Bundle and Upsell Better with Product Options in Shopify

Upselling and bundling are two of the most effective strategies to boost your Average Order Value (AOV) in Shopify. But to do it well—without creating a confusing buying experience—you need the right setup. That’s where custom product options come in.

Using product options, you can guide customers toward upgrades, bundles, and add-ons directly on the product page—without relying on complex variants or multiple apps. In this guide, you’ll learn how to leverage product options to improve your bundling and upselling strategy.

Why Bundling and Upselling Work

  • Bundling: Encourages customers to buy more by offering product combinations (e.g., “Buy 3, save 10%”).
  • Upselling: Offers a better or enhanced version of the product at a slightly higher price (e.g., “Upgrade to Premium packaging”).

When done right, these strategies increase revenue per order without increasing ad spend or traffic.

The Problem with Shopify’s Native Options

Shopify’s default product variant system isn’t built for flexible bundles or layered upsell flows. Creating too many variants leads to a bloated backend and a poor user experience. That’s why custom product options apps are essential.

Use Product Options to Enable Smart Bundles & Upsells

Apps like SM Product Options allow you to add extra selections, accessories, or bundled items with additional pricing—without creating new variants for every combination.

Example: Selling a Skincare Kit

  • Base product: Daily Cleanser
  • Product options: Add Toner (+$8), Add Moisturizer (+$12), Add Travel Pouch (+$5)

Instead of separate products, all options appear within one clean interface, guiding users to build a bundle with just a few clicks.

Popular Ways to Bundle & Upsell with Product Options

1. Add-On Accessories

Let customers add related items to the main product.

Example: “Add a Charging Cable” to a power bank.

2. Offer Premium Upgrades

Allow users to upgrade materials, packaging, or features.

Example: “Upgrade to Leather Strap” (+$20) for a watch.

3. Create Build-Your-Own Bundles

Use checkboxes or dropdowns for customers to build custom sets.

Example: “Select 3 Candles of Your Choice.”

4. Conditional Upsells

Use logic to show additional offers only when customers choose specific options.

Example: Show “Add a Matching Wallet” only after they pick “Deluxe Handbag.”

Benefits of Using Product Options Instead of Variants

  • 🚫 Avoids creating 100s of variants
  • 🎯 Cleaner UX with focused upgrade offers
  • 💸 Easier to manage pricing add-ons
  • 🔄 Flexible logic to show/hide offers

Apps to Use for Bundling with Product Options

  • SM Product Options – Best for flexible, logic-based upsells and bundles
  • Bold Product Options – Advanced upselling workflows
  • Infinite Options – Lightweight tool for custom fields

Pro Tips to Maximize Bundling ROI

  • Use visual selectors: Help users understand what they’re adding with images and swatches.
  • Anchor value: Highlight savings with bundles (e.g., “Save 20% when you bundle!”).
  • Use urgency: Add time-limited upsells or “Frequently bought together” offers.
  • Highlight what most people choose: “Most customers add this…” increases upsell conversion.

Real-Life Example

A Shopify fitness brand offered:

  • Base Product: Resistance Bands ($25)
  • Add-on: Workout Guide PDF (+$4.99)
  • Add-on: Travel Pouch (+$7)
  • Upgrade: Premium Bands (+$10)

With product options, the AOV increased by 40%, and cart abandonment dropped by 15% due to a cleaner upsell flow.

Conclusion

If you want to boost AOV, improve product page UX, and simplify your upselling strategy—custom product options are the way to go. They offer the flexibility of bundles and the power of personalization without complicating your backend.

Ready to start bundling smarter? Try SM Product Options to create seamless product upgrades and unlock new revenue potential.

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