As a historian working long hours with a busy travel schedule, Elis Iafélix needed a career change that afforded her more time at home in São Paulo, Brazil with her newborn son.

Inspired by earning roughly BRL 7,700 (USD 2,000) selling some of her old clothes online, in 2015, she launched Com Eira e Beira, an online-only second-hand clothing business.

While the business was popular, Elis identified one big problem: Many customers would place their orders on Com Eira e Beira’s website but not follow through on their payments, which meant incomplete sales and a loss in revenue.

So, in 2018, she turned to the WhatsApp Business app, and by following up with these customers via the app, she has doubled her conversion rate on these sales. Elis also answers urgent queries immediately with the quick replies feature, and with labels, she categorizes and personalizes her customer service.

“People are very comfortable with WhatsApp Business,” she says. “It’s a fast vehicle.”

For Elis, the joy of customers sending her photographs in their new clothes is priceless, and they like interacting with her on WhatsApp, too.

Communication is personalized, and the response is quick

A customer who first connected with Com Eira e Beira via WhatsApp says communication is personalized, and the response is quick. The ability to ask questions about her orders via WhatsApp makes her feel “at ease and assured.”

“Unlike other portals, it is easier to get details altered without hassle,” explains another regular customer whose incorrect delivery address was immediately resolved by sending a WhatsApp message to Com Eira e Beira.

The WhatsApp Business app is helping Elis do what she never thought possible — to run a successful business while spending as much time as she wants with her family. With this kind of freedom, she says, “The future has arrived.”