What Are Post-Purchase Upsells?
These are strategic offers presented after a customer completes a checkout, inviting them to convert their one time purchase into a subscription or add subscription products to their order. The aim? Boost your Average Order Value (AOV) while building durable customer relationships.
Here are some concepts to consider before you get started:
Right Timing | Serve upsells when trust and engagement are highest (post-checkout) |
Relevant Offers | Match upsells to items they just purchased |
Stack Discounts Thoughtfully | Use all applicable discounts while clearly communicating total savings |
Flexible Defaults | Use global defaults with per-flow override capability |
A/B Testing | Run variant tests to identify what products best boost conversions |
Continuous Optimization | Monitor performance, adjust offers, and refine over time |
1. Tailor Upsells to the Purchase Context
Make sure your upsells feel personalized and relevant, not random or generic. Offering products that logically complement what they just purchased increases uptake.
Tip: Use “Includes Any” and “Includes All” conditions (e.g., match flavors or categories in the original cart) to trigger highly targeted offers.
Example Use Case: A natural upsell is to offer shampoo, hair oil, or a hair mask to orders containing a subscription to hair conditioner.
2. Layer Discounts for Clarity and Value
Take advantage of stacking: combine subscription discounts, default promo discounts, and variant-specific offers to create compelling overall savings.
Tip: If your default additional discount is 10%, and your variant-specific upsell is 10%, plus a 10% selling plan discount, it results in a total 30% savings. You’re giving them real value, and a "can't miss this" opportunity.
Example Use Case: For products with large margins, creating a subscriber at a lower cost results in longterm revenue gain. Stacking discounts can increase take rates for offers.
3. A/B Test Variant Offers to Learn What Converts
Test different upsell variants (A/B/C/D style) to see which one performs best and iteratively optimize your offer strategy.
Tip: Rotate between variants and promotions to discover your highest-converting combinations based on real engagement data.
Example Use Case: For merchants with multiple similar products, it can be difficult to determine which products truly impact revenue or subscription conversion. A/B test flavors against one another to see which product is really driving your subscription program.
4. Track, Iterate, and Optimize
Don’t set and forget. Monitor upsell performance! Use the Stay Dashboarding tools to track average order value, conversion rates, and checkout vs. recurring success at the variant-level. Continue refining based on what resonates best with your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my customer aligns with multiple post purchase upsell segments?
The customer will see the first applied upsell products. Meaning, the first group of post purchase products that was created as an upsell opportunity in Stay.
Do I need to be on Shopify Plus to use Stay Post Purchase Upsells?
You do not! Shopify enables the post purchase Thank You page on all accounts.