What Are Order Bumps? Examples from Different Business Niches

What Are Order Bumps?

Order bumps are a subtle but powerful sales strategy that can significantly increase your revenue without interrupting the customer’s shopping experience. An order bump is an additional, complementary product presented to customers right before they complete their purchase, typically during the checkout process.

How Do Order Bumps Work?

Order bumps appear when a customer is about to finalize their purchase. These bumps suggest a related product—usually at a low cost but high value—that can be added to the cart with just one click. Importantly, this happens without the customer needing to leave the checkout page.

For example, if a customer is purchasing a pair of running shoes, an order bump might offer a discounted set of insoles or a matching water bottle. It’s a seamless way to increase the value of a sale.

Why Should You Care About Order Bumps in eCommerce Store?

Order bumps are incredibly effective for increasing revenue, and here’s why:

Instant Gratification: Customers are already in “buy mode,” so adding a complementary, low-cost item is an easy decision.
Enhanced Customer Experience: Offering a relevant add-on improves the customer’s experience by adding more value to their purchase.
Higher Revenue, Less Effort: Order bumps increase sales with minimal friction—no complicated decisions or extra steps.
Seamless Upselling: The best order bumps blend naturally with the customer’s shopping journey and don’t feel like hard-sell tactics.

Real-Life Example: Order Bumps in Action

Imagine a customer is checking out a camera. Just before finalizing their order, they are offered a lens cleaning kit or a stylish camera strap as a bump. This additional product is offered with just one click, boosting the total sale while keeping the checkout process simple.

Order Bump Examples from Different Business Niches

Order Bumps in Food & Beverage

Food and beverage brands frequently use order bumps to increase the value of an order by offering complementary items such as:

Complementary food or drink products
Food samples
Trending or new flavors
Drinking accessories

Let’s take a look at how a couple of food and beverage brands use order bumps to drive sales.

Chamberlain Coffee

Chamberlain Coffee, a popular brand offering coffee and matcha, takes a unique approach to order bumps. They feature two options labeled “Emma’s Current Picks,” which are personal recommendations from the brand’s founder.

Why It Works:

Social Proof: The personal recommendation adds an element of trust and credibility, encouraging customers to add the suggested items.
Seamless Integration: The bumps are easy to add with one click, without disrupting the checkout flow.

Crockpot Creations

Crockpot Creations, a meal kit delivery service, uses a well-timed order bump that offers brownie mixes right before checkout. The copy is engaging, making it hard for customers to resist the sweet addition.

Why It Works:

Engaging Language: The language used is creative and enticing, aligning with the indulgent nature of the product.
Clear Pricing: Displaying the price of the brownies ensures that customers know exactly what they’re paying.

Order Bumps in Fashion Stores

Fashion retailers often face the challenge of offering order bumps that resonate with each customer’s personal style. However, by recommending affordable accessories or essentials like socks, underwear, or basic t-shirts, they can appeal to a wide audience.

Here are a few examples:

True Classic

True Classic, a men’s clothing brand known for its affordable, stylish t-shirts, uses a strategic approach to order bumps. Instead of overwhelming customers with multiple options, they present one recommendation at a time, such as socks or underwear.

Why It Works:

Fewer Choices, Less Overwhelm: Presenting a single recommendation reduces the risk of customers feeling overwhelmed and helps them make a quick decision.
Essential Items: The items are practical, adding value without overcomplicating the process.

Monos

Monos, a luggage and travel apparel brand, offers order bumps like an ergonomic water bottle or a toiletry case, tailored to frequent travelers.

Why It Works:

Customization: Monos allows customers to select the color, size, and material of the recommended items directly on the bump card.
Seamless Experience: Customers can add the items to their cart with just one click, without leaving the page.

Order Bumps in Beauty Stores

Beauty and cosmetics brands have the flexibility to suggest a wide range of related products as order bumps. These can include travel-size products, complementary items, or products from the same collection. However, relevance is key to making these suggestions successful.

Here are some examples from top beauty retailers:

ULTA

ULTA offers a great example of relevant order bumps. When a customer adds a skincare set to their cart, they are recommended complementary products, such as moisturizers or serums from the same line.

Why It Works:

Tailored Recommendations: The order bumps are specific to the product in the cart, making them feel relevant and useful.
Seamless Checkout: The bumps are integrated into the slide cart, making it easy for customers to add items without leaving the page.

Nood

Nood, a brand specializing in hair removal devices, takes a proactive approach with a modal popup offering a 30% discount on a complementary skincare product as soon as the customer adds a device to their cart.

Why It Works:

Clear Pricing: The price of the skincare product is clear and visible, making the offer easy to accept.
Sense of Urgency: The limited-time discount encourages customers to act quickly and add the item to their cart.

Order Bumps in Gardening and Plant Stores

The growing interest in gardening presents a great opportunity for home garden retailers to leverage order bumps. Consider these types of products as potential order bumps:

Plant growth supplements
Gardening accessories
Potting mix
Gift options
Subscription services for plant care

Let’s see how a couple of plant brands are using order bumps.

Lively Root

Lively Root, a plant delivery brand, has a unique approach. When a customer selects the “This is a gift” box at checkout, they’re offered a reusable gift wrap and a personalized plant pick with a custom message.

Why It Works:

Gift-Specific Bumps: These recommendations are highly relevant to gift-buyers, ensuring the offer is both practical and thoughtful.
Personalization: Adding a personal message makes the bump feel more tailored and appealing.

The Sill

The Sill offers order bumps based on the type of plant the customer has chosen. For instance, a Monstera plant might trigger a recommendation for a support pole to help the plant thrive.

Why It Works:

Product-Specific Bumps: By tailoring one of the bumps to the specific plant in the cart, The Sill ensures that the recommendation is highly relevant.
General Recommendations: At the same time, they offer generic plant care items that apply to all plants.

Order Bumps in Jewelry Stores

Order bumps in jewelry stores often include items that enhance or complement the main product. Some common examples include:

Matching pieces from the same collection
Jewelry cleaning kits
Chain extenders
Elegant storage boxes

Now let’s explore how jewelry brands are using these tactics.

NUE HOOPS

NUE HOOPS uses a slide cart to show order bumps as soon as a customer selects an item. Their recommendations include a spare gold charm clip or a matching charm that complements the selected product.

Why It Works:

Free Delivery Incentive: Their phrasing, “Top up your bag for free delivery,” makes the offer feel more enticing, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

Blue Nile

Blue Nile, known for its vast collection of gemstone jewelry, offers affordable cleaning products as order bumps directly in the shopping cart.

Why It Works:

Strategic Placement: The cleaning product recommendations appear just before checkout, making it easy for customers to add them to their cart.
Clear and Simple: The pricing and details are clear, making the decision to add the item straightforward and low-risk.

Tini Lux

Tini Lux offers jewelry organizers and the option to donate to charity as order bumps. These appear on both the main cart page and the slide cart.

Why It Works:

Simple and Unobtrusive: The bumps are presented clearly with a single click to add the items to the cart.
Charitable Contribution: The donation option is a thoughtful addition that allows customers to support a cause they care about.

Conclusion

Order bumps are a simple but powerful tool to increase revenue without disrupting the shopping experience. Whether you’re in food & beverage, fashion, beauty, gardening, or jewelry, order bumps can be customized to suit your customers’ needs and enhance their buying experience.

By making the order bump relevant, clear, and easy to add, you’ll increase your average order value while providing value to your customers. Ready to implement order bumps in your store? Start experimenting and watch your revenue grow!