Upsell ideas by type of store

September 12, 2026 · 2 min read

The hardest part of setting up an upsell is not the app, it is the first question: what do I offer? Here are ideas by type of store, with the placement that usually suits each one, before payment on the cart page or after payment on the post-purchase page.

Fashion

• A belt, a scarf or socks that match the item in the cart (before payment).
• The right care product: wool wash, leather balm, a fabric shaver (after payment).
• A pack of basics, such as socks or t-shirts, at a small discount (before payment).

Shoes

• Waterproofing spray or a cleaning kit (after payment).
• Insoles or spare laces (after payment).
• Socks made for the activity: running, hiking, dress shoes (before payment).

Beauty and skincare

• The next step in the routine: a cleanser with the serum, a conditioner with the shampoo (before payment).
• A travel size of a best-seller (after payment).
• A refill of the product being bought, when you sell one (after payment).

Food and drink

• The accessory that goes with it: filters, a mug, a grinder (before payment).
• A second bag or bottle at a small discount, for products that keep (before payment).
• A small treat to go with the order: chocolate, a snack, a sample (after payment).

Home and decor

• What the product needs to be used: bulbs, batteries, a hanging kit (before payment).
• Candles or scents from the same collection (after payment).
• Care and maintenance: fabric protector, wood oil, a cleaning cloth (after payment).

Sports and outdoors

• Consumables: energy gels, chalk, wax, repair patches (after payment).
• Protection and transport: a cover, a bag, a case (before payment).
• A second pair of socks or gloves, the items nobody regrets having twice (after payment).

Pet supplies

• The bigger bag of the food in the cart (before payment).
• Treats that go with the food (after payment).
• Waste bags, a spare toy, a grooming brush (after payment).

Jewelry

• A gift box or pouch, especially before the holidays (before payment).
• A cleaning cloth or care kit (after payment).
• The matching piece: earrings for the necklace, a second ring (before payment).

Electronics

• What the product needs on day one: a cable, a charger, a memory card (before payment).
• A case or a screen protector (before payment).
• Batteries, a spare part, a longer cable (after payment).

Before or after payment?

As a rule: anything that changes the main purchase or helps reach free shipping goes before payment. Anything small, self-explanatory and impossible to regret goes after. When in doubt, start after payment, where a bad offer costs nothing but a click.

Turning an idea into an offer

1. Pick the trigger: a product, or a whole collection, so the rule covers your catalog rather than one item.
2. Pick the product to offer, with a single variant if you can.
3. Decide on the discount, starting from your margin rather than from a round number.
4. Let it run for a few weeks, then compare it with a second candidate on revenue per view.

In FlatUpsell, that is exactly what a rule looks like: trigger product or collection, offered product, discount, and the placement. You can test up to three offered products on the same post-purchase rule and keep the one that earns more.