Merchandising
The Shopify Bundles app gives merchants a straightforward way to sell products together. But creating a bundle and creating a worthwhile offer are two different decisions. The products, price and buying experience need to work together if the bundle is going to earn its place in your store.
In this guide, we explain how Shopify product bundles work, where the native app fits and what to consider before you launch. At Inspira, we help Shopify businesses connect those technology decisions to their commercial goals, so the starting point is the outcome you want to achieve.
What is the Shopify Bundles app?
Shopify Bundles is Shopify's free app for creating fixed product bundles and multipacks within the Shopify admin. It is available on all Shopify plans. A fixed bundle combines a predetermined selection of products; a multipack contains multiple units of the same product.
We first covered the app following Shopify’s Summer Editions 2023. Today, the useful question is whether it supports the offer and customer experience your business needs.
Can Shopify bundles increase average order value?
They can, by giving customers a compelling reason to buy complementary products together or purchase a larger quantity. A useful bundle can also make a decision easier: a complete starter kit may be more helpful than asking a first-time customer to assemble one themselves.
However, a higher average order value does not automatically mean a better commercial result. If customers would have bought the same items at full price, a bundle discount could simply reduce the margin on an existing purchase.
Before choosing an app or building an offer, define its purpose. Are you helping new customers get started, encouraging discovery, increasing units per order or moving particular stock? Our eCommerce strategy service helps turn competing ideas into clearer priorities and practical technology decisions.
An illustrative example: building a useful starter kit
Imagine a skincare retailer combining a cleanser, moisturiser and SPF into a morning routine. The customer benefit is a clear, coordinated selection. The commercial question is whether the offer encourages an additional purchase at an acceptable margin.
We would assess the product combination, explain the role of each item, check the economics of any discount and plan how customers choose their variants. This is an illustrative scenario, rather than a reported client result.
How to create bundles on Shopify
For a straightforward fixed bundle or multipack, the native app is a sensible option to assess first. Prepare the component products, then follow this basic setup:
- Install Shopify Bundles and open it from Apps in your Shopify admin.
- Select Create bundle, name the offer and choose the products.
- Set quantities and available variants to match the intended combination.
- Save the bundle, then review its price, images and product description.
- Activate it and choose the appropriate sales channels.
For the detailed workflow, use Shopify's Bundles setup guide. Before promoting the offer, test variant selection, discounts, cart display, checkout and how the order reaches your fulfilment workflow.
Shopify bundle inventory management: check the components
Bundle availability depends on component stock and the quantity of each component required. Shopify updates inventory as components sell. For example, a bundle requiring two units of an item with ten units available can support at most five complete bundles, assuming all other components have enough stock.
That makes component availability part of the merchandising decision. One scarce item can hold back an otherwise well-stocked offer. Review replenishment, inventory settings and fulfilment requirements before making the bundle a major part of a campaign.
Shopify Bundles limitations: when you need another approach
The native app suits defined combinations, but it will not support every bundle idea. Shopify currently lists these important considerations:
- The Shopify Bundles app does not support mix-and-match bundles where customers build their own combination.
- Bundles are incompatible with purchase options such as subscriptions under Shopify's documented bundle requirements.
- Changing a component product's price does not automatically update the bundle price.
Check Shopify's current bundle eligibility and compatibility guidance alongside the app documentation before selecting your approach.
If you need a build-your-own experience, assess a suitable third-party app or a custom approach. Shopify also documents custom bundle options for Shopify Plus. The right choice depends on the required experience, compatibility, ongoing cost and how your team will maintain it. A more complex build needs a clear commercial reason.
Make the bundle easy to understand and buy
Even a well-chosen product combination can struggle if customers cannot understand the offer. Show what is included, explain the benefit and make any saving clear. On mobile, variant selectors should be easy to use, with pricing and availability understandable before the customer adds the bundle to their basket.
At Inspira, we consider the whole journey, from discovering the offer to choosing options and completing checkout. Our conversion and UX optimisation service brings together data, testing and customer experience improvements to identify friction and prioritise what to change.
Measure whether your bundle is working
Agree what success looks like before launch. Average order value is useful, but review it alongside:
- Conversion rate: are visitors still completing purchases?
- Revenue per visitor: is the offer improving the overall value of traffic?
- Contribution margin: what remains after product costs, discounts and variable fulfilment costs?
- Product mix: are customers adding purchases or switching from full-price orders?
- Operational impact: are stock, picking and customer-service demands manageable?
Where traffic and tooling allow, test the offer against a comparable experience. Treat a simple before-and-after comparison with care: promotions, seasonality and changes in traffic can affect the result.
Get a clearer plan for Shopify product bundles
You may only need the native app and a carefully considered offer. Or you may need help choosing the technology, improving the buying journey and defining how to measure success. Inspira can help you work through those decisions and implement the improvements that fit your business.
If you are considering bundles or want to improve an existing offer, feel free to drop us a line here. Tell us what you sell, what you want the bundle to achieve and where your current setup falls short. We can help you identify the right next step.
