A WhatsApp AI agent for fashion boutiques: is it in M, can you hold it, and can I come in to try it tomorrow
A boutique posts a dress on Instagram at 8pm and the DMs and WhatsApps start: "got M?", "can hold?", "can I try tomorrow?". The owner answers until midnight or loses the sales. An agent answers availability by size, holds the piece by your rule, books the fitting, and leaves the styling to the person with the eye.
Quick answer
A boutique's agent answers availability by size and colour from a list you keep current, applies your hold rule (how long, deposit or not), books fitting appointments, takes orders with delivery or collection, quotes alterations and turnaround, explains exchange and return policy, handles restock notices, and hands over personal styling advice, custom orders and complaints.
The split
| Let the agent handle | Keep with a person |
|---|---|
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Holds
Write the hold rule as one line: "We hold pieces for 24 hours without deposit, or up to 7 days with a RM 50 deposit deducted from the price." The agent applies it, records the hold with the piece and size, and reminds the customer before it expires. A person releases the piece if it is not collected. The size list must be current, which means a two-minute update when something sells; see the stock-date rule in the online shop guide.
Fittings
Boutiques that book fittings convert better than those that wait for walk-ins. Set fitting slots of 30 minutes, let the agent book them with the pieces to have ready, and remind the day before. The customer arrives to a rail with their name on it. Booking mechanics are in appointment booking.
Setting it up
- Knowledge. Type the current stock list (piece, sizes, colours, price), the hold rule, alteration prices, delivery and returns policy, and put the WhatsApp link in the Instagram bio.
- Instructions. Role, tone (chic, warm, brief), the hold rule, the fitting offer, the styling handover, and the stock-date sentence.
- Booking or intake. Set the appointment types and hours, or the intake questions the agent asks in order.
- Handover. Name the topics that go to a person; the agent flags the chat and stops replying until you hand it back.
- Test. Send twenty real messages before customers do; the checklist is in the pre-launch test.
ReplyKit connects your number through Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform. You sign in with your Facebook business account from the dashboard, pick or create the number, and it is live in a few minutes: no pairing, no phone that has to stay online, and no linked-device restriction risk. Replies to customers who message you carry no Meta fee inside the 24-hour service window; reminders and follow-ups sent outside it go as approved templates at Meta's per-message rate. Details in why ReplyKit runs on the official platform.
Instagram to WhatsApp
Instagram DMs stay in Instagram; the agent works on WhatsApp and your website. Put a click-to-chat link in the bio and in Stories, and reply to DMs with "WhatsApp us here and we will check the size for you". The link setup is in WhatsApp links and QR codes.
Frequently asked questions
Can the agent check whether a piece is in my size?
From a list you keep current, yes, with the date it was updated.
Can it hold a piece for me?
By the boutique's hold rule, with a reminder before the hold expires.
Does it book fittings?
Yes, with the pieces noted so they are ready when you arrive.
Can it give styling advice?
No. That stays with the boutique staff, which is the point of a boutique.
Does it work with Instagram DMs?
It works on WhatsApp and your website. Use a WhatsApp link in the Instagram bio to move the conversation.
Every 'got M?' answered at 8pm
Sizes, holds and fittings handled in the chat. 7-day free trial.
Sources and further reading
- Harvard Business Review, The Short Life of Online Sales Leads (Oldroyd, McElheran, Elkington, 2011) · firms that responded within an hour were about seven times more likely to qualify the lead
- WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy · opt-in, opt-out and prohibited-use rules every business must follow
- ReplyKit Acceptable Use Policy · what we refuse to automate
ReplyKit is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. This article is general guidance for running a small business, not legal, financial or regulatory advice.