to marketing through Marsello sign-up forms?

Marsello has two different types of sign-up forms: pop-up and landing page. These form templates include a text disclaimer that informs the customer that by submitting the form, they are opting in to receive both transactional and promotional emails and SMS messages from your store.

Default text disclaimer:

* I agree to receive transactional and promotional emails and text messages (to the email address and phone number provided). Consent is not a condition to purchase. You can opt out or change your email and SMS preferences anytime.

⚠️ Important: If you are using another app for sign-up forms, you need to update your forms to also include such a disclaimer that informs the customer that by submitting the form, they are opting in to receive both email and SMS marketing from your store.

📝 Note: Customers are always in control of their marketing preferences and can opt-out at any time. All promotional messages sent through Marsello include an unsubscribe link, allowing customers to opt out whenever they choose. Alternatively, customers can request to opt out in-store at checkout or manage their preferences online through the Marsello Customer portal.


How do I capture customer marketing opt-in preferences via Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) POS?

⚠️ Important:

  • To use Marsello on your Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) POS, please enable the required sites under the Integrations page.

  • By default, customers do not accept marketing, and they must opt-in to receive marketing through Marsello.

As outlined in the Marketing Compliance Introduction, customers must give express written consent before receiving marketing emails or SMS.

When processing an in-store purchase, staff should ask if the customer wants to join the store’s database and receive marketing messages. Staff can record the customer’s marketing preferences by following these steps:

1. Add the customer to the sale by searching for them by name, email address, or mobile number

2. Under Contact Information, next to Opt-In to Receive Marketing and Promotional Emails, you can indicate the customer's marketing preferences.

✅ If they accept marketing, select the Yes, I have consent from my customer

  • Then, indicate which communication channels they have opted in to:

    • If they accept marketing via email: Select the 'Email' checkbox to indicate YES

    • If they accept marketing via SMS: Select the 'Call' checkbox to indicate YES

A staff member records a customer’s marketing preferences during a sale. They search for the customer by name, email, or phone number, then locate the “Opt-In to Receive Marketing and Promotional Emails” section under Contact Information. If the customer consents, the staff member selects “Yes, I have consent from my customer” and checks the appropriate boxes: “Email” for email marketing consent and “Call” for SMS consent.

The customer will be able to receive store emails and SMS marketing via Marsello.

❌ If they don't accept marketing, do not select / ensure the "Yes, I have consent from my customer" remains unselected.

  • Then, ensure the communication channels remain un-selected:

    • If they don't accept marketing via email: Ensure 'email' checkbox is empty to indicate NO

    • If they don't accept marketing via SMS: Ensure 'call' checkbox is empty to indicate NO

A staff member manages a customer's marketing preferences in Marsello. If the customer does not accept marketing, the "Yes, I have consent from my customer" option is left unselected. Both the "Email" and "Call" checkboxes remain unchecked, indicating the customer has not opted in to receive store emails or SMS marketing.

The customer will be automatically added to your Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) and Marsello database, but will not be eligible to receive email and SMS marketing from your store.

3. Tap Attach to sale, the customer will then be added to the sale


4. Complete the sale

The customer will be automatically added to your Marsello customer database, including their details, accepts marketing preference, and sales data.


🎉 Congratulations

You can now start collecting customers' consent to receive email and SMS marketing via Marsello and Lightspeed Retail R-Series POS.


What is the customer experience with marketing opt-ins?

In-store at POS

During checkout, staff will verbally confirm with the customer what their marketing preferences are. Staff will then update the customer’s account at checkout by selecting the marketing consent option on the POS screen.

In Marsello's Customer portal

After creating a Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) POS store account, customers can update their marketing preferences at any time through Marsello’s Customer Portal.

To opt in to email, SMS or both, toggle the corresponding switch under Promotional Messages to On.

Marsello Customer Portal screen showing marketing preferences. After creating a Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) POS store account, customers can toggle switches under “Promotional Messages” to On to opt in to email, SMS, or both.

To opt out of email, SMS, or both, toggle the corresponding switch to Off.

Marsello Customer Portal screen showing marketing preferences. Customers can toggle switches under “Promotional Messages” to Off to opt out of email, SMS, or both.

What's next?

As your subscriber list begins to grow, you can create marketing campaigns to help increase sales and further drive customer loyalty.

Marketing initiatives:


Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended to be educational and should not be construed as legal advice. Marsello encourages all of our users — and all merchants – to seek legal advice for counsel on how they specifically should prepare for GDPR, TCPA and TCIA.


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