Customer acquisition on Shopify—or any e-commerce platform—can be expensive, which means every visitor and every click matters. That's why cross sell and upsell strategies are essential for turning casual browsers into high-value customers. These powerful tactics can be the difference between a store that just gets by and a Shopify store that thrives.
In this article, we dive deep into the world of Shopify upsells and cross sells, breaking down why they matter and sharing 10 creative examples that can boost your store’s average order value (AOV) , improve conversion rates, and drive long-term growth.
What Are Cross Sell and Upsell Strategies? While often used interchangeably, cross selling and upselling are distinct tactics with the same goal: increasing revenue per customer. In a Shopify store, a cross sell typically involves suggesting complementary products—think: adding a screen protector when a customer buys a phone case. An upsell, on the other hand, encourages customers to purchase a more premium version of the product they’re considering—like upgrading from a basic subscription plan to a premium one.
dedicated article on upsell vs. cross sell .
Increase Shopify Sales with Upsell and Cross Sell Tactics In the next sections, we’ll highlight 10 creative upsell and cross sell examples that showcase how real Shopify stores are using these techniques to grow revenue and build customer loyalty. From smart bundling strategies to personalized recommendations and post-purchase upsells, each idea is designed to help you sell more—without needing to attract more traffic!
10 Cross Sells and Upsells Examples to Add Your Product Recommendations
10 Smart Cross Sell and Upsell Tactics to Increase Sales on Shopify Cross selling through product bundles is one of the most effective ways to increase AOV on Shopify. By grouping related products into a convenient package, you offer customers more value while encouraging them to buy more.
A classic example is Amazon’s “Frequently Bought Together” feature . When a customer looks at a camera, they’re also shown a compatible memory card and tripod. This simple cross sell strategy boosts order value while improving the customer experience.
Tips to Create High-Converting Shopify Bundles: Understand what products your customers typically buy together. Use Shopify apps or built-in features to offer discounts or free gifts on bundled items. Make sure all products in the bundle are complementary and relevant. Clearly explain the value or savings the bundle offers. A/B test different bundle combinations to find what works best. Adding product bundles directly to your Shopify product pages, cart, or post-purchase flow can lead to significant revenue gains with little friction.
Example 2: Offer Upgrades or Premium Versions Upselling premium versions of a product is a tried-and-true method to increase customer spending—especially effective in Shopify checkout flows or post-purchase offers.
Take Apple as an example: when you choose an iPhone, you're encouraged to upgrade to a model with more storage or advanced features. This upsell technique taps into customer psychology, status perception, and the desire for better quality.
Why This Upsell Works: Shoppers are already in buying mode—offering a small upgrade feels like a natural next step. Premium versions offer more value, which increases satisfaction and trust. Customers feel like they're investing in something better—not just spending more. On your Shopify store, upselling can be as simple as recommending the deluxe version of a product on the product page, or during checkout using a smart upsell app.
Offer Discount or Incentives to Your Bundles
Example 3: Cross Selling Through Content Content marketing is a subtle yet powerful way to implement cross selling and upselling in your Shopify store. Instead of pushing products directly, you weave product recommendations into blog posts, videos, or guides that offer real value to your audience.
By creating engaging content that resonates with their target audience , you build trust—making them more receptive to related product suggestions.
Tips to Make Content Sell Without Selling: Know your Shopify audience: Tailor content to their specific needs, interests, and pain points. Use storytelling , visuals, and real-life examples to make your content memorable.Maintain a balance: Provide value first, then naturally introduce cross sell or upsell suggestions. Analyze engagement and product click-throughs to optimize future content. Test different formats—blog posts, how-to videos, comparison charts, or infographics—to see what performs best. Example: A Shopify skincare store might publish a blog titled “How to Build a Nighttime Skincare Routine” and recommend a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer—each a perfect cross sell opportunity.
Example 4: “You May Also Like” Product Recommendations Displaying “You May Also Like” sections is a simple yet effective cross sell strategy that’s widely used by top e-commerce brands—and it works beautifully on Shopify. These automated suggestions appear based on customer browsing or purchase history and can significantly increase average order value.
Example: Netflix shows viewers similar content based on what they’ve already watched. In a Shopify store, this could translate to recommending matching shoes for a customer looking at a dress, or a compatible charger for someone buying a gadget.
These cross sell recommendations work best on:
Product pages Cart pages Post-purchase thank you pages Use Shopify apps or built-in recommendation tools to automate and personalize this experience.
Example 5: Limited-Time Upsell Offers Urgency-driven upsells are among the most powerful tools in your Shopify marketing toolkit. A limited-time upsell offer can drive immediate action, especially when presented during checkout or post-purchase.
Example: Amazon’s Prime Day leverages this perfectly—exclusive, time-limited deals drive massive traffic and purchases by triggering FOMO (fear of missing out).
How to Use Limited-Time Offers on Shopify: Offer a discounted product upgrade at checkout—but only for a short time. Use countdown timers on upsell popups. Create time-sensitive product bundles as part of a flash sale. Add urgency to post-purchase upsell emails with phrases like “Offer expires in 24 hours.” These upsell techniques can be automated using Shopify apps and are especially effective during peak sales seasons or promotions.
Netflix's 'You Might Also Like' Strategy to Keep Users Engaged
Example 6: "Buy X Amount, Get a Discount" Promotions Running "Buy X, Get a Discount" offers is a proven way to increase average order value and encourage larger purchases. This upsell strategy works well in Shopify stores where customers can be incentivized to spend more in exchange for savings.
Example: Starbucks often uses this technique, offering a discount on future purchases when a customer buys a certain amount. It’s an effective way to build loyalty while increasing immediate revenue.
Tips for Quantity-Based Upsell Offers: Track customer purchase behavior to find the right thresholds for your offers. Feature best-selling or high-margin products in these promotions. Segment your audience and tailor discounts based on order history. Test different combinations and discount percentages to see what converts best. Be transparent and clear about the offer terms to build trust and avoid confusion.
Example 7: Cross Selling in Confirmation Emails Don’t let your Shopify confirmation emails go to waste. These post-purchase messages are a great place to introduce relevant cross sell offers. The customer is already engaged—so suggesting complementary products is natural and often well-received.
Example: Airbnb does this brilliantly. After booking, customers receive confirmation emails that recommend nearby experiences, restaurants, or attractions—adding value and increasing sales.
How to use this in Shopify: Suggest accessories, refills, or related items in the confirmation email. Include limited-time upsells or bundle deals to create urgency. Automate with email marketing tools that integrate with your Shopify store.
Example 8: Loyalty Program Upsell Offers Upselling within loyalty programs can increase spending and engagement. Loyalty programs are more than just reward systems—they’re a powerful upsell channel! By offering tiered benefits or VIP-level perks, you can encourage customers to spend more to unlock exclusive rewards.
Example: Sephora’s Beauty Insider program encourages customers to move up through the tiers by increasing their spend. Higher levels unlock better rewards, driving both loyalty and larger purchases.
Ways to upsell through loyalty programs: Create multiple tiers and highlight the perks of each. Encourage customers to reach the next tier with limited-time boosts. Promote your program in emails, popups, and thank-you pages in your Shopify store.
Example 9: Cross Selling with Gift Guides Gift guides are an excellent way to cross sell products, especially around holidays or special occasions. By curating themed selections, you help customers find the perfect combination of products—while boosting your average order size.
Example: Williams-Sonoma uses gift guides to showcase hand-picked items for occasions like weddings, housewarmings, and holidays. This makes shopping easier while naturally encouraging cross sells.
How to use gift guides in Shopify: Create landing pages for holiday or event-specific product collections. Include complementary products in the same category or style. Promote guides via homepage banners, email campaigns, and social media.
Example 10: Cross Selling Through Social Proof Social proof, such as customer and product reviews , is a powerful driver of e-commerce sales, especially when used strategically for cross selling and upselling. When customers see real reviews and testimonials, they’re more likely to trust your brand—and add additional items to their cart.
Example: Amazon makes expert use of social proof by displaying thousands of customer reviews and related product suggestions on every product page. This builds credibility and drives further exploration—exactly what you want in your Shopify store.
How to Use Social Proof to Boost Shopify Upsells: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials by offering incentives , such as discounts or loyalty points, for their feedback.Showcase star ratings and glowing testimonials near cross sell or upsell offers. Use Shopify-compatible plugins to highlight real-time purchases or “trending” products to trigger FOMO (fear of missing out). Feature user-generated content like photos, unboxing videos, or customer stories on your product pages or email campaigns. Respond quickly and kindly to reviews—good or bad—to show that you care about the customer experience and build trust. When customers feel confident about your products, they’re more likely to buy again—and buy more.
10 Strategic Upsell and Cross Sell Locations in Your Shopify Store
Beyond clever product combinations and offers, where you position your upsell and cross sell opportunities on your Shopify store can make a huge impact. To boost conversions and average order value, it’s essential to place your recommendations where customers are most likely to act on them.
Here are 10 high-converting locations you can use to implement Shopify upsell and cross sell strategies that drive real results:
1. Product Page The product page is one of the best spots to introduce cross sell suggestions . Show related items, accessories, or upgrades that enhance the main product. For example, if a customer is viewing a camera, suggest compatible lenses, tripods, or memory cards. This approach improves both AOV and user experience.
2. Cart Page Use the cart page to promote time-sensitive upsell offers or display “You May Also Like” product suggestions. If your Shopify store uses a Mini-Cart (also known as a Cart Drawer) , even better—you can offer seamless cross sells and upsells without interrupting the shopping flow.
3. Upsell Pop-Ups Pop-ups can be highly effective when timed right. Trigger them when a customer adds an item to their cart or shows exit intent. Use these moments to present irresistible Shopify upsell offers like “Upgrade to the premium bundle” or “Add this for 20% off.”
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4. Post-Purchase Page The post-purchase page is a goldmine for Shopify upsell and cross sell opportunities. After checkout, suggest complementary products—like laptop cases or software upgrades for a laptop buyer. Customers are more open to buying again right after a successful transaction.
5. Home Page Use your Shopify home page to feature best-sellers , curated bundles, or limited-time deals. Adding upsell and cross sell options here encourages shoppers to explore and discover products they didn’t know they needed.
6. Collections Page Your category or collections pages are perfect for personalized product recommendations. For instance, on your “Running Shoes” collection, cross sell athletic socks, water bottles, or performance apparel to increase cart size.
7. Checkout Page At the final step, add upsells or accessories directly on the checkout page. Offer limited-time discounts or small add-ons—like a phone case with a phone—to give customers one last reason to boost their order value.
8. Bundle Discounts Bundles are one of the most effective upsell techniques in Shopify. Let customers buy multiple complementary products at a discount—like shampoo, conditioner, and hair serum. It increases convenience, value, and average order size in one shot.
9. Quantity Discounts Offer promotions like “Buy 3, Get 1 Free” to reward volume purchasing. These quantity-based upsells incentivize customers to buy more at once, boosting revenue while improving satisfaction.
10. Custom Locations Want to get creative? With Shopify, you can place upsell and cross sell offers on blog posts, landing pages, FAQ sections, or anywhere else. These custom placements increase visibility and drive conversions where your customers are most engaged.
One Shopify App. All the Upsell Locations. You could piece together multiple apps to achieve this strategy—or you could just install one. Cross Sell & Upsell is the only Shopify app that gives you all 10+ upsell and cross sell locations in a single, easy-to-use platform.
Skip the hassle of managing several tools. With Cross Sell & Upsell , you can start implementing high-converting upsell strategies across your entire Shopify store—product pages, cart, checkout, and beyond.
Ready to boost your average order value and streamline your upsell strategy?
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