- 20 November 2025
- Ridwan Fauzi, S.psi
- cross-selling strategiesecommerce conversion optimizationecommerce revenue growthincrease average order valueproduct bundlingproduct recommendationsshopify appsshopify bundlesShopify store optimizationshopify upsells
You’re leaving money on the table.
If you’re running a Shopify store without strategic product bundles and upsells, you’re missing one of the easiest ways to increase your average order value. Studies show that implementing effective bundling and upselling strategies can boost your AOV by 30% or more—without spending a dollar on advertising.
But here’s the challenge: most store owners either overcomplicate the process or implement bundles that feel pushy and decrease conversions. The good news? Creating bundles and upsells that customers actually want doesn’t require a PhD in marketing. It just requires the right strategy, proper implementation, and a customer-first approach.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to create Shopify bundles and upsells that increase revenue while enhancing the customer experience. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your existing setup, you’ll find actionable strategies you can implement today.
Why Bundles and Upsells Work (And When They Don’t)
Before diving into implementation, let’s understand the psychology behind why these strategies are so effective.
Product bundling works because it simplifies decision-making for your customers. Instead of choosing between five different products, they see a curated package that solves their complete need. It’s the same reason meal combos outsell individual items at restaurants—convenience wins.
Upsells succeed when they genuinely enhance the original purchase. Think about buying a camera and being offered a memory card and protective case. These aren’t annoying add-ons; they’re logical complementary products that improve the customer’s experience.
However, bundles and upsells fail when they:
- Feel forced or irrelevant to the customer’s needs
- Complicate the buying process instead of simplifying it
- Offer minimal savings that don’t justify bundling
- Interrupt the checkout flow at the wrong moment
The key is strategic implementation that adds value, not friction.
Key Takeaway: Successful bundles and upsells feel like helpful suggestions, not aggressive sales tactics. Always prioritize customer value over short-term revenue gains.
Strategy 1: Creating Product Bundles That Customers Actually Want
Let’s start with product bundles—the foundation of any solid upselling strategy.
Step 1: Identify Your Best Bundle Opportunities
Not all products make good bundle candidates. Start by analyzing your store data to find:
Natural product pairings: Look at your order history to see which products customers frequently buy together. These organic combinations are your goldmine. For example, if 40% of customers who buy yoga mats also purchase yoga blocks, that’s a clear bundle opportunity.
Complementary product sets: Think about the complete solution your customer needs. If you sell coffee beans, bundle them with filters and a storage container. If you sell skincare, create a complete morning or evening routine bundle.
Inventory movers: Bundle slower-moving inventory with bestsellers. This helps clear stock while maintaining perceived value, as long as the products genuinely complement each other.
Step 2: Structure Your Bundle Pricing
The discount sweet spot for bundles typically falls between 10-20%. This provides enough incentive to encourage the purchase without eroding your margins significantly.
Here’s a proven pricing formula:
- Calculate the total individual product value
- Offer a 15% bundle discount
- Ensure your margin remains healthy (aim for at least 30% after all costs)
For example:
- Product A: $30
- Product B: $25
- Product C: $20
- Total value: $75
- Bundle price: $63.75 (15% off)
- Savings displayed: “Save $11.25”
Pro tip: Always display the savings amount prominently. “Save $11” converts better than “15% off” because it shows concrete value.
Step 3: Choose the Right Bundle Type
Shopify supports several bundle structures:
Fixed bundles: Pre-packaged sets with no customization (e.g., “Complete Skincare Kit”). These are easiest to manage and work well for curated experiences.
Mix-and-match bundles: Customers choose X products from a category at a bundled price (e.g., “Choose any 3 t-shirts for $60”). These offer flexibility while maintaining the bundle benefit.
Frequently bought together: Dynamic bundles based on purchase patterns, displayed on product pages as suggestions.
Choose based on your product catalog size and customer preferences. Stores with fewer SKUs often succeed with fixed bundles, while larger catalogs benefit from mix-and-match flexibility.
Step 4: Implement Bundles in Shopify
You have three main approaches:
Native Shopify approach: Create bundle products manually by:
- Setting up a new product listing for the bundle
- Adding clear descriptions explaining what’s included
- Using high-quality images showing all bundle items
- Managing inventory carefully to avoid selling out of components
Using Shopify apps: Apps like Bundle Builder, Bundler, or Wide Bundles automate much of the process and offer advanced features like:
- Automatic inventory synchronization
- Dynamic pricing rules
- Customizable bundle builders
- Advanced analytics
Custom development: For unique bundle requirements or complex logic, custom development provides maximum flexibility. This is where partnering with experienced Shopify developers becomes valuable.
Key Takeaway: Start with 2-3 strategically chosen bundles and test their performance before expanding. Quality beats quantity when it comes to product bundling.
Strategy 2: Mastering the Art of the Upsell
While bundles package products together, upsells encourage customers to upgrade or add complementary items at key decision points.
Understanding the Three Types of Upsells
Pre-purchase upsells: These appear on product pages or in the cart, before checkout begins. They’re less intrusive and often feel more like helpful suggestions.
Examples:
- “Customers also bought…” sections
- Product page recommendations
- Cart page add-ons
Checkout upsells: These appear during the checkout process. Use these sparingly—checkout interruptions can decrease conversion rates if not handled carefully.
Post-purchase upsells: These appear on the thank-you page after payment is complete. They’re incredibly effective because buying resistance is at its lowest, and customers can add items without re-entering payment information.
Creating Effective Upsell Offers
The best upsells follow these principles:
Relevance is everything: Your upsell must logically connect to the original purchase. If someone buys running shoes, suggest running socks or a fitness tracker—not a winter coat.
Keep it simple: Offer one or two upsells maximum at each touchpoint. Analysis paralysis kills conversions.
Price appropriately: The most effective upsells are typically 25-50% of the original purchase price. A $100 purchase might trigger a $30-40 upsell offer.
Emphasize the benefit: Don’t just show another product—explain why adding it enhances their purchase. “Complete your workout gear” converts better than just displaying another product image.
Step-by-Step Upsell Implementation
Step 1: Map your customer journey Identify the optimal moments to present upsells:
- Product page (while they’re considering the purchase)
- Cart page (when they’re reviewing their order)
- Checkout (use cautiously)
- Thank-you page (highest acceptance rates)
Step 2: Segment your upsell strategy Different customers respond to different triggers:
- First-time buyers: Focus on complementary items that enhance their initial purchase
- Returning customers: Suggest upgrades or new products in categories they’ve purchased before
- High-value customers: Present premium upgrades or exclusive bundles
Step 3: Implement using Shopify apps or custom code
Popular upsell apps include:
- Bold Upsell: Comprehensive upselling across the customer journey
- Zipify OneClickUpsell: Specializes in post-purchase upsells
- ReConvert: Excellent for thank-you page optimization
- Frequently Bought Together: Automated product recommendations
For stores with specific needs or those wanting complete control, custom development allows you to:
- Create unique upsell logic based on your business rules
- Design upsells that perfectly match your brand
- Integrate with your existing tech stack
- Optimize performance for faster load times
Step 4: Design compelling upsell messaging
Your upsell copy should:
- Lead with the benefit (“Protect your investment with…”)
- Create urgency without being pushy (“Add now at 20% off”)
- Make it effortless (“Add to order with one click”)
- Allow easy declining (“No thanks, continue to checkout”)
Key Takeaway: The best upsells don’t feel like sales tactics—they feel like helpful recommendations from a knowledgeable friend.
Strategy 3: Optimizing for Maximum Conversion
Creating bundles and upsells is just the beginning. Optimization is where the real revenue gains happen.
A/B Testing Your Offers
Never assume you know what works. Test:
- Bundle discount percentages (10% vs. 15% vs. 20%)
- Upsell placement (product page vs. cart vs. post-purchase)
- Offer messaging and copy
- Visual presentation (images, layouts, call-to-action buttons)
Run tests for at least two weeks or until you reach statistical significance (typically 100+ conversions per variant).
Analyzing Performance Metrics
Track these key metrics for each bundle and upsell:
Acceptance rate: Percentage of customers who accept the offer
- Bundles: 15-25% is good; 30%+ is excellent
- Upsells: 10-20% is typical; 25%+ is outstanding
Impact on AOV: How much does the offer increase average order value?
Effect on conversion rate: Ensure your offers don’t decrease overall conversion rates
Revenue attribution: Calculate the actual revenue generated by each offer
Use Shopify Analytics combined with your app’s reporting tools to monitor these metrics regularly.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Too many offers at once Solution: Limit to one bundle option and 1-2 upsells per customer journey stage.
Mistake 2: Irrelevant recommendations Solution: Use data-driven product associations, not random suggestions.
Mistake 3: Complicating the checkout process Solution: Ensure all upsells have a clear “no thanks” option and don’t add friction.
Mistake 4: Setting and forgetting Solution: Review performance monthly and refresh underperforming offers.
Mistake 5: Poor mobile experience Solution: Over 70% of Shopify traffic is mobile—ensure your bundles and upsells display perfectly on small screens.
Key Takeaway: Continuous optimization based on real data will triple the effectiveness of your bundling and upselling efforts over time.
Advanced Tactics for Experienced Store Owners
Once you’ve mastered the basics, consider these advanced strategies:
Dynamic Bundling Based on Customer Behavior
Use customer data to create personalized bundle offers:
- Show different bundles based on browsing history
- Adjust bundle composition for repeat customers
- Create VIP bundles for high-value customer segments
Seasonal and Event-Based Bundles
Create timely bundles around:
- Holidays (Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day)
- Shopping events (Black Friday, Cyber Monday)
- Your store’s anniversary or milestones
- Seasonal transitions (back-to-school, summer essentials)
Subscription Bundle Offers
Convert one-time purchases into recurring revenue:
- Offer subscription options for bundled consumables
- Provide additional discounts for committing to subscriptions
- Create exclusive subscription-only bundles
Tiered Bundles for Different Customer Segments
Offer good, better, best options:
- Starter bundle: Entry-level price point with core products
- Premium bundle: Mid-tier with additional items and better savings
- Ultimate bundle: Complete solution with maximum value and exclusivity
This strategy leverages the “anchoring effect”—the premium bundle makes the mid-tier option seem more reasonable, increasing overall conversions.
Making It All Work Together: Your Implementation Roadmap
Ready to implement these strategies? Here’s your week-by-week action plan:
Week 1: Research and Planning
- Analyze your order data to identify product associations
- Choose your top 3 bundle opportunities
- Identify optimal upsell points in your customer journey
Week 2: Setup and Implementation
- Create your first 2-3 bundles (start small)
- Install and configure your chosen upsell app
- Design bundle/upsell graphics and write compelling copy
Week 3: Testing and Refinement
- Launch to a segment of your traffic (50%)
- Monitor metrics closely
- Make initial adjustments based on early data
Week 4+: Optimization and Scaling
- Roll out to 100% of traffic
- Begin A/B testing variations
- Add new bundles based on performance data
- Refine upsell timing and messaging
When to Consider Professional Help
While many bundle and upsell strategies can be implemented using existing Shopify apps, certain situations call for custom development or expert guidance:
You need custom bundle logic that apps don’t support (complex pricing rules, unique inventory management, integration with other systems)
Your store has grown beyond app capabilities and you’re experiencing performance issues or limitations
You want a completely branded experience that feels native to your store rather than obviously using third-party apps
You’re seeing suboptimal results despite following best practices and need expert CRO analysis
You’re planning a major redesign and want to integrate bundles and upsells seamlessly from the ground up
This is where working with experienced Shopify developers and CRO specialists can transform your results. We’ve helped numerous e-commerce stores implement custom bundling and upselling solutions that have increased their AOV by 40% or more.
Final Thoughts: Start Small, Scale Smart
Creating effective Shopify bundles and upsells isn’t about implementing every strategy at once. It’s about starting with the fundamentals, testing rigorously, and scaling what works.
Begin with 2-3 carefully chosen bundles and one or two strategic upsell points. Monitor your metrics obsessively. Listen to customer feedback. Refine continuously.
The stores that succeed with bundling and upselling aren’t the ones with the most complex setups—they’re the ones that consistently provide value to their customers while making the buying process easier, not harder.
Your customers want to find the perfect solution to their needs. Strategic bundles and upsells help them do exactly that while growing your revenue. That’s the definition of a win-win.
Ready to boost your average order value? Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your revenue grow without spending another dollar on advertising.
Need Expert Help Optimizing Your Shopify Store?
At MNBApps, we specialize in creating custom Shopify solutions that drive real revenue growth. From advanced bundle configurations to conversion-optimized upsell flows, we help e-commerce stores maximize their potential. Whether you need strategic CRO audits or full custom development, we’re here to help your store succeed.