Why Most of E-commerce Revenue Comes from Cross-Selling? (+Statistics)

Cross-selling is a revenue engine for Shopify merchants. 

Forrester found businesses using product bundles see a 35% higher average order value (AOV) than those relying solely on single-item sales. 

Why? Shoppers crave convenience and value. A curated bundle (like pairing a camera with a memory card) removes decision fatigue.

How does cross-selling generate more revenue for Shopify stores?

Here are the key reasons why most of e-commerce revenue comes from cross-selling:

1. Higher Average Order Value (AOV)

Cross-selling encourages customers to add more items to their cart, increasing the total value of each order.

2. Lower Customer Acquisition Cost

Selling to an existing customer is much cheaper than acquiring a new one, making cross-selling a high-ROI tactic.

3. Improved Customer Experience

When done right, cross-selling helps customers discover relevant or complementary products, which adds value and enhances their shopping experience.

4. Boosts Product Visibility

Cross-selling brings attention to products that might otherwise go unnoticed, helping move inventory and drive more sales.

5. Increases Customer Lifetime Value

Cross-selling builds deeper relationships with customers, encouraging them to buy more over time, not just in one transaction.

6. Works Across Channels

Cross-sell strategies can be applied in product pages, cart pages, emails, and even post-purchase flows, making it a flexible revenue lever.

7. Supports Impulse Purchases

Well-timed cross-sell suggestions can trigger impulse buys, especially when positioned as limited-time or “frequently bought together” offers.

Cross-selling statistics

Cross selling increase revenue and profitability

• Cross-selling contributes to 10–30% of total eCommerce revenues when done well. 

• Brands that utilize cross-selling often see around a 20% increase in profit.

• McKinsey reports that effective cross-selling can increase revenue by ~20% and profitability by ~30%.

• Amazon has found cross-selling and upselling account for 35% of its total revenue.

• Upselling and cross-selling generate 5 to 25 times more profit compared to acquiring new customers.

• Cross-selling is up to 20 times more effective than upselling for driving revenue growth.

Cross selling builds customer loyalty & retention

• When trusted and relevant, cross selling helps reduce churn by 5–10%, especially in subscriptions.

• 48% of customers say targeted cross-sell offers increase their brand loyalty

• cross-selling leads to 25% higher customer satisfaction

• Cross-selling efforts can boost customer retention rates by 60%

Personalized cross selling performs better

• Around 80% of businesses say personalization in cross-selling increases customer spending by ~34%

• Cross-selling campaigns targeting existing customers perform 50% better than those aimed at acquiring new ones.

• AI-driven cross-selling strategies can increase sales by 20–25%

Ready to tap into cross-selling’s revenue potential? MBC Bundle Builder gives Shopify merchants the tools to create high-converting bundles in minutes – no tech skills needed. Start your free trial and join brands seeing 15-30% AOV lifts within weeks.

This article was created with assistance from vevy.ai and proofread, fact-checked, and validated by its author.