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How Anua Unlocked 5X AOV Growth with iCart’s Smart Cart Features

delivery customization Challenges Solutions drive results Scale business delivery customization Challenges Solutions drive results Scale business delivery customization Challenges Solutions drive results Scale business delivery customization Challenges Solutions drive results Scale business Anua is a globally recognized Korean skincare brand known for its minimalist philosophy and focus on gentle yet effective formulations. Built on the idea of simplifying skincare routines, Anua develops products that deliver visible results while avoiding harsh or irritating components, making them suitable for sensitive skin types. Initially using a traditional full cart experience, Anua transitioned to iCart’s side cart solution in August 2025, to create a more seamless and engaging shopping journey. This shift allowed customers to easily explore complementary skincare products without disrupting their browsing flow, making it more intuitive to discover items that fit into a complete routine. By surfacing relevant recommendations directly within the cart, the brand enhanced product visibility across its range. Challenges Before implementing iCart’s side cart solution, Anua faced limitations with their existing full cart experience, which created friction in the customer journey. The traditional cart setup redirected users away from product pages, interrupting their browsing flow and reducing opportunities to explore additional products. As a skincare brand built around routines rather than single-item purchases, this made it difficult to effectively showcase complementary products and encourage customers to build complete regimens. Additionally, the lack of in-cart personalization and strategic upsell opportunities meant that customers were often unaware of related products that could enhance their skincare results. This limited the brand’s ability to increase average order value (AOV) and fully leverage its diverse product range. Anua needed a more dynamic and intuitive cart experience that could seamlessly introduce relevant recommendations while maintaining a smooth and engaging shopping journey. ❌ Cart Value Barriers Low average order value (AOV) due to single-item focus Most customers completed purchases with one primary product instead of building multi-step routines. Cart abandonment near shipping thresholds Customers were not clearly informed or motivated to reach free shipping or discount thresholds. Missed savings opportunities Customers were unaware of potential value in purchasing bundled routines or multiple complementary products. ❌ Absence of Progress-Based Incentives No free shipping or discount progress bar Customers were not motivated to increase their cart value due to lack of visible incentives. Missing tiered rewards system There were no structured milestones (e.g., “Spend more to unlock offers”), reducing upsell opportunities. ❌ Ineffective Cart UI/UX (Pre-Side Cart) Full-page cart disrupted shopping flowCustomers had to leave their browsing journey, increasing friction and drop-offs. No quick add/remove functionality Users couldn’t easily modify their cart or add suggested products without navigating away. Solution To overcome these challenges, Anua implemented iCart’s side cart solution to transform their traditional cart into a high-converting, interactive experience. By replacing the full-page cart with a seamless side cart, the brand ensured that customers could continue browsing while viewing their cart, significantly reducing friction in the shopping journey. Additionally, features like product recommendations & progress bars for free shipping and discounts motivated customers to increase their cart value. By combining personalization, incentive-driven messaging, and a user-friendly interface, Anua successfully turned their cart into a powerful revenue-driving touchpoint rather than just a checkout step. To maximize their cart effectiveness, they implemented two powerful features: ✅ Progress Bar with Multi-Reward Incentives Implemented a tiered progress bar to encourage higher cart value Customers are guided with a clear message like “Add $3.10 to unlock secret offer,” motivating them to continue adding products. Generated over $5M+ in revenue through incentive-driven cart progression Used product-based rewards to align with customer intent Instead of generic discounts, Anua incentivized purchases with relevant skincare items like Dark Spot Pads and mini serums. Built visual motivation for routine expansion As customers add products, they can clearly track progress toward unlocking multiple rewards, encouraging them to build a complete skincare routine. ✅ Product Recommendations Implemented “Frequently Bought Together” recommendations Customers adding a single product (e.g., toner) are shown complementary items like serums, moisturizers, or pads to complete their routine. Generated over 275K revenue through in-cart recommendations Encouraged full skincare regimen building Instead of isolated purchases, the cart suggests step-by-step product combinations aligned with common skincare routines. Increased product discovery at the final stage By surfacing relevant items directly in the cart, Anua ensured customers explore more of their catalog without leaving the checkout flow. Results Achieved in Last 180 Days 22932 Total Store Orders 45101 Total iCart Orders 5X iCart Generated AOV 65.70% Upsell Affected Conversion Rate These improvements reflect a clear shift in customer behavior on Anua’s store. Cart abandonment reduced as shoppers discovered complementary skincare products and felt encouraged to build complete routines. Engagement also increased, with customers interacting more with in-cart recommendations and exploring relevant product pairings. Results & Impact And...Results is Our Main Clarification By implementing iCart’s cart drawer, product recommendations, and progress bar, Anua transformed its cart into a high-performing conversion touchpoint. Shopping Experience Enhancement The improved cart experience encouraged customers to discover complementary products and understand the value of sustainable beauty routines. For instance, the clear presentation of subscription savings alongside one-time purchase options helped customers make more informed decisions about their long-term hair care needs. As Anua continues to optimize its cart experience, the brand is closely monitoring: Routine-based purchasing behavior - tracking how customers move from single items to multi-step regimens Engagement with in-cart recommendations - measuring interaction with suggested products Cart value progression - analyzing how incentives influence higher spending [related_cases_slider] Ready to Write Your Success Story? Try icart App Join successful businesses like Anua and Master your delivery scheduling Delight customers with precise timing Grow your special occasion orders Expand your delivery reach

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6 Min • 5 May 2026

Shopify Checkout Upsell vs Post-Purchase Upsell: Which ROI Insights to Look at?

Most new Shopify stores try to grow revenue by getting more traffic. I look at it differently. Traffic matters, but your profit often improves faster when you increase the value of each order. A shopper who reaches the checkout already trusts your product enough to buy. Now it's your job to make these shoppers complete the payment. A Shopify checkout upsell strategy has helped merchants show an offer at the checkout page. A post-purchase upsell helps you show an offer after the payment is complete. Both can increase AOV, but they do not work the same way. In this blog, I will help you understand the difference between the two with data-driven insights. The first insight I would get into is upselling in general. Shopify’s upselling guide says the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60% to 70%, compared with 5% to 20% for selling to a new customer. What is the Shopify checkout upsell? A Shopify checkout page upsell is an offer shown during the checkout process before the buyer places the order. The customer has already added products to the cart. They are entering shipping, contact, or payment details. At this stage, the Shopify checkout upsell page needs to be quick, relevant, and easy to accept. Source: SellMore App Demo I use apps like SellMore to customize the checkout pages. It’s important to note that only Plus stores can customize checkout pages. I use Shopify checkout upsell apps like SellMore to customize my checkout page with: Gift wrap Shipping protection Product warranty Priority delivery Add-on product Limited-time checkout offer For example, if a customer buys a skincare product, a checkout upsell can offer a travel-size version, refill pack, or applicator. If a customer buys electronics, the offer can be a case, charger, or extended warranty. I have written a complete breakdown of Shopify checkout upsell strategies for merchants. Shopify ROI stats for checkout upsells The average documented ecommerce cart abandonment rate is 70.22%, so any Shopify checkout upsell should protect checkout clarity first and increase AOV without adding friction. Shopify checkout upsell can increase AOV because they appear when buying intent is high. One benchmark puts checkout upsell boosts around 6% to 14% [Source: Zipchat] Shopify upsell at checkout also carries conversion risk. Insights estimates a possible 3% to 8% conversion drop when checkout offers create friction [Source: Zipchat] Across ecommerce upsell funnels, one benchmark reports an average ecommerce upsell conversion rate of 19.8% and an average order value increase of 31.4%. But stores should treat this as a broad upsell benchmark rather than a checkout-only number. Want to add upsells at checkout? Here’s a step-by-step guide to add upsells at checkout in your store. What is Shopify post purchase upsell? A Shopify post-purchase upsell is an offer shown after the customer completes payment. The original order is already placed. The buyer does not need to restart checkout. In many post-purchase flows, the buyer can accept the offer with one click. Merchants also call this a thank-you page upsell. This is what I regularly include in post purchase upsell. Upgrade to a bundle Refills & subscription Add a limited-time second product Add accessories related to the first order For example, if a customer buys protein powder, the post-purchase offer can be a shaker bottle. If a customer buys pet food, the offer can be treats or a repeat delivery pack. If a customer buys a dress, the offer can be matching jewelry or a handbag. Here’s a complete breakdown of upsell in cart vs checkout vs thank you page for merchants. Shopify insights for post purchase upsell Shopify stores like Kettle & Fire saw a 41% increase in average revenue per customer after using post-purchase upsells and cross-sells. Vogue Business reported that retailers saw up to 40% increase in ROI from post-purchase tech. The insights are not just related to shopping flow. Post-purchase emails are a strong upsell channel as well. Shopify reports an average 61.68% open rate, 3.97% click rate, and 0.54% placed order rate for post-purchase email campaigns. Shopify also reports that first-time buyers are 27% likely to return, but after a second or third purchase, the return probability grows to 54%. A relevant post-purchase upsell can help move customers toward that second purchase faster. Overview of Shopify upsell at checkout & post-purchase Upsell TypeBest ForProsConsCheckout UpsellShopify Plus stores, brands selling small add-ons, accessories, warranties, gift wrap, shipping protection, bundles, and product upgrades.High purchase intent because the buyer is already at checkout.Good for increasing AOV before payment.Works well for simple add-ons that support the main product.Can distract buyers before payment.Too many offers can make checkout complicated.Advanced checkout upsell control may need Shopify Plus. Post-Purchase UpsellNew Shopify stores, consumable products, refills, bundles, accessories, beauty, skincare, supplements, food and beverage, pet products, and repeat-purchase products.Does not interrupt the original checkout.Safer for testing because the first order is already placed.Works well for one-click offers, bundles, refills, and second-product discounts.Some buyers may ignore offers after payment.Needs strong product matching to convert.Heavy discounts can reduce profit margin. Go with the best Shopify ROI insights for upselling If you are just starting your store in 2026, I would start with post-purchase upsells. They are easier to test, safer for conversion, and useful for learning which products buyers want after the first purchase. If your store has strong checkout traffic and access to deeper checkout customization, a Shopify checkout upsell is a better option. My simple rule as a Shopify expert for stores in 2026 is this: Keep checkout and post-purchase pages simple and track ROI by profit, not just upsell revenue. FAQs 1. Can I customize my checkout with basic Shopify plans? Yes. But with limits. Basic Shopify merchants can use some Checkout Blocks features on the Thank You and Order Status pages, while placing blocks directly on checkout pages requires Shopify Plus. 2. Should I choose upsells at post purchase or checkout at Shopify? For a new Shopify store, I would start with post-purchase upsells because the original order is already completed. Checkout upsells work better when your offer is small, relevant, and does not distract buyers before payment. 3. Can upsells at checkout give me profits? Yes. Checkout upsells can increase profit when the add-on has a strong margin. I would track AOV lift, checkout conversion rate, product margin, and refund rate together instead of looking only at upsell revenue. 4. Which are the best apps for Shopify checkout and post purchase upsells? I have two choices here. Checkout Blocks and SellMore. Both apps are tried and tested and can help you customize your checkout and post-purchase pages.

7 Min • 6 May 2026

Shopify Consulting in 2026: Key Areas for Improvement & Signs to Look for Before Hiring

Running a Shopify store in 2026, especially with AI and new technologies, is frustrating. AI and automation have completely changed the way stores work. Merchants can no longer just pick a theme, add products, install a few apps, and launch. If your competition is using the latest technology, they will get ahead in sales faster than you. That’s why I believe there’s no better time for Shopify consulting than now. It helps you understand what is blocking growth, what needs fixing first, and how to build a store that can perform better in 2026. In this blog, I will break down the key areas in your workflow where consultants can help and the signs to look for before hiring Shopify ecommerce consultants. Which are the key areas where Shopify consulting can help? Shopify consulting can cover almost every part of your online store. As a Shopify consultant, I usually start by understanding the store's goal first. A new store needs a different strategy than a scaling brand. A fashion store needs a different buying flow than a B2B store. A local bakery needs a different setup than a global DTC brand. Here are the main areas where a Shopify consulting company can help. 1. Store setup and structure Many Shopify stores struggle because the foundation is weak. They do pick a good theme, but I always experience that their flow confuses shoppers. A few things I always notice are that the homepage does not explain the brand clearly, and product pages are missing important buying details. A Shopify ecommerce consultant can review: Homepage structure Menu and navigation Product page layout Collection page flow Mobile experience Brand trust elements Call-to-action placement Store speed and basic technical issues As a Shopify ecommerce consultant, I always check one simple thing first: Can a first-time visitor understand what you sell, why they should trust you, and how to buy within a few seconds? 2. Shopify SEO consulting A good-looking store is not enough if people cannot find it on Google. Now, even ChatGPT can discover your products, which also involves SEO. A Shopify SEO consultant helps store owners improve their organic visibility. They look at how your product pages, collection pages, blogs, metadata, images, internal links, and technical setup work together. Common SEO areas include: Product title optimization Collection page content Meta titles and descriptions URL structure Image alt text Internal linking Blog topic planning Schema markup Indexing issues Duplicate content checks Paid traffic can help you, but SEO builds long-term visibility. If your store has strong products but weak search visibility, consultants can help you build a better organic growth plan. 3. Conversion and cart experience If customers add products to the cart but do not complete the purchase, consulting can help you find the reason. A Shopify consultant can review how shoppers move from product discovery to checkout. Important areas I always cover include: Add-to-cart button placement Cart page or cart drawer experience Product recommendations Upsells and cross-sells Product bundle flow Free shipping progress bar Discount code experience Checkout trust signals Return and shipping information With all these things covered, you can get conversions with minimum traffic as well. 4. App stack and integrations Shopify apps are useful, but too many apps can create problems. I often see store owners install apps for every small feature. After a few months, the store becomes slow because multiple apps start doing the same thing. A Shopify consulting company can help you review: Which apps are actually needed? Which apps slow down the store? Which apps overlap? Which features need custom development? Which integrations support growth? Which tools connect with your marketing, inventory, or fulfillment flow? A simple app stack keeps the store easier to manage and improves performance. 5. Shopify Plus consulting Shopify Plus is useful for enterprise brands, high-volume stores, B2B businesses, or stores with complex checkout needs. Moving to Plus without proper planning can create extra cost and confusion. A Shopify Plus consultant can support: Shopify Plus migration Checkout customization B2B setup Multi-store setup International selling Advanced automation Custom integrations High-volume order workflows For me, this is the most important area where Shopify consulting is required. High-volume stores need more complex strategies to increase conversions. Plus stores definitely need Shopify Plus consultants to handle store operations. 4 signs to look at before hiring a consultant 1. Your store gets traffic, but sales stay low People visit your store, but they do not buy. Some may leave from the product page, others may leave from the checkout page. A Shopify consultant checks the full journey from page visit to checkout. A small improvement in the buying journey can make a big difference when traffic already exists. 2. Your store looks good, but it feels hard to buy from With AI website builders and themes, it's easy to make storefronts look fantastic. But sometimes customers need too much effort to find products, compare options, understand shipping, or complete checkout. This is impacting your conversion rate. 3. You are using too many apps Apps should solve problems. They should not create new ones. If your store has many apps and you are not sure which ones are helping, it is time for an app stack review with Shopify ecommerce consultants. 4. You are planning a migration or a redesign A migration or redesign can affect SEO, traffic, sales, product data, customer data, and tracking. A Shopify Plus upgrade can also affect workflows, checkout logic, and integrations. Do not rush into these processes. Contact a Shopify SEO consultant whenever you need a migration to Shopify or store customization. Hire Shopify Consultants Today Schedule a Free Strategy Call What to expect from Shopify consultants? #1 A complete Shopify store audit Store design review User experience review SEO review Speed review Product page review Collection page review Cart and checkout review App stack review Analytics and tracking review #2 A clear action plan Quick fixes High-priority issues Long-term improvements SEO opportunities Conversion improvements Technical changes App recommendations Expected business impact #3 Shopify SEO recommendations Keyword mapping Product page optimization Collection page content Blog topic ideas Meta title improvements Internal linking Technical SEO fixes Structured data checks #4 Ecommerce growth guidance Store positioning Product presentation Offer structure Cart optimization Upsell and cross-sell strategy Customer retention Email flow ideas Post-purchase experience #5 Technical and app Support Theme customization App setup Custom features API integrations Tracking setup Shopify Plus features Migration support 2026 is the time to hire Shopify consultants AI has made Shopify consulting a need of the hour because there are too many advanced technologies for store owners to implement. From my experience as a Shopify consultant, the best time to get support is before small store issues become expensive. Start by reviewing your traffic, sales, SEO, app stack, cart flow, and checkout experience. If you cannot clearly see what to fix first, hiring a Shopify consulting company can give you the direction you need. FAQs 1. What is a Shopify consultant? A Shopify consultant is an expert who helps store owners improve their Shopify store setup, design, SEO, apps, conversion flow, checkout experience, and growth strategy. From my experience, a good consultant helps you understand what is stopping customers from buying and what should be improved first. 2. How much does a Shopify consultant cost? The cost of Shopify consulting depends on the scope, experience level, and whether you hire a freelancer, consultant, or agency. So make sure you discuss your budget and goal before hiring a consulting agency. 3. Is it worth it to hire a Shopify consulting company? Yes. Especially with the advanced AI capabilities, store owners need consulting companies now more than ever. 4. How much does a Shopify SEO audit cost? A Shopify SEO audit depends on store size, technical issues, number of pages, and depth of reporting. So make sure you discuss your budget and goal before signing any contract.

6 Min • 5 May 2026

How to Block a Customer on Shopify: Step-by-Step Guide to Prevent Fraud

Every Shopify store owner wants more orders. But not every order is good for the business. I have seen customers place fake orders, return used products or create chargebacks after receiving the item. Do not avoid these issues because, after a while, it starts affecting your revenue and brand. So the real question is: how to block a customer on Shopify before they create more damage? The direct answer is simple. You can block or restrict a fraudulent customer on Shopify in two ways: Use a fraud prevention or customer blocking app. Use the customer section inside Shopify admin to tag, note, and manually control risky buyers. In this blog, I will walk you through both these methods so you can block certain customers from purchasing from Shopify. Why block certain customers from your store? Blocking a customer is about protecting your store from buyers who repeatedly create losses. Common reasons to block a customer on Shopify Place repeated fake orders Use wrong phone numbers or fake email addresses Keep returning damaged or used products Create chargebacks after delivery Use multiple cards for suspicious orders For a small Shopify store, even a few bad orders can hurt. You lose product cost, shipping cost, payment fees, and team time. Best solutions to prevent returns fraud, Shopify merchants should consider Return fraud is one of the biggest reasons merchants look to block a customer from ordering on Shopify. A customer may order a product, use it, and return it. Some customers return an old or different item. Some repeatedly order high-value products and create disputes after delivery. To reduce returns fraud, Shopify merchants can use: Clear return policies Customer tags for risky buyers Manual review for repeat returners Fraud analysis before fulfillment Address and phone number checks A Shopify fraud filter app Checkout blocking rules for known fraud patterns Shopify fraud filter apps are the best solution to prevent return fraud, Shopify merchants should choose. Here’s how to do it. How to block a customer on Shopify? (With Shopify fraud filter app) Step 1: Go to the Shopify App Store Open the Shopify App Store and search for ‘fraud filter app’. Pick the app based on what you need to block. Blockify and Blocky are good choices. I have tried and tested both of them. Install the app and give the required permissions. Step 2: Create a blocking rule Create a rule based on the customer detail you want to block. You can easily create blocking rules with fraud filter apps. I usually create rules for: Email address Phone number IP address Name Shipping address Country State Customer tag Order risk level Step 3: Choose the action Depending on the app, you can perform different actions to block a customer from ordering. Common actions I perform include: Block checkout Cancel order Flag order Redirect visitor Show warning Send fraud alert Add customer tag Step 4: Test the rule Always test the rule before relying on it. Use a test customer or test condition. Make sure the rule does not block genuine customers by mistake. This has happened to me multiple times. Step 5: Review blocked attempts Do not set the conditions and forget. I always check blocked attempts weekly. Some rules may need updates, especially if customers use different emails, phone numbers, or addresses. I have written a detailed breakdown of Shopify fraud protection and apps for merchants. How to block a customer from ordering on Shopify without an app You can use the Customer section to manage risky customers with notes, tags, and manual review. Note: Customer notes are visible only to store staff, and tags help organize customer profiles or create customer segments. Step 1: Go to the Shopify admin Open your Shopify admin dashboard. Go to the Customers section from the left-side menu. Step 2: Search for the customer Search using name, email, phone number, or shipping address. Click the customer name to open the full profile. Step 3: Review order history Check past orders, refunds, returns, chargebacks, payment status, and support history. I usually do 4 things. Add a customer note: Add a clear internal note. For example: Do not fulfill without manual review. The customer has repeatedly refused deliveries and returned used items. Add a customer tag: Add a tag such as: Blocked, Fraud Risk, High Risk, Manual Review, Do Not Fulfill Inform your fulfillment team: Make sure your team checks customer tags before shipping orders. Manually cancel or hold future orders: If the tagged customer places another order, review it before fulfillment. Cancel only when your store policy and proof support the action. Shopify’s current customer account system has a major limitation. Merchants cannot deactivate an individual customer account. A merchant can delete a customer profile, but if the customer signs in again with the same email, a new customer profile gets created. So, deleting a customer profile is not a strong blocking method. For real blocking, use tags with an app or checkout rule. Prevent fraud in Shopify by blocking customers Blocking a customer on Shopify should be a business decision. If one order looks odd, review it. If the same customer keeps creating problems, tag the profile, document the issue, and add stricter rules. For small or new stores, Shopify admin notes and tags are a good starting point. For repeat fraud, COD misuse, chargebacks, or returns abuse, a Shopify fraud filter app gives better protection. FAQs 1. How to block a customer on Shopify? You can block a customer on Shopify by using customer tags, internal notes, and fraud prevention rules. A fraud filter or customer blocker app is usually the better option when you want to stop repeat risky customers from placing orders. 2. How to block a customer from purchasing on Shopify? To block a customer from purchasing on Shopify, use a fraud prevention app that can block checkout based on email, phone number, IP address, customer tag, or shipping address. For manual control, you can tag the customer as “Blocked” or “Fraud Risk” inside the Shopify admin. 3. What are some of the best Shopify fraud filter apps? Blockify Fraud Filter & Blocker and Blockly Fraud Filter are two good apps I would recommend for merchants for fraud prevention. 4. How to prevent fraud on Shopify? To prevent fraud on Shopify, review high-risk orders before fulfillment, check fraud indicators, verify customer details, use payment checks like CVV and address verification, and avoid shipping suspicious orders too quickly.