What is a custom template?
Notify Me! ships with built-in email templates (Simple, Simplify, Supply) that cover most use cases. If none of them match your brand, you can design your own using HTML and Liquid. Custom templates give you full control over the look, layout, and content of the email — while still working with the variables we provide (product image, shop logo, Add to Cart button, etc.).
Which notifications support custom templates?
You can create a custom template for any of these emails:
First Back-in-Stock — the primary alert sent when a product is restocked
Reminder — the follow-up nudge
Thank-you message — sent right after a customer subscribes
Pre-order confirmation — sent after a pre-order is placed
The creation and review process is the same for all four.
Step 1 — Open the email editor
In the left sidebar, open Back in stock (for the first three) or PreOrder (for Pre-order confirmation).
Click Customize appearance.
In the Notifications section, pick the email type you want to edit.
Click Email to open the editor.
Step 2 — Select "Custom template"
In the Email template dropdown on the right, choose Custom template.
Step 3 — Build your template
A modal opens with an HTML editor. Write your template here, using Liquid variables anywhere you want content to populate dynamically — product name, price, shop logo, product image, and more.
Click Template variables reference (top right of the modal) to see the full list of supported variables and filters, or open the variables reference article directly.
When you're ready, click Save HTML code (bottom right).
Tips while building:
Keep email-safe HTML in mind — use tables for layout and inline styles for styling. Most email clients still have limited CSS support.
Don't wrap variables like
#{{ logo }}or#{{ shop_url }}in quotation marks — if you do, they won't render.Gmail doesn't support every font family. Stick to web-safe fonts for the best results.
Step 4 — Preview and send a test
Use Send test Email in the top right to preview exactly how your template will look in a real inbox. Always test before submitting — small rendering issues are much easier to spot in an email client than in the preview pane.
Step 5 — Submit for review
When you're happy with your template, click Submit for review.
What happens during review
Once submitted, your template moves into a Pending review state, visible in the Email template dropdown.
In the editor itself, you'll see a Custom template under review status card on the right panel. From here you can also click Change HTML code if you spot something you want to fix before review completes.
Key things to know:
Review takes up to 48 hours.
Your previously active template keeps sending — customers always receive a notification.
You'll get an email as soon as the decision is made.
What happens after review
If it's approved, the Custom template option in the dropdown switches to a Confirmed badge, and your custom template starts sending to customers.
If it needs changes, the email we send you will explain what to adjust. Open the editor, update your template via Change HTML code, and submit again — the review clock resets for each new submission.
Why we review custom templates
Emails sent through Notify Me! go through shared sending infrastructure. Review exists to make sure templates are used for their intended purpose and to protect deliverability for every merchant on the platform.
Common reasons for rejection
Templates are usually approved. The most common reasons for rejection are:
The template isn't about the intended email type (for example, a "First alert" that's actually a newsletter or unrelated promo).
It impersonates another company, brand, or person.
It promotes restricted categories (gambling, adult content, crypto schemes, counterfeits, etc.).
It contains suspicious, shortened, or phishing-style links.
It asks recipients for passwords, payment details, or to log in outside your own store.
The content is offensive or discriminatory.
Troubleshooting
My logo isn't showing up. Check your HTML. The
#{{ logo }}variable should not be wrapped in quotation marks — if it is, the image won't render. Also make sure you've set a logo for your Shopify store.A variable is showing as plain text in the email. You're probably missing the
#prefix or have a typo. The correct syntax is#{{ variable_name }}. See the variables reference for the full list.My custom template isn't live yet. It's likely still under review. Check for our review email, or look for the "Pending review" tag in the Email template dropdown.