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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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5 Min • 31 March 2026

Shopify Recommended Products: Manual vs Automatic – Which Works Better?

Every product page on your Shopify store is a selling opportunity and what you place in the "Recommended Products" section can make or break that moment. Done right, product recommendations keep shoppers engaged, increase average order value, and turn browsers into buyers. Done wrong, they feel random, irrelevant, and send customers straight to the exit. Shopify gives store owners two ways to handle this: let the algorithm decide automatically, or take full control with manual curation. Both approaches have their place but knowing which one to use, and when, is what separates stores that consistently upsell from those that leave revenue on the table. In this guide, we break down exactly how manual and automatic recommended products work on Shopify, the real-world pros and cons of each, and how to choose the right strategy for your store's goals. What Are Shopify Recommended Products? Picture this: A shopper lands on your product page looking for a pair of running shoes. They're ready to buy but you only show them that one pair. No related items, no complementary accessories, no "others also loved" suggestions. They buy (if you're lucky), and then they leave. Now imagine showing them matching running socks, an insole upgrade, or the trail version of the same shoe. Suddenly, a $79 order becomes a $140 order. That's exactly what Shopify recommended products do, they surface the right products to the right shopper at the right moment. In simple terms, Shopify recommended products are product suggestions displayed on your store typically on product pages, the cart page, or checkout designed to encourage shoppers to discover more of what you sell. Why Shopify Product Recommendations Actually Matter Most Shopify merchants obsess over traffic, more clicks, more ads, better SEO. And that's valid. But there's a more immediate revenue lever sitting right inside your store that most merchants completely underestimate. Beyond revenue, smart recommendations also: Reduce bounce rates by keeping shoppers engaged on your site Improve product discovery for items buried deep in your catalog Build a personalized shopping experience that earns loyalty Lower the cost-per-conversion from your paid traffic Manual Recommendations Manual product recommendations are exactly what they sound like: you decide which products get suggested alongside which other products. In Shopify's native editor, this means going into each product and handpicking what appears in the "Related Products" section. How Manual Recommendations Work in Shopify Go to your Shopify Admin > Products Open any product you want to configure. Scroll to the bottom of the product page to find the "Product recommendations" or "Related products" section (availability depends on your theme). Manually select related products Use Shopify's native search to pick and pin specific products. In some themes you may need to edit the theme's code or use metafields to hard-code product associations. Repeat for every product Review and update periodically Seasons change, products go out of stock, new arrivals come in. Manual setups need ongoing human maintenance to stay relevant. Automatic Recommendations Automatic Shopify product recommendations use algorithms and increasingly, AI to analyze shopper behavior and surface products that are most likely to convert. Shopify's native recommendation engine uses the "Recommendation Intent API," which pulls from purchase data, browsing patterns, and product metadata to generate suggestions automatically. Many Shopify product recommendation apps go even further, using machine learning to personalize suggestions for each individual shopper in real time. How Automatic Recommendations Work Shopify's built-in algorithm considers several signals to decide what to recommend: Purchase history: Products frequently bought together. Browsing behavior: Items often viewed in the same session. Product metadata: Shared tags, collections, and product type. Inventory availability: Only in-stock items (in most cases). Global trends: What's converting across similar stores (in some third-party apps). Manual vs. Automatic: Side-by-Side Comparison Here's everything in one place so you can make an informed decision for your specific store: FactorManualAutomaticSetup timeHigh - requires per-product configurationLow - works out of the boxCatalog size suitabilityBest for small catalogs (under 50 SKUs)Best for medium to large catalogsData requirementNone - works on Day 1Needs traffic/purchase history to be accuratePersonalization✗ Same for every shopper✓ Can be individualized per visitorMargin control✓ Full control over what you promote✗ Algorithm prioritizes conversions, not marginsSeasonal merchandisingScalability✓ Easy to adjust strategically✗ Very hard to scale with large catalogs~ Possible with advanced apps, not natively✓ Scales effortlesslyBrand control✓ Full editorial control~ Dependent on app/filter rules Tips to Maximize Revenue from Shopify Product Recommendations 1. Recommend the Right Things Showing 8 recommendations on a product page feels like noise, not help. Stick to 4-6 highly relevant suggestions. Fewer, stronger recommendations outperform long generic lists every time. 2. Placement Matters The cart page is one of the highest-converting spots for recommendations because the shopper is already in buying mode. Product page recommendations work best below the fold, if they're competing with your main CTA above the fold, they're hurting your primary conversion. If you want to show recommendations on cart page, you can make use of Shopify apps like iCart. 3. Use Social Proof in Your Recommendation Widgets Adding star ratings, review counts, or "Bestseller" badges to your recommended products dramatically increases click-through rates. A product sitting at ★4.8 with 340 reviews sells itself even in a recommendation widget. Most good Shopify product recommendation apps support this natively. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the difference between manual and automatic product recommendations? Manual recommendations are curated by store owners, while automatic recommendations are generated by algorithms using customer data, purchase history, and behavior patterns. 2. Do automatic recommendations increase sales more than manual ones? In many cases, automatic recommendations perform better because they adapt to user behavior in real time. However, manual recommendations can outperform them in targeted campaigns or curated collections. 3. Are Shopify’s built-in recommendations enough? Shopify provides basic automatic recommendations, but advanced personalization often requires third-party apps for better targeting, analytics, and customization.

7 Min • 3 April 2026

The Best Shopify Plus Apps Enterprise Stores Need in 2026

When I work with enterprise stores, I always check their app stack. Choosing the best Shopify Plus apps is about building a setup that can handle scale without hurting speed, customer experience, or internal workflows. The right apps should help you convert more visitors, retain more customers, support shoppers faster, and keep operations clean as the store grows. A regular Shopify store and a Shopify Plus store do not need the same kind of app stack. Enterprise stores deal with more complex needs like checkout customization, advanced automation, multi-store management, and high-volume customer support. In this guide, I’ll break down the best Shopify Plus apps by category so you can quickly see which ones make the most sense for sales, retention, support, operations, and subscriptions. Best Shopify Plus Apps for Enterprise Stores Klaviyo (Sales & Marketing) Klaviyo is built for email, WhatsApp, and SMS marketing. It helps brands use real-time Shopify data for campaigns, segmentation, and automated flows that drive more repeat purchases. Key features: AI-powered segmentation Email and SMS campaigns Automated workflows Product recommendations Pop-ups and A/B testing. Pricing: Free to install. Paid email starts at $20/month, and SMS starts at $15/month Rating: 4.5/5 from 2000+ reviews. SellMore (Sales & Marketing) SellMore focuses on post-purchase revenue. It helps merchants show one-click upsells on the thank you page, order status page, and checkout for higher AOV. Key features: Checkout upsells Post-purchase upsells Thank you page offers AI product recommendations Product bundles Pricing: Free plan available for up to 50 orders monthly. Paid plans start at $9.99/month. Unlimited orders for $19.99/month. Rating: 5.0/5 Judge.me (Sales & Marketing) Judge.me helps stores build trust with product reviews, star ratings, testimonials, and photo or video reviews. It is a strong pick when social proof is a big part of conversion. Key features: Unlimited reviews and review widget Testimonial sliders and Coupons & referrals Google rich snippets, review syndication, and imports from platforms like Amazon and Etsy. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plan starts at $15/month Rating:. Rated 5.0/5 from 37,000+ reviews. Gorgias (Support & customer experience) Gorgias is an ecommerce helpdesk built for support at scale. It brings email, chat, social, voice, and SMS conversations into one place so support teams can manage customer issues faster. Key features: Unified inbox and live chat AI responses and summaries Auto-replies, ticketing, and self-service options Order tracking and analytics Pricing: Pricing starts at $10/month for 3 agents and 50 tickets. Higher plans at $60, $360, and $900/month. Rating: Rated 4.3/5 from 600+ reviews. Tidio (Support & customer experience) Tidio combines live chat, chatbot automation, and AI support in one helpdesk. It works well for stores that want faster support and more automated customer conversations. Key features: Live chat AI chatbot & chatbot flows Unified helpdesk & product recommendations Order updates and omnichannel support across email and social Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $29/month. Rating: Rated 4.7/5 from 1000+ reviews. Shopify Flow (Data & operations) Shopify Flow is Shopify’s own automation app. It helps merchants automate workflows across marketing, fulfillment, inventory, fraud prevention, and internal operations. Key features: Visual workflow builder Condition-based logic Pre-built templates and custom automations Workflow tracking Pricing: Free. Rating: Rated 4.7/5 from 9000+ reviews. Stellar Delivery Date & Pickup (Delivery & scheduling) Stellar helps stores manage local delivery, store pickup, and shipping schedules with a delivery date picker and time slots. It is especially useful for stores that need better control over fulfillment timing. Key features: Shopify Plus checkout calendar support Delivery date and time picker Estimated delivery dates Multi-location pickup, route planner, blackout dates, order cut-off times Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for product delivery and store pickup, with an Unlimited Location plan at $29.99/month. Rating: Rated 4.7/5 from 500 reviews. Matrixify (Data & operations) Matrixify is a bulk import, export, update, and migration app. It is built for stores that need to manage large amounts of Shopify data more efficiently. Key features: Bulk import and export Google Sheets and CSV support Scheduled jobs Migration support Store-to-store data copy, and large file handling up to 20 GB Pricing: Paid plans start at $20/month and go up to $200/month. Rating: Rated 4.9/5 from 1000+ reviews. Appstle Subscriptions App (Subscriptions) Appstle helps merchants launch and manage subscriptions, recurring orders, subscription boxes, and build-a-box offers. It is a strong fit for stores that want recurring revenue without a heavy setup. Key features: Recurring payments and customer portal support Build-a-box and loyalty features Churn control, bulk automation, and one-click checkout Advanced subscription management tools Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10/month, $30/month & $100/month. Rating: 5.0/5 from 6000+ reviews. PageFly (Store design) PageFly is a drag-and-drop page builder for landing pages, product pages, FAQ sections, and more. It gives merchants more design control without needing code. Key features: 100+ templates and pre-made sections Flexible layout control A/B testing and sales elements like countdowns and trust badges Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $18/month. Unlimited plan at $99/month. Rating: Rated 4.9/5 from 5000+ reviews. GemPages (Store design) GemPages is a conversion-focused page builder made for landing pages, funnels, and custom storefront pages. It is a good fit for merchants who want more control over design and funnel building. Key features: AI page builder 400+ CRO templates SEO-friendly pages Built-in conversion boosters Post-purchase upsell funnels Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $29/month, with higher tiers at $59/month and $199/month for Plus and enterprise needs. Rating: Rated 4.9/5 from 3000+ reviews. Key considerations when installing the best Shopify Plus apps Start with your biggest problem I always start with the part of the store that is creating the most issues. That could be checkout, retention, support, operations, or recurring revenue. Check whether the app is truly built for Plus needs Not every Shopify app is built for the way Shopify Plus stores work. I check whether the app can support things like checkout customization, B2B workflows, or expansion stores. Review support, scalability, and integration depth At the Plus level, I look beyond basic features. The app should work well with Shopify Flow, support larger catalogs and multi-store setups. I also pay close attention to Shopify Plus app integrations, because enterprise stores usually need apps that connect cleanly with Shopify Flow, ERPs, and CRMs. Measure ROI A long feature list does not mean the app is worth keeping. I look at what it actually improves, whether that is conversion rate, AOV, repeat purchases, lower support load, or time saved for the team. The best Shopify Plus apps are ones that help you grow The best Shopify Plus apps are the ones that fix the biggest gap in your store without adding extra complexity. I always suggest starting with one area that needs the most help, such as checkout, retention, support, or operations. Once that app proves its value, you can build the rest of your stack around what the store actually needs next. FAQs 1. Which are the best Shopify Plus apps? In my experience, the best Shopify Plus apps are the ones that solve the biggest scaling problem in the store first. The ones I have worked with include Klaviyo for email and SMS, Gorgias or Tidio for support, Shopify Flow for automation, and SellMore for post-purchase upsell. 2. Are some apps exclusive to Plus users? Yes. Some apps and capabilities are tied to Shopify Plus. Read the description of the apps carefully before installing. 3. Does checkout customization only work on the Plus plan? Not all checkout customization is Plus-only, but the deeper checkout customization is where Plus matters most. 4. How do I choose the best Shopify Plus apps? Start with the area that is under the most pressure, such as checkout, retention, support, operations, or subscriptions, then check whether the app is built for Plus.

3 Min • 14 April 2026

A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Shopify Shipping Costs

Managing Shopify shipping costs may feel overwhelming at first. Setting up Shopify shipping rates is all about balance. If you charge too much, customers may leave at checkout. And if you charge too little, your profit starts shrinking with every order. That is why setting the right Shopify shipping rates matters. In this guide, we’ll explain the main types of Shopify shipping rates, when to use them, and how to build a setup that works for both your business and your customers. What are Shopify shipping rates? Shopify shipping rates are the delivery charges you set in your Shopify store that customers pay at checkout to receive their order. These rates can be based on things like order price, product weight, delivery location, or a flat fee you choose. Key Shopify shipping rate types Flat rates A fixed fee charged on every order (for example, $10 for all orders). This is a simple option and makes shipping costs easy to manage. Carrier-calculated rates Real-time rates from carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS based on item weight, dimensions, and destination. Free shipping rates Shipping is set at $0 for the customer. Stores often offer this on all orders or only when the cart reaches a certain value, like free shipping over $75. Price-based rates Shipping charges change based on the total order value (for example, $5 for orders under $50 and free shipping for orders above $50). Weight-based rates These Shopify Shipping costs are based on the total weight of the products in the cart. This is useful when product sizes or weights vary. Local delivery and pickup Shipping options for nearby customers, where they can either get the order delivered locally or collect it from your store. Here’s a quick overview of the options available to you: Shipping Rate TypeHow It WorksBest ForFlat RatesA fixed shipping fee is charged on every order or under a set condition (for example, $5 shipping on all orders)Simplicity, predictabilityPrice-Based RatesShipping cost changes based on the total cart value (for example, free shipping on orders above $100)Encouraging customers to spend moreWeight-Based RatesShipping cost depends on the total weight of the order (for example, 0–2 kg = $4, 2–5 kg = $7)Stores with products of different sizes or weightsFree Shipping RatesShipping is set to $0, either for all orders or only when certain conditions are metImproving conversionsCarrier-Calculated RatesLive shipping charges are shown at checkout based on carrier pricing, package details, and destinationAccurate and flexible shipping costsLocal Delivery and PickupCustomers nearby can choose local delivery or pick up their order from your storeLocal businesses & nearby customers