If you want to skyrocket your sales and drive more traffic to your Shopify store, running sales and promotions is a no-brainer. Whether you’re a new Shopify store owner or an experienced e-commerce entrepreneur, you should definitely make sales a regular feature.
Discounts are one of the best, proven ways to boost conversion rates—at least 91% of Americans check for sales before purchasing items online! Everyone loves a good deal, but how to run a sale on Shopify in a way that makes your store stand out in a crowded marketplace?
In this guide, you’ll find the exact steps you need to take to run successful sales on Shopify, from storewide discounts to seasonal promotions, and everything in between.
The Basics of Running a Sale on Shopify
Running a sale on Shopify is straightforward (you can create a sale on Shopify in just a few minutes!) but there are a few key steps you need to follow to make sure everything runs smoothly:
- Access Your Shopify Admin
Log into your Shopify store and head over to the Discounts section. - Choose Your Discount Type
Shopify offers two main options for discounts:
- Discount Codes: Customers need to enter a code at checkout to get the discount.
- Automatic Discounts: Discounts are applied automatically at checkout, no code required.
- Create a Sale Name
Give your sale a clear, descriptive name, like “Black Friday 30% Off” or “Summer Sale – Buy One, Get One Free.” - Set Your Discount Type
Shopify supports percentage-based discounts (e.g., “20% off”), flat-rate discounts (e.g., “$10 off”), and product-based discounts like “Buy X, Get Y free.” You can even exclude gift cards from any discounts you set up. - Define a Minimum Purchase Requirement
You can set a minimum purchase amount (e.g., $50) or minimum quantity to qualify for the discount. - Set Your Sale Dates
Choose when your sale will start and end. You can set your sales months in advance for future promotions.
How To Create a Sale on Shopify: Setting Up Different Types of Sales
Shopify’s sales options go beyond basic discounts. You can run creative and targeted sales that appeal to a wide range of customers. Between Shopify’s standard sale features and the wide range of Shopify app integrations for discounts, the sky is the limit for the type of promotions you can create.
1. Storewide Discounts: The Power of Sitewide Sales
Want to grab your customer’s attention from the get-go? Storewide sales are perfect for this. You can easily set up a sitewide discount that applies across all collections and products in your store.
Use Shopify’s Automatic Discount option for this—it works for all business models including dropshipping and print-on-demand. Simply choose the discount percentage, select the collections, and set the sale dates. (Example: “20% off everything” or “50% off all winter collections.” These types of sales drive immediate action and make your store feel like a can’t-miss opportunity.)
2. “Buy One, Get One Free” (BOGO) Sales: The Classic Favorite
Everyone loves a good BOGO sale (Buy One, Get One Free). They’re perfect for moving inventory and encouraging customers to buy more.
- Enter the quantity to buy: One item
- Choose the collection or items included: Women’s pajamas
- Enter the amount the customer receives: One item
- Choose the collection or items: Men’s pajamas
- Select the type of discount: Free
Get creative with the quantities. Many e-commerce stores have running “buy three, get one free” sales or “get a free gift with every purchase of $50 or more.”
3. Buy One, Get 50% Off: Boost Sales Without Cutting Margins
The “Buy One, Get 50% Off” sale is a great way to offer discounts on additional items, while still protecting your profit margins.
Choose percentage-based discounts and apply them to the second item in a sale. Customers love these because they feel like they’re getting a deal without requiring them to buy more than they originally intended. Try something like “Buy One T-Shirt, Get 50% Off Your Second T-Shirt.”
4. Seasonal Sales: Create Year-Round Buzz
Thanks to Shopify’s sale calendar, it’s relatively easy to set up seasonal promotions. Seasonal sales are an easy way to keep your store fresh and in the minds of customers all year long. Whether it’s a summer sale, holiday clearance, or back-to-school promo, Shopify allows you to set up seasonal sales far in advance.
You don’t have to wait until the day of to “turn on” a Shopify sale. Set up these sales months in advance and automate the start and end dates. You don’t have to worry about turning the sale on manually—just set it and forget it!
This functionality makes it much easier to plan an incredible lead-up to Black Friday with flash sales, BOGOs, curated bundles, and other promotions. Think things like “Summer Sale – 30% off all swimsuits” or “Holiday Clearance – Up to 50% off all winter apparel.”
5. Flash Sales: Create Urgency and Drive Quick Conversions
Sales that only last a day, an hour, or even minutes are growing in popularity. These are flash sales, and they’re an excellent way to generate quick sales and engage customers with a sense of urgency. Whether it’s for 24 hours only, an hour-long deal, or limited-time promotions, flash sales capitalize on the fear of missing out (FOMO).
Use Shopify’s automatic discounts and set specific start and end times for your flash sales. You can also limit how many times a discount code can be used. (Example: “Flash Sale: 50% off shoes for the next 2 hours” or “First 100 customers get $10 off.”)
6. Clearance Sales: Move Inventory and Attract Bargain Hunters
Clearance sales are ideal for moving older inventory or low-performing products. Create a dedicated clearance collection in Shopify, and offer deep discounts to attract bargain-hungry shoppers.
Some Shopify stores have a separate “Clearance” or “On Sale” collection to attract bargain hunters from the get-go. To set up clearance items:
- Go to Admin > Products > Collections.
- Create a new automated collection.
- Set the conditions, such as products that have a sale tag or all items under $X.
This makes it easier for customers to find discounted items. Make sure to draw customers to your sale with promoted campaigns like “Clearance Sale: Up to 70% off select items” or “All Clearance Items Under $20.”
Why Running Sales on Shopify Works
Sales aren’t just great for attracting new customers. They also boost your customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here’s why you should run regular sales on Shopify:
- Shoppers Spend More with Discounts: When you offer coupons, shoppers spend 35% more on average.
- Sales Grow Email Lists: The only reason the majority of people sign up for your emails is to take advantage of sales.
- Digital Coupons Work: They literally increase customer satisfaction, boosting levels of the “happiness hormone” oxytocin by almost 40%.
- Discounts Sway Decisions: Over half of shoppers have changed their mind about a purchase thanks to a discount.
- They Build Promotional Buzz: About 80% of people say they give new brands a chance because the products are on sale.
Store sales are an amazing tool for attracting attention on social media. Plus, offering discounts, especially during peak shopping periods like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, can dramatically increase traffic and revenue.
How To Run a Sale on Shopify the Easy Way
Should you use a dedicated promotions app? Definitely. Apps can help take your sales to the next level by allowing for tiered pricing, bundle promotions, loyalty rewards, and automatic triggers. One major benefit is that apps allow you to show discounts on product pages, giving customers immediate visibility before they even check out. With the right apps, you can automate and enhance your sales to give customers an easier, more engaging shopping experience.
Running a sale on Shopify can be even more effective when you integrate the right apps to streamline the process and maximize sales. With Stay Tuned, you can see the difference for yourself. Start using powerful apps today and watch your revenue grow like never before. checkout. See the difference for yourself.