Having a successful Shopify store is not just about selling the right product. You also require smart promotions that drive awareness, thrill your shoppers, and encourage them to return. Discounts and gifts, as well as Buy One Get One BOGO Shopify promotions, are classic sales tactics that – when executed properly – can greatly increase sales and customer retention.
Shopify does offer some built-in tools for basic discounts, but for any advanced campaigns you want to run, such as automatic gifts or loyalty programs, or anything more sophisticated than a simple “buy one, get one,” you will need to use an app.
Why Promotions Matter in E-Commerce
E-commerce is competitive. Shoppers have infinite choices and short attention spans. A well-planned promotion generates a sense of urgency and a lot of excitement, so your customers are convinced they need to act immediately.
Promotions also:
Merchandise larger carts — Customers are likely to “fill their baskets” to meet a deal.
Move slow-moving stock – bundling items or doing a giveaway can help you move inventory quickly.
Show off new things – Rather than discount, promote a new release by giving it away, or offering it as part of a bundle.
Loyalty – Customers will remember the ‘little extra’ and are more likely to shop again.
So if you want to ensure you’re driving the best ROI possible, I’ll get you set up on the two killer tactics: frft campaigns and BOGO campaigns.
Free Gift Promotions on Shopify
One of the easiest and happiest ways a company can delight customers is by giving away a present. Unlike discounts, which eat your margin, a gift gives perceived value. The customer feels rewarded, and often will increase spending just to get that extra item.
How Free Gift Promotions Work
The idea is simple: when a customer reaches a set of criteria, a bonus product is added to her cart. Common triggers include:
Spend $X, get a free tote bag.. Participation (orders that operate to make a purchase) supports causing customers to spend over a certain amount (e.g. “Spend $50, get a free tote bag”)
Purchase from a specific product range (E.g, “Purchase from our skincare range and get a free face mask”)
Gift With Purchase (GWP)
In this special time-limited gift campaign, “gift with purchase” is a good strategic choice for product promotion. It’s a popular term throughout the beauty, fashion and lifestyle industries. So a beauty brand might offer a free brush when you purchase a foundation, or a fashion store might throw in a free accessory with a new season dress.
BOGO Promotions on Shopify
BOGO, or Buy One Get One, is a classic promotion when it comes to retail. Customers adore it because the value is clear as day — buy one thing, get another for free or at a discount. For retailers, BOGO is a simple way to boost sales volume and clear inventory fast.
Why BOGO Works
BOGO deals work so well because:
Customers feel like they’re doubling up on their purchase.
They nudge toward bulk-buying, and in this way help to increase the average size of the cart.
They are perfect to use for seasonal promotions, product launches, or clearance sales.
They instil a sense of urgency — customers know the deal won’t be around forever.
For instance, a store that sells clothes might give “Buy one pair of jeans, get the second free.” It’s not just converting sales immediately, either; it also moves stock fast.
Combining Free Gifts and BOGO
A lot of the highest achieving Shopify stores use both of these tactics to build an incredibly personalised experience. You could promote a “Buy one, get one free” offer, with an additional free accessory when the customer’s cart crosses a certain threshold.
That layered approach is successful because it taps into different customer motivations — not every shopper is driven by saving money, or by getting something free. By offering both, you raise the odds of making the sale.
Best Practices for Running Promotions
Keep it simple — If the offer takes more than a moment to figure out, your shoppers will become disinterestedommenG5 phenomena.
Establish clear terms — Make it explicit what customers need to do to qualify.
Use apps for automation — Manually created discount codes are clunky; automation is smoother. Spread the word – Advertise your specials through banners, email, and social media.
Track performance – Utilise Shopify or app analytics to see what works best and adjust future campaigns.
Conclusion
Smart promotions are more than a short-term relief to the bottom line — they’re tools to drive long-term relationships and sustainable growth with customers. Gifts generate joy and push higher spend, whilst BOGO deals help you drive volume and urgency. Combined, they empower Shopify store owners to increase average order value, move stock, and build relationships. With the right Shopify apps and offers that feel good and make sense, you can convert casual customers into repeat customers. If you’re serious about growing your shop, these clever, and specifically tailored promotions aren’t just nice – they’re a necessity.