Summer may be heating up, but it’s not just the weather that should be sizzling—your Shopify sales should be too. July and August are prime time for online retailers to drive revenue with creative cross sell and upsell campaigns.
While Q4 (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holidays) often steals the spotlight, Q3 offers huge potential. Shoppers are still active during summer—especially when promotions are tied to vacations, back-to-school prep, or mid-year upgrades.
If you're looking to increase Average Order Value (AOV) , improve customer experience, and make the most out of every sale, this guide is packed with Shopify-friendly ideas to inspire your next cross sell or upsell campaign.
Why Focus on Summer Sales for Cross Selling and Upselling?
📈 It’s a less crowded market. Many businesses wait for Q4 to roll out big campaigns. That’s your chance to get ahead and capture customer attention now.
🌞 Shoppers are spending on experiences. Whether it’s travel gear, skincare for the sun, or organizing tools for a fresh start, there’s a seasonal hook for nearly every niche.
💰 Summer sales help offset seasonal slumps. Upsells and cross sells can increase average order value even if traffic dips.
🚀 It’s a perfect time to test before Q4. Use the Q3 window to experiment with upsell placements, messaging, and bundles so you’re fully optimized before the holiday rush.
8 Cross Sell & Upsell Campaign Ideas to Try This Summer
1. “Summer Essentials” Bundles One of the most effective ways to increase your average order value during the summer is by creating themed Shopify bundles. Think of combinations that customers would naturally need together. For example, if you run a fashion store, bundle summer essentials like sunglasses, sandals, and a wide-brim hat. If your niche is skincare, group SPF sunscreen with after-sun lotion and a hydrating mist.
Bundles encourage customers to buy more at once and create the perception of added value. Make sure your product pages highlight the benefits of buying the full bundle instead of individual items.
✅ Keyword tip: include "Shopify bundle," "summer product bundle," and "upsell products" on landing pages and product descriptions to improve SEO and visibility.
2. Travel-Ready Add-Ons With many customers heading out on vacation during July and August, it's the perfect time to offer travel-themed cross sells. If a customer adds luggage or travel clothing to their cart, suggest complementary items like neck pillows, packing cubes, or travel-sized toiletries.
Use a cross sell app like Cross Sell & Upsell to surface relevant add-ons on the product page, mini cart, and even at checkout. These smaller, convenience-driven upsell products can significantly increase AOV without feeling pushy.
🔁 Optimizing for keywords like “Shopify upsell app,” “travel accessories for Shopify,” and “cross sell travel products” will help capture seasonal search traffic.
3. Back-to-School Upsells August is prime time for back-to-school shopping. Whether you sell backpacks, tech accessories, or stationery, position your upsell offers around school readiness. Promote premium versions of popular items—like a backpack with extra compartments or a tablet with a stylus add-on.
Highlight bundles like “Complete Student Starter Kits” to streamline the buying decision and increase the total spend.
🎯 Incorporate keywords like “Shopify back-to-school upsells,” “student bundle,” and “tech accessories for school” for improved discoverability.
4. Flash Sales With Upsell Offers Flash sales drive urgency and can be highly effective when paired with upsell opportunities. For example, during a 48-hour summer clearance event, show customers a premium version or multi-pack option: “Save 30% on this shirt—upgrade to a 3-pack for just $9 more!”
Make sure to showcase these offers prominently in the cart drawer or product pages. Adding urgency ("limited time," "only 24 hours left") increases conversion.
🛒 Include keywords like “flash sale Shopify,” “summer clearance upsell,” and “limited-time product bundle” in your campaign assets and page metadata.
5. Email Campaigns With Personalized Cross Sells Email remains a powerful tool for upselling, especially when personalized. Use Shopify customer tags, browsing behavior, and past purchases to recommend seasonal products tailored to their interests.
For example, a customer who recently bought a swimsuit could get an email suggesting a beach tote, flip-flops, or a waterproof phone pouch.
✉️ “Heading on vacation? Don’t forget this must-have [related product]!” is a simple but effective cross sell subject line.
6. Free Shipping Threshold Upsells Incentivize customers to spend more by showing a free shipping threshold upsell. For instance: “Spend $12 more and get free shipping!” This is a simple psychological nudge that works.
Use a Shopify app to dynamically display how much more the customer needs to spend to unlock free shipping, along with recommended products to bridge the gap.
📦 Great SEO keywords to include are “free shipping upsell,” “increase AOV Shopify,” and “threshold incentive e-commerce.”
7. Upsells on the Thank You Page Don’t overlook post-purchase upsells. The Thank You Page is prime real estate for recommending products that complement what was just purchased.
Someone who bought sunglasses? Offer a case, lens cleaner, or a second pair at a discount. This post-purchase moment feels helpful—not intrusive—and can result in an immediate second sale.
💡 Target search terms like “post-purchase upsell Shopify,” “thank you page offers,” and “repeat purchase strategy.”
8. Content-Led Cross Sells Create summer-themed blog posts that include subtle but strategic product mentions. A travel store might publish: “Top 10 Must-Have Items for Your Summer Road Trip,” featuring links to all the products you want to cross sell.
This not only boosts SEO through internal linking and seasonal keywords but also adds value for your customer.
📝 Optimize for terms like “summer product guide Shopify,” “ecommerce blog cross sell,” and “Shopify content marketing.”
Install Cross Sell & Upsell to unlock sales!
Where to Place Summer Upsells in Your Shopify Store
Maximize every opportunity by using upsell and cross sell placements in these Shopify store locations:
Product Page (suggest add-ons and bundles)Cart Drawer / Mini Cart (display bundles and flash sale upgrades)Checkout Page (offer last-minute upgrades)Post-Purchase Page (complementary suggestions after order is placed)Thank You Page (offer quick, one-click add-ons)Email Marketing (deliver seasonal and personalized cross sells)Pop-Ups (triggered by behavior or time spent on page)Home & Collection Pages (highlight Shopify upsell products and bundles)💡 Pro Tip: The Cross Sell & Upsell app supports upsell placement in all 8+ strategic locations —no extra apps needed!
Summer Selling Made Easy!
Don’t sleep on summer. With the right upsell and cross sell strategies, July and August can be serious revenue-drivers for your Shopify store. Whether it’s curated bundles, timely back-to-school upgrades, or summer travel add-ons, the opportunity is here.
Use this season to test and refine your offers—so when Q4 arrives, your upsell game is already strong.
☀️ Ready to heat up your Shopify store?
✅ Get started with Cross Sell & Upsell —the only Shopify app you need for powerful, flexible upsell campaigns in every key location.
