Bundle builder Shopify apps offer an easy and effective way for e-commerce store owners to create product bundles, upsell items, and increase average order value (AOV).
A study by Shopify found that stores using product bundling strategies saw an average increase in AOV of 31%. The study analyzed over 230,000 orders across 3,000 stores and found that product bundling was one of the most effective ways to increase AOV.
With a wide range of bundle builder apps available on the Shopify app store, choosing the right one for your store can be challenging. In this buying guide, we'll explore some of the key considerations you should keep in mind when selecting a bundle builder Shopify app.
Use Cases
One of the primary use cases for bundle builder apps is to create product bundles. This involves grouping together multiple products or product variants into a single package, often at a discounted price. For example, a store selling yoga equipment might create a bundle that includes a yoga mat, block, and strap, all at a discounted price compared to buying each item separately.
Increase AOV: Product bundles can be a powerful way to increase average order value and drive more sales. By offering a discount for bundled products, customers are incentivized to purchase more items at once, leading to a higher overall order value. Additionally, product bundles can help to increase customer satisfaction by providing a convenient way to purchase multiple items at once.
Another use case for bundle builder apps is to offer upsells and cross-sells. Upsells involve offering a higher-priced version of a product, while cross-sells involve offering complementary products that customers may also be interested in. For example, a store selling smartphones might offer an upsell to a higher storage capacity model or a cross-sell to a phone case or screen protector.
Upsells & Cross-sells: Upsells and cross-sells can be a powerful way to increase revenue per customer and maximize the value of each sale. By suggesting additional products that customers may be interested in, you can increase the likelihood of a larger sale while also providing a better customer experience.
Free Gifts: Bundle builder apps can also be used to offer free gifts or promotions with purchases. For example, a store might offer a free tote bag with the purchase of a certain product, or a free sample with any purchase over a certain amount. These promotions can be a powerful way to incentivize customers to make a purchase or increase the value of an existing purchase.
Subscription or Build-your-own-Bundle: Some bundle builder apps offer the ability to create subscription box products on Shopify. This is a powerful feature for stores looking to create a recurring revenue stream and provide customers with a personalized, curated experience.
With subscription box products, customers can sign up to receive a regular shipment of products tailored to their preferences and interests. Bundle builder apps make it easy to create and manage these subscription box products, allowing you to set up recurring orders, manage inventory, and customize the contents of each box.
Features
Once you've identified your use cases, you'll want to evaluate the features offered by each bundle builder app. Some key features to look for include:
Customizable product bundles: Create custom product bundles by choosing specific products or product variants to include in the bundle. This can give you more control over the products that are included in your bundles and allow you to create more targeted promotions.
Conditional discounts: Set conditions for discounts, such as only applying a discount if a customer purchases a certain number of items. This can help to ensure that discounts are only applied when they make sense and prevent customers from taking advantage of the promotion in unintended ways.
Multiple bundle types: Create different types of bundles, such as buy-one-get-one (BOGO) promotions or multi-tiered bundles with increasing discounts based on the number of items purchased. This can give you more flexibility in creating promotions that fit your specific business needs.
Design customization: Customize the design of your product bundles or promotional offers to match your store's branding. This can help to create a more cohesive shopping experience for your customers.
Inventory management: Integrate with your store's inventory management system to ensure that bundle items are in stock and can be fulfilled. This can help to prevent overselling or backorders and ensure that customers receive their orders on time.
Analytics and reporting: Track the performance of your promotions, including metrics such as conversion rate and revenue generated. This can help you to optimize your promotions over time and identify areas for improvement.
Product recommendations: Suggest complementary products based on a customer's purchase history or browsing behavior. This can help to increase the value of each sale and provide a better customer experience.
Customizable templates: Customizable templates for product bundles, upsells, and promotions that can be easily modified to fit your specific needs. This can save time and effort in creating and launching new promotions.
A/B testing: Run A/B tests on different promotion variations to see which performs better. This can help you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your promotions for maximum results.
Integration with other apps: Integrate with your email marketing apps or loyalty programs to provide a more seamless customer experience and increase the value of each sale.
Pricing
Pricing is another key consideration when selecting a bundle builder app. Most bundle builder apps offer a tiered pricing structure based on the number of products or bundles you create. Some apps may also charge additional fees for features like custom branding or advanced reporting.
Flat pricing model: Some bundle builder apps charge a flat fee for their service, regardless of the number of sales or revenue generated through the app. This pricing model can be attractive for smaller stores or those with a limited budget, as it provides a predictable cost without any unexpected fees.
Revenue-based pricing: Some bundle builder apps charge a percentage of the revenue generated through the app as their fee. This pricing model can be beneficial for larger stores or those with high sales volumes, as the fee is tied to the success of the promotion and can help to ensure a positive return on investment.
Tiered pricing: Some bundle builder apps offer tiered pricing models, with different levels of service and features available at different price points. This can provide more flexibility for stores with varying needs and budgets, as they can select the level of service that best fits their specific requirements.
Free with limited features: Some bundle builder apps offer a free version of their service, with limited features and functionality. This can be a good option for smaller stores or those just starting out, as it provides an opportunity to test out the service and see if it meets their needs before committing to a paid plan.
Custom pricing: Some bundle builder apps offer custom pricing plans, tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the store. This can be beneficial for stores with unique needs or those requiring a high level of customization or support.
It's important to carefully evaluate the pricing models offered by different bundle builder apps and consider factors such as your budget, sales volume, and specific needs before making a decision. While revenue-based pricing may seem attractive for stores with high sales volumes, it's important to ensure that the fee does not outweigh the benefits of the promotion. Similarly, while a free plan may seem like a good option, it's important to ensure that it provides sufficient features and functionality to meet your needs.
Other Considerations
Finally, there are a few other considerations you may want to keep in mind when selecting a bundle builder app:
Support: Does the app offer reliable support and resources to help you get the most out of the app?
Integration: Does the app integrate with your existing Shopify apps and tools? The most important integrations will be with your Page Builder apps (Gempages, Pagefly, Shogun, etc) or Product Page Customization apps.
Multi-Lingual Support: If you're selling in non-English speaking locales, you'll want to make sure the way the bundle builder creates bundles in a way that will work with your other translation apps or processes for easy localization.
Reviews: What do other users have to say about the app? Be sure to read reviews and ratings before making a final decision.
In summary, bundle builder apps offer a powerful way to increase sales and drive revenue for your e-commerce store. When selecting a bundle builder app, be sure to consider your specific use cases, evaluate the features offered, and factor in pricing and other considerations. With the right bundle builder app in place, you can create compelling product bundles and promotions that drive more sales and revenue for your store.
