5 Creative Cart Cross-Sell Ideas for Shopify Stores (with App Recommendations)
The cart page is your final chance to woo your customers. Don’t let it go to waste! By suggesting a few extra goodies, you can boost your average order value and leave your customers feeling satisfied.
In this guide, we’ll share five simple yet effective cross-selling techniques. From eye-catching animations to subtle “complete the look” suggestions, we’ll provide real-world examples and app recommendations to help you implement these strategies.
Let’s make your cart page a sales superstar!
5 Examples Cross-Sell in Cart Page for Shopify Stores
1. Animated Product Demo Cross-Sell
Want to add a little pizzazz to your cart page? Animated product demos are the way to go! This method helps customers understand how a product works or why it might be useful—all in a few seconds.
How it works:
- Catch their eye: Use eye-catching animations to grab their attention.
- Show, don’t tell: Demonstrate how the product works and why they need it.
- Strategic placement: Put the demo in a spot where it’s hard to miss, but not too pushy.
Real-world example of Animated Product Demo Cart Cross-Sell
AWAY, the premium travel and luggage brand, has mastered this technique. In their mini-cart, they introduce animated product demos that seamlessly slide in alongside items that customers are considering.
For example, if a customer adds a suitcase to their cart, an animated visual of a matching packing cube set appears, showing the set in use. This demo doesn’t just show the packing cubes; it demonstrates how they fit into the suitcase and organize belongings.
Shopify App Recommendations to Add Cart Cross-sell
We’ve analyzed the top cross-sell and upsell apps for Shopify to help you find the perfect fit for your store—whether you’re looking for AI-powered recommendations, budget-friendly options, or advanced customization tools to boost your AOV. Here’re our findings:
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😄 You may be concerned: The Ultimate Guide to Shopify Cart Upsells
2. Stepped Cart Cross-Sell Flow
Imagine guiding your customers through a seamless shopping journey, where each step leads to a new opportunity to add value to their purchase. A stepped cart cross-sell flow is a strategic approach that breaks down the upselling process into manageable stages.
How it works:
- Initial Purchase: The customer adds their primary product to the cart.
- Complementary Offers: As they proceed to checkout, you present them with a series of carefully curated product recommendations that complement their initial purchase.
- Tiered Offers: You can even create a tiered approach, offering increasingly valuable suggestions as the customer moves through the checkout process.
Example of Stepped Cart Cross-Sell Flow
Ooni, a brand known for its portable pizza ovens, showcases an exemplary 3-step cross-sell flow. After adding a pizza oven to their cart, customers are presented with accessories like pizza peels in step one, cooking tools like thermometers in step two, and recipe books or fuel options in step three. Each step feels deliberate, helping the customer see the value of each complementary item without feeling pressured.
Recommended Shopify Apps for Stepped Cart Cross-sell
We’ve found two leading Shopify apps for stepped cart cross-sell flows—One Click Upsell (Zipify OCU) and Selleasy. Let’s see what they have to offer:
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3. Tiered ‘Free gift’ promos Cart Cross-sell
Tiered ‘free gift’ promotions incentivize customers to increase their cart value by offering progressively better gifts as they reach certain spending thresholds. These promotions create a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging customers to add more products to their cart to unlock valuable rewards.
How it works:
- Set Your Price Point: Decide how much your customers need to spend to qualify for a free gift.
- Choose Your Gift: Pick a product that complements their purchase or something that’ll excite them.
- Create Urgency: Use a progress bar or countdown timer to show how close they are to unlocking the freebie.
Example of Tiered ‘Free gift’ promos Cart Cross-sell
Chubbies does an excellent job of utilizing tiered free gift promos. On their cart page, a dynamic carousel displays the free gift options available based on how much the customer has already spent. The carousel is accompanied by a “Only $X away” call-to-action (CTA), which motivates customers to add more items to their cart to unlock the next gift tier.
Recommended Shopify Apps for Tiered ‘Free gift’ promos Cart Cross-sell
We suggest you test these apps that focus on driving sales through free gifts and tiered offers—BOGO+ and Gift Box | Free Gift Purchase.
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4. Make it an Outfit’ Mini-Cart Cross-Sell
A “Make it an Outfit” cross-sell strategy is designed for the fashion and apparel store to increase AOV. This strategy works by displaying mini-cart pop-ups or sidebars that feature product pairings, enabling customers to instantly add these items to their cart.
How it works:
- Set Your Price Point: Decide how much your customers need to spend to qualify for a free gift.
- Choose Your Gift: Pick a product that complements their purchase or something that’ll excite them.
- Create Urgency: Use a progress bar or countdown timer to show how close they are to unlocking the freebie.
Example of Make it an Outfit’ Mini-Cart Cross-Sell
Recommended Shopify Apps for Make it an Outfit’ Mini-Cart Cross-Sell
We evaluated Cross Sell & Upsell by SSC and Upsell & Cross Sell by Selleasy to determine which app best supports the ‘Make it an Outfit’ Mini-Cart Cross-Sell strategy, focusing on ease of use, customization, and potential to drive sales through personalized recommendations.
| Cross Sell & Upsell by SSC | |
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5. ‘Complete the Look’ Cross-Sell Accordion
Sometimes, less is more. A subtle “Complete the Look” cross-sell accordion can be a powerful tool to increase your average order value without being overly pushy. This strategy works particularly well for fashion and home décor businesses, where customers are often looking to create a cohesive outfit, ensemble, or décor setup.
How it works:
- Hidden Potential: The accordion starts collapsed, revealing only a headline or a small preview.
- Intrigue: A simple click expands the accordion to showcase complementary products.
- Personalized Recommendations: Use AI to suggest products that are relevant to the customer’s current purchase.
Example of‘ Complete the Look’ Cross-Sell Accordion
Summersalt, a swimwear brand, uses a “Complete the Look” accordion to suggest complementary items like cover-ups, hats, and beach towels. This subtle approach respects the customer’s decision-making process while still offering valuable suggestions.
Recommended Shopify Apps for ‘Complete the Look’ Cross-Sell Accordion
There are some Shopify apps that support mini-cart cross-sell. We helped you compare a little:
| Opus Cart Upsell Drawer | ||
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Start Implementing Your First Cart Cross-Sell Today!
Whether you’re a small store owner looking for a cost-effective solution or a large retailer aiming to optimize every touchpoint, there’s a tool and strategy that fits your needs. Start small with simple product pairings or dive into advanced features like tiered rewards and AI-driven suggestions. The right cart cross-sell strategy can transform your store’s performance and strengthen customer loyalty.
Remember, the key is to make the upselling process feel natural, not forced. By understanding your customers’ needs and preferences, you can create a seamless shopping experience that drives sales.
Don’t wait—pick a strategy, test it with one of the recommended apps, and watch your sales grow!
Sell More with BOGO+ Free Gifts & Volume Discounts
