5 Smart Shopify Upsell Ideas to Maximize AOV During Black Friday 2025

Black Friday 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive peak seasons Shopify merchants have ever faced. With customer acquisition costs continuing to rise and discounts becoming more aggressive every year, brands need a revenue strategy that goes beyond promotions alone. That’s why smart upselling—done at the right time, with the right products—remains one of the most effective ways to grow Average Order Value (AOV) without increasing marketing spend.

Studies show that product recommendation tactics such as upsells and cross-sells can increase revenue by up to 30% when implemented correctly. During Black Friday, when customers are already primed to buy, this impact can be even greater. Many Shopify merchants use tools like Cross Sell & Upsell to streamline this process by making it easier to surface relevant add-ons and bestsellers throughout the shopping journey.

To help Shopify merchants maximize revenue this BFCM, here are five high-impact upsell ideas focused on must-have items, bestsellers, bundles, pop-ups, checkout offers, and post-purchase opportunities.

Table of Contents

1. Highlight Must-Have & Best-Sellers on a Dedicated Black Friday Page

A dedicated Black Friday landing page is essential for driving conversions—and it’s also the perfect place to showcase high-converting must-have products and bestsellers as upsell drivers.

Why this works for Black Friday

  • Shoppers arrive with strong buying intent
  • Best-seller visibility reduces decision fatigue
  • Commitment to discounts or bundles is higher on dedicated landing pages
  • Tight curation increases confidence during peak traffic

Best practices

  • Place your top 5–10 bestsellers at the top of the page to increase visibility.
  • Add “Perfect With,” “Buy Together,” or “Shop the Look” product blocks directly under your hero products.
  • Use urgency labels like “Low Stock,” “Trending,” or “Top Seller This Week.
  • Offer limited-time bundles featuring these bestselling items.

This is also an ideal location to feature must-have seasonal items—gift sets, limited releases, or fast-selling accessories—to increase order value effortlessly.

For more guidance on improving mobile shopping performance, check out the Shopney Blog's article on Complete Guide to Increase Shopify Mobile Conversions.

Showcase seasonal best-sellers to inspire shoppers and introduce relevant upsell opportunities.

2. Create Smart Bundles Directly on the Product Page

Bundling is one of the most powerful AOV-boosting strategies for Shopify merchants—especially during Black Friday when customers expect deals and convenience. According to research, product bundles can increase average order value by 10–30% (Harvard Business Review).

Top bundle types to use

  • Best-Seller + Accessory Bundles
    Example: “Jacket + Protective Spray,” or “Skincare Serum + Moisturizer.”
  • Seasonal Gift Bundles
    Curated specifically for holiday buying.
  • Buy More, Save More Bundles
    e.g., “Buy 2, Save 10%” or “Buy 3, Save 20%.”
  • Starter Kits
    Perfect for first-time customers wanting a complete solution.

Why bundles belong on the product page

Customers are already in decision mode—placing bundles here increases perceived value and makes upgrading their order effortless.

Optimization tips

  • Use clear comparison pricing to highlight savings.
  • Highlight “Best Value” or “Most Popular” badge.
  • Keep descriptions simple and benefit-driven.
  • Ensure bundles are mobile-friendly because >70% of BFCM traffic is mobile.

3. Use Upsell Pop-Ups for High-Relevance Add-Ons

Pop-ups are one of the fastest ways to expose customers to complementary items at scale—when used carefully. The key is relevance and timing.

Best use cases for Black Friday

  • Trigger a pop-up when a customer adds a bestseller to the cart
  • Feature accessories, lower-cost add-ons, or seasonal limited editions
  • Offer gifts with purchase when cart value reaches a set threshold
  • Promote exclusive BFCM-only upgrades

Important rules

  • Don’t interrupt checkout flow—pop-ups should appear at add-to-cart, not during payment.
  • Keep it simple: a product image, price, and one CTA is enough.
  • Avoid offering too many choices; 1–2 products perform best.

Example popup ideas:

  • “You may also love…”
  • “Complete your set and save 15%”
  • “Add this must-have for only $9 more”

When done right, pop-ups can meaningfully increase order size—without harming user experience.

4. Add High-Converting Upsells at Checkout

Checkout upsells can be incredibly profitable because the customer is already committed to the purchase. With Shopify’s native checkout extensibility, merchants can now add personalized upsells directly into the checkout experience without disrupting the completion rate.

Checkout upsells that perform best

  • Gift wrapping or custom notes
  • Priority or express shipping upgrades
  • Premium accessories or product enhancements
  • Small add-ons under $20 (these convert extremely well at checkout)
  • Subscription/auto-replenish options for CPG brands

To protect conversion rates and provide a smooth customer experience, checkout upsells should be:

  • Unobtrusive
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Single-tap to add
  • Clearly valuable

The goal is enhancing the order, not overwhelming the shopper.

5. Use Post-Purchase Upsells to Maximize LTV

This is one of the most underused yet highest-impact upsell opportunities—especially during Black Friday.

Post-purchase offers appear after the customer completes checkout, meaning:

  • No risk of hurting conversion rates
  • Customers already trust the brand
  • They’re already in a buying mindset
  • You can offer compelling, time-sensitive upgrades

Best post-purchase offers

  • One-click reorder
  • Upgrades or extended warranties
  • Add-on accessories
  • Seasonal limited-edition products
  • Discounted subscription upgrades

These offers typically convert much higher because they’re frictionless. Shopify’s post-purchase capabilities (through apps or native checkout) make it easier than ever to implement this strategy during the BFCM rush.

Conclusion

Black Friday 2025 will reward Shopify merchants who prepare early and optimize every step of the customer journey—not just their discount strategy. Upsells remain one of the most effective ways to increase AOV, and when they’re thoughtfully implemented across key touchpoints such as dedicated landing pages, product pages, pop-ups, checkout, and post-purchase flows, they can drive meaningful revenue growth without increasing acquisition costs.

By focusing on bestsellers, must-have items, and well-timed upsell opportunities, Shopify brands can deliver a smoother, more intuitive shopping experience that elevates the value of every order and strengthens long-term customer retention.

To put these strategies into action efficiently—across product pages, pop-ups, checkout, and post-purchase—merchants benefit from tools that streamline the process without requiring custom development. Apps like Cross Sell & Upsell allow brands to easily showcase best-sellers, build bundles, and deliver personalized recommendations with simple drag-and-drop controls. Whether a merchant wants to highlight curated must-haves on a Black Friday landing page, add quick accessories to the cart, or present a one-click post-purchase offer, Cross Sell & Upsell helps turn these high-impact strategies into real results in just minutes.