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How to Upsell on Shopify without your Customers even Noticing (+ Examples)

Let’s face it, e-commerce consumers are a savvy bunch. Once upon a time, it might have been easy to pull the wool over their eyes and draw your customers towards simple and obvious upselling deals, but chances are, your customers aren’t falling into those traps anymore. So, how to upsell on Shopify to a modern, savvy consumer? I’m so glad you asked. 

Here, we’re going to discuss the best practices for upselling on Shopify, with techniques that have proven results in the modern e-commerce landscape. We’ve also included some examples of subtle upselling on Shopify, so that you can learn from the best. 

Let’s go!

What is upselling?

Upselling, cross-selling, down-selling – what are all these words and what do they mean? Upselling and cross-selling can be difficult to distinguish, but it’s important to know the difference so that you can use both techniques effectively throughout your store. 

Upselling generally refers to the act of enticing your customer to buy either a) a better, more expensive version of a product, or b) more quantity/a larger version of a product. An example would be upgrading a customer to a computer or device with greater storage capacity, that’s more expensive than the base model. 

how to upsell on shopify
Source: https://samarabags.com

Cross-selling, on the other hand, refers to increasing a sale by selling related or similar products to your customer. A classic example made famous by Amazon is the “customers also bought” product bundles that display additional, related products as you are browsing. 

Both upselling and cross-selling can be equally effective, and can also be used in tandem – there’s no need to choose between the two and use one technique exclusively. As well as how to upsell on Shopify, we’ll also show some examples of cross-selling deals and techniques below. 

Why is upselling important?

Driving traffic to your store is difficult, and acquiring customers is usually quite expensive when you consider the advertising and marketing costs involved. Therefore, once a customer is browsing your online store, it’s important to do everything you can to make a sale. 

In fact, making a sale is not enough. You need to do whatever you can generate as much revenue as possible from every single customer. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to sell to an existing customer, which is why upselling to each store visitor is crucial to your e-commerce success. 

You don’t need to take my word for it. Jeff Bezos has previously confirmed that a staggering 35% of Amazon’s revenue comes from their upselling and cross-selling deals, including “frequently bought together” and product recommendations. 

How to upsell on Shopify - best practices

There are a few mistakes that merchants sometimes make when first learning how to upsell on Shopify. To make sure your upselling deals are optimized right away, let’s take a look at some upselling best practices

#1 Rule for how to upsell on Shopify: carefully consider your discounts

The point of upselling is not to give away your products. You don’t need to offer excessive discounts to incentivize your customers, and you do need to make sure that your upselling deal is making you money, not costing it. 

how to upsell on shopify
Source: https://phasezeromakeup.com

In many cases, the psychology of a perceived discount is just as important to your customer as the actual monetary saving. As long as they feel like they are getting a great deal, they will be more inclined to go for it. Therefore, you only need to add a small saving in order to convince your customer to buy. 

#2 How to upsell on Shopify? Keep it simple

Don’t make your customer choose between eight slightly different variations of the same product, each with different features and pricing. They will likely give up, worried that they won’t make the right choice, and will find a simpler solution. Only upsell with highly relevant, related products. 

The same goes for your discounts. Clearly show your customers what they are saving when they purchase the upsell you are offering – you don’t want them to have to get our their calculator and figure out which of the three options is the best deal. 

Grow your sales with high-performing deals.

How to upsell on Shopify without your customers even noticing

With PickyStory, you can create highly optimized, personalized deals allowing you to upsell on just about every page of your store. All deals can be tailored and customized to suit your brand’s style, and will blend so seamlessly into your product pages, your customers won’t even realize they are being upsold to.

Let’s take a look at a few examples. 

#1 How to upsell on Shopify with Combo Products

Creating an upselling deal and selling it as a separate product in your store, rather than an add-on to an existing product, is an amazingly powerful way of upselling to your customers. For example, if you sell t-shirts, and want to give your customers the option of buying a 3-pack of shirts, why not create a 3-pack product and offer it as a separate listing?

how to upsell on shopify
Source: try.pickystory.com

With PickyStory, you can create a Combo Product, which is essentially an aggregate of several separate products. The best part is that you are selling this as one product – your customer is able to purchase the whole pack at once, dramatically increasing your average order value (AOV). You can even add your Combo Products to collections, as you would with regular products. 

Try Combo Products for free.

#2 How to upsell on Shopify with tiered pricing

One of the best ways to make sure your customers spend more, is to encourage them to save more. Tiered pricing and quantity breaks are a great way to achieve this. Tiered Pricing refers to offering different pricing levels, or tiers, based on the quantity purchased. 

For example, you can offer a single product full-price, then offer a 10% discount when two are purchased, a 20% discount when three are purchased, and so on. This gives your customer the freedom of choosing the pricing tier that best suits their budget, as well as the product quantity they need. 

Source: try.pickystory.com

PickyStory’s Kits are designed exactly with this in mind. Simply add the product (or products) to the kit, set your pricing tiers, and choose where to display the kit in your store. Kits are commonly displayed on product pages – you can display the option of a three-pack below the single product to entice your customers. 

Try Kits for free.

#3 How to upsell on Shopify with in-cart upsells

The cart page is a great place to display upsell deals to your customers, because by the time a customer reaches the cart page, their intent to buy is significantly higher than when they are simply browsing through a collection of products. 

The most effective way to upsell in the cart is to use highly specific products and add-ons, based on the products your customer already has in their cart. Upsell with a larger or premium version of the product in the cart, and if your customer is close to receiving a reward or discount for their order (such as free shipping), don’t forget to let them know! 

Source: try.pickystory.com

With PickyStory, you can offer product bundles as an upsell in the cart. Create a bundle containing the specific products you want to upsell, and the offer will only be displayed when one of those products is already in the cart. It’s too easy! 

Try in-cart upsell for free. 

How to upsell on Shopify? With PickyStory of course!

PickyStory is designed specifically to help you generate more revenue from every store visit. Upselling deals are a great way to make that happen, and hopefully this article has provided you with some easy to implement strategies when it comes to how to upsell on Shopify. 

Learn more on the PickyStory blog.

Good Luck!

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Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How Zenbivy uses Frequently Bought Together

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Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Prodigy uses Build Your Own Bundle

Prodigy enables its shoppers to build their own bundle of golf discs, fully personalizing the shopping experience. Shoppers get an easy way to select their favorite discs while Prodigy consistently increases its AOV.

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Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Gravity Fitness uses Bundle as Product

Gravity Fitness knows that it's not an easy task for shoppers to collect all the required pieces for a complete home gym. That's why they have created pre-made home gym bundles for an easy shopping experience. Now they have fewer SKU issues, a higher AOV, and happier customers.

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Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Petliking.com uses Complete the Bundle

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Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Doodle Couture uses Bundle as Product

Doodle Couture makes it so easy for shoppers to equip their best friend with the required outfit. Instead of moving back and forth between pages, Doodle Couture offer a complete bundle for pets on one page with a single click. This boosts AOV while making the shopper happy.

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Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How A&D Performance uses Complete the Bundle

A&D Performance always seizes intent-based opportunities to offer additional supplements when shoppers add items to their cart. By displaying a 'Complete the Bundle' popup, A&D Performance increases their Average Order Value (AOV) while helping their customers discover more products.

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Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Koala Babycare uses Bundle as Product

Koala Babycare simplifies its shoppers lives by offering complete cream & oil sets. Shoppers can easily pick their favorite bundles and save while Koala Babycare increases its AOV and number of orders.

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Spend X Get Y

Encourage shoppers to spend a certain amount of money (X) in order to receive a specific benefit or reward (Y)

What is Spend X Get Y?

"Spend X, Get Y" promotions are designed to motivate shoppers to spend more money with the promise of receiving something valuable in return. It's a win-win situation where customers get a benefit, and the store increases its sales.

Why are brands using it?

How Jose Pizarro uses Spend X Get Y

Jose Pizarro takes advantage of PickyCart and 'Spend X Get Y' to reward shoppers with free shipping when they spend £75 in-store. This is a win-win offer for both sides - while Jose Pizarro increases the AOV, shoppers receive a sweet reward.

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Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Agrestis uses Complete the Bundle

Agrestis makes sure to consistently display a variety of spirits to their shoppers at the right moment. As shoppers add spirits to the cart, Agrestis extends an offer to include more related spirits, resulting in an improved shopping experience and a higher Average Order Value (AOV).

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Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Wisdom Foods uses Build Your Own Bundle

Wisdom Foods wanted to upgrade its shopping experience by making it easy for shoppers to pick their desired syrups. Now it allows shoppers to build their own bundles of syrups from a single page and checking out. This increases Wisdom Foods' order sizes while providing a personalized experience to their shoppers.

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Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Dineamic uses Bundle as Product

Dineamic takes advantage of bundles to package their pre-made meals by dietary requirements, so every shopper can quickly and easily find the desired category of meals and add them all with a single click. This simplifies the shopping experience and benefits both sides, as Dineamic boosts its Average Order Value (AOV).

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Create Bundle as product

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Line Furniture uses Bundle as Product

Line furniture simplifies its shoppers lives by offering complete furniture sets in different styles. Now shoppers can easily find their favorite living room and save while Line Furniture increases its AOV and number of orders.

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Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Sobel Home uses Complete the Bundle

Sobel Home never misses an opportunity to offer more products to its shoppers after they add an item to cart. By offering to complete the bundle, Sobel Home helps shoppers to discover additional related items that complement each other while increasing its order size.

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Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How By Benson uses Frequently Bought Together

By Benson never misses an opportunity to offer more options to its customers. While shoppers visit their product pages, they constantly offer to extend or upgrade the targeted product, resulting in better service and larger orders.

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Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How By Benson uses Build Your Own Bundle

As a professional destination for home gardeners, By Benson understands that it might be tricky to select all the necessary tools to make your garden shine. That's why By Benson helps its shoppers choose bundles of tools with a single click, while boosting their Average Order Value (AOV).

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Create Build Your Own Bundle

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Good Store uses Build Your Own Bundle

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Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Westman Atelier uses Bundle as Product

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www.westman-atelier.com

Create Bundle as product

Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How Aim’n uses Frequently Bought Together

Aim'n never misses a shopper when it comes to its product pages. It utilizes the 'Frequently Bought Together' feature to suggest additional sizes to product viewers, ensuring that no shopper is left without a solution while keeping its main sizes as the default option.

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Create Frequently Bought Together

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How BLANQI uses Bundle as Product

BLANQI make it easy for their shoppers to find complete maternity sets. While shoppers receive a fast, single-click shopping experience, BLANQI enjoys higher order amounts without investing any additional resources.

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Create Bundle as product

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Carly Jean uses Build Your Own Bundle

Carly Jean offers its shoppers the opportunity to build their own custom looks by selecting the individual items that comprise their desired outfit. 'Build Your Own Bundle' enables Carly Jean to easily provide a personalized experience that shoppers love and want to return to again and again.

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Spend X Get Y

Encourage shoppers to spend a certain amount of money (X) in order to receive a specific benefit or reward (Y)

What is Spend X Get Y?

"Spend X, Get Y" promotions are designed to motivate shoppers to spend more money with the promise of receiving something valuable in return. It's a win-win situation where customers get a benefit, and the store increases its sales.

Why are brands using it?

How Proclamation Jewelry uses Spend X Get Y

Proclamation Jewelry encourages its shoppers to spend at least $500 on jewelry in-store to receive free shipping. This is a win-win for both the shoppers, who get free shipping (which can be expensive at times), and the brand, which maintains a higher average order value.

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