Shopify Product Bundle: The Secret Weapon for Your Stores

Written by: Hannah

Topics: eCommerce Tips

Published: Apr 11, 2024

8 minutes read

Ultimate guide to Shopify Product Bundle

Have you ever wondered why grocery stores place complementary items like peanut butter next to jelly, or phone cases near charging cables? It's not a coincidence – it's the power of product bundling in action.

So, in this article, we'll delve into the world of Shopify product bundle for your e-commerce store. We'll unpack everything you need to know: what it is, common pitfalls, real-world use cases, and proven best practices to implement effective bundling strategies.

Let's be ready to unlock the full potential of this powerful marketing tactic!

1. What Are Product Bundles and Why Do They Matter for Your Shopify Store?

1.1 Definition

Product bundling is a retail strategy where you group complementary products and sell them together. This can attract both casual browsers (who might be enticed by the curated selection) and shoppers ready to buy (who appreciate the convenience and potential value). You will see various examples of product bundles in the real world.

For example, I think you tried Happy Meals at McDonald's for at least one time in your life, right?

McDonald's usually offers bundles in their menu.

And bingo, it is a typical instance of a product bundle. These meals bundle a burger, fries, drink, and a toy together for a discounted price.

So now, when it comes to the eCommerce world of Shopify, how can you take the most advantage of product bundles for your online store?

Let’s dive deeper into this question with us!

1.2 Common types of Shopify product bundle

Product bundle has three typical types: pure bundling, mixed bundling, and price bundling. Let’s check out what the differences are between them.

The first type of product bundle is pure bundling.

In pure bundling, you'll find products exclusively sold together as a single unit. Simply speaking, individual components aren't available for separate purchases.

For example, when looking for the Joy-Con controllers, you will realize that they are not sold individually. You can only purchase them as part of a bundle with the Nintendo Switch console.

Nintendo's pure bundling

Another type we want to mention here is mixed bundling.

This is the most common type of bundling. Here, you have the flexibility of buying products either individually or together in a bundle at a discounted price.

We can take a common example from your favorite coffee shop. You can certainly buy a coffee and muffin separately, but they might offer a discounted combo deal if you purchase them together.

Mixed bundling gives customers more options to choose.

Price bundling is also another typical type of Shopify product bundle.

Price bundling focuses on offering a discount or perceived added value on a group of products purchased together. There are two main ways this works.

The first one is curated bundles.

The retailer picks specific items that must be bought together to get the discount. For example, you can see Shopify buy 2 get 1 free campaign somewhere. You might buy two T-shirts at the regular price and get another similar one for free or at a significant discount.

Another type of price bundling is general discount bundles.

The retailer offers a discount for purchasing a certain number of items, regardless of which specific items they are. This strategy encourages customers to buy more overall. Imagine a sale where you get 10% off if you buy 3 or more shirts from a clothing store.

Pricing bundling can comes in two common ways: curated bundles and discount bundles.

1.3 The advantages of product bundle in specific

Product bundles offer several advantages for both businesses and customers.

Firstly, let’s check out some of the key benefits for businesses:

Increased sales and Average Order Value (AOV): Bundles can entice customers to spend more by offering a discount on the total price compared to buying items individually.
Reduced inventory: Bundles can help clear out slow-moving inventory by pairing them with popular products.
Introduction of new products: Bundling new products with established ones can be a great way to introduce them to customers and generate interest.
Marketing and upselling: Bundles can highlight complementary products and encourage upselling, leading to a wider range of items sold.

More Information:
- A research by Assistant Professor Vineet Kumar (Harvard Business School) shows that bundling products can be a successful strategy. But it is important to offer customers the options such as a mixed bundle, other flexible type of bundle.
- Maev - A dog food brand, reached 15% increase in AOV and 20% increase in unit per transaction with product bundling.

product bundles help increase store sales

Product bundling is a powerful way to increase your Shopify stores' revenue.

And what customers can get from this marketing strategy? Let’s check it out!

Perceived value and savings: Customers often perceive bundles as a better deal, especially when offered at a discount.
Convenience: Bundles save customers time and effort by offering a pre-selected combination of products they might need or want together.
Trial and discovery: Bundles can introduce customers to new products they might not have considered otherwise. This can be especially helpful for discovering complementary items they might find useful.

Overall, product bundling can be a win-win strategy for both businesses and customers. It is a great idea for sales season such as BFCM or Summer Sales.

It can increase sales, reduce inventory, introduce new products, and provide a convenient and cost-effective way for customers to shop.

Tips for successful Summer Sales campaigns:
Learn more about how to boost upselling conversion rate by combining it with social proofs through our use case.

1.4 Eligible requirements from Shopify

Here's what Shopify requires for creating bundle discount Shopify:

Sales channel: Your store must use either the Online Store sales channel or a Custom Storefront. Bundles are not currently supported on other sales channels.
Bundles app: You must have a bundles app installed on your Shopify store, that will provide the functionality to create, manage, and display product bundles.
Checkout code: Customizations or features relying on the checkout.liquid code are not supported. Reverting to this code will render your store incompatible with product bundling.
Incompatible apps: Avoid using certain apps that might conflict with bundle functionality. These include Licensify app and legacy recharge subscriptions app.

In addition, Shopify product bundle is not currently compatible with:

Draft orders created for customers
Orders submitted as drafts by B2B customers
Selling bundles through Shopify POS
Including bundles as purchase options such as subscriptions, pre-orders, or try-before-you-buy (TBYB)

2. Helpful Tips For Successful Shopify Product Bundle

2.1 Plan and select products

First of all, you need to identify what products your customers typically buy together or what complementary items they might be interested in. This will help you create bundles that offer real value and solve customer problems.

perfect keto example about Shopify product bundles

Perfect Keto is a good example of choosing the right products to group them together as product bundles.

Then you need to make sure that your bundles are profitable even with a discount. It is essential to consider these factors including the cost of individual products, discounts offered, and potential increased sales volume.

From these things, you can make smart decisions on what products should be included in Shopify product bundle.

2.2 Design and present product bundles

It is highly recommended to present your bundles in an attractive and easy-to-understand way. Each product should use high-quality images and clear descriptions.

In addition, if you offer a variety of bundles at different price points, you can cater to different customer needs and budgets. You can check different types of product bundles with different discount structures as we mentioned above.

Another important note is that you should use bundles strategically to upsell and cross-sell related products that might not be top sellers on their own.

2.3 Marketing and promotion

Your Shopify product bundle will get great results when you promote your bundles to the right audience. You can use targeted marketing campaigns to reach customers who are likely to be interested in the products included.

To promote your campaigns better, you need to highlight the benefits of buying the bundle, such as convenience, savings, or trying new products.

Have a plan to promote your product bundles to get more conversions.

And last but not least, don’t forget to track the performance of your bundles and analyze customer response. This will help you refine your strategy and create even more successful bundles in the future.

3. Top 3 Shopify Product Bundling Mistakes To Steer Clear Of

3.1 Mismatched products

Don't just throw random products together.

Make sure the items in your bundle are logically connected and offer value to the customer. For example, bundling a hairstyling tool with a PC game controller wouldn't make sense.

However, currently, some Shopify apps offer automated product grouping functionality based on price, category, etc. You can strategically use these automation tools to create compelling and valuable product bundles.

3.2 Bundle overload

Don't overwhelm customers with overly complex bundles that include too many products. When you keep it simple and focus on offering a curated selection of complementary items, you will see surprising results.

3.3 Unprofitable bundles

Don't discount too heavily. While discounts can incentivize purchases, don't go overboard and sacrifice your profit margin.

Make sure that your bundles are priced competitively and still generate a profit after factoring in the discount offered.

4. Inspiring Successful Examples Of The Shopify Product Bundle

Product bundling can be a versatile tool across various industries. Here are some inspiring examples to spark your creativity for your Shopify store:

Example of Shopify Product Bundle

Gift sets: Curated collections of complementary products themed for holidays, occasions, or specific interests (e.g., a "spa day" bundle with bath bombs, candles, and bathrobes).
Back-to-school bundles: Package backpacks, notebooks, pens, and other school supplies at a reduced price.
Training packages: Offer a course with bonus materials, live coaching sessions, or access to an exclusive community at a discounted bundle price.

These are just a few examples to help you get a more comprehensive view of how Shopify product bundle is working.

From these use cases, you can experiment with new ideas of different combinations, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches to discover what resonates most with your customers. It will help you tailor your bundles to your unique product range, target audience, and overall business goals.

5. How To Create Bundles On Shopify?

Now, before checking how to add bundle product in Shopify, we need to answer a question first.

Can you create Shopify bundle products without app?

The answer is no.

For your information, Shopify itself doesn't offer built-in product bundles. Therefore, to create them, you need to use Shopify apps. Let’s dive deeper into creating a bundle product in Shopify now with us!

1. Install A Shopify Product Bundle App

From your Shopify admin, go to the App Store and search for "product bundle Shopify app”.

By narrowing down options, checking features, pricing, and reviews of different apps, you can find out the best product bundle app Shopify for your store. Now, it is time to check how to add bundles on Shopify!

2. Create A Bundle

After installing the app, click "Create Bundle" and give it a clear title that reflects the included products.

3. Select Products

Click "Select Products" and choose the items you want to include in the bundle. You can adjust quantities and choose specific variants for each product.

4. Set Up Optional features

Multipack: To create a bundle with multiple quantities of the same product (e.g., Shopify buy 3 get 1 free), click "..." next to the product and select "Duplicate product". Adjust the quantity for the duplicated product.
Quantity as an option: For fixed quantities within the bundle (not user-selectable), click "..." and choose "Add quantity as an option."

5. Add product details

After selecting products, click "Save and Continue" to proceed with adding details to the bundle product itself.

Once you've completed the details, click "Save" to finalize your product bundle.

6. Best Practices From Real Stores

#1. The Body Shop's Blue Musk Zest Gift Box

The Body Shop's Blue Musk Zest Gift Box is a great example of how product bundling can be used for gifting and upselling.

The Body Shop's product bundle

The bundle includes both a Hair & Body Wash and an Eau de Toilette, potentially encouraging customers to purchase a product they might not have bought individually (upselling the Eau de Toilette).

The gift box offers a complete solution for someone looking for a quick and easy present. Customers don't need to curate individual items, making it a hassle-free gifting option.

The festive packaging adds perceived value and makes the bundle more attractive as a gift.

#2. Sephora Beauty Insider Box

This Beauty Insider Box from Sephora offers a selection of deluxe samples and travel-sized beauty products for a discounted price. It allows customers to try new brands and items they might not have considered before.

Sephora offers the Beauty Insider Box as product bundle.

You can see that the Beauty Insider Box might have variations based on skin type, makeup preferences, etc.

It means you can consider offering different bundle options targeted towards specific customer needs or interests. This allows for personalization and increases the appeal to a wider audience.

7. Unleash the Power of Shopify Product Bundle

In conclusion, product bundling is a proven strategy to boost your Shopify store's AOV, reduce inventory, and enhance customer satisfaction. Armed with the knowledge and strategies outlined in this guide, you're ready to create enticing Shopify product bundle that drive conversions and revenue.

8. FAQs

1. What is the difference between a product bundle and a package?

Here's a short explanation of the difference between product bundles and packages:

Product bundle: Combines different products (often discounted) into a single unit, like a gift set. Therefore, it has less choice for the customer.
Package: Groups variations of a product (size, color) or offers a complete solution (laptop with software). It may offer some choices.

Both group products, but bundles focus on combining different items, while packages focus on variations or complete solutions.

2. What are the disadvantages/ cons of product bundles?

Product bundles can be great, but there are some things you need to consider:

Less choice: Customers might be stuck with items they don't want.
Lower profits: Discounts can eat into your profit margin.
Unsold popular items: Bundling popular items with unpopular ones might hurt individual sales of the good stuff.

By understanding these disadvantages and implementing effective strategies, you can minimize the drawbacks and leverage product bundling to its full potential.

3. What is a bundling strategy?

A bundling strategy is all about grouping products together (often discounted) to:

Sell more stuff: Discounted bundles entice customers to spend more.
Clear out old inventory: Pair slow-sellers with popular items to move them.
Make your offerings more appealing: Bundles create perceived value for customers.

4. What are some examples of bundling?

Bundling is like mixing and matching your products to create a more attractive deal.

For example, the Microsoft Office 365 Suite bundle combines multiple productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) into a single subscription.

In another case, phone retailers often bundle smartphones with cases, offering them at a lower price than buying them one by one.

Gain Insightful Knowledge to Grow Your Business Stronger

About The Author

Hannah
With over 5 years of experience under her belt, Hannah is an eCommerce writer who crafts content specifically for a website that deals with online sales. She simplifies technical details to assist entrepreneurs in utilizing the platform and launching their online ventures.