7 Marketing Strategies for CPG Brands on Shopify

Want to boost your CPG brand’s success on Shopify? Here’s a quick guide to seven effective strategies:

1. Optimize Your Shopify Store: Ensure clear product navigation, mobile-friendly design, and use helpful apps like BOLD Bundles or Vitals.
2. Leverage Customer Data: Track buying patterns, send personalized email campaigns, and recommend related products to increase sales.
3. Expand Direct Sales: Build a direct-to-consumer store and manage retail and online channels efficiently.
4. Utilize Social Media: Connect shopping tools on platforms like Instagram and partner with influencers to drive traffic and sales.
5. Launch Subscriptions & Loyalty Programs: Encourage repeat purchases with tools like Recharge Subscriptions and reward systems.
6. Showcase Brand Values: Highlight sustainability efforts and share authentic brand stories to connect with eco-conscious consumers.
7. Work with Experts: Collaborate with Shopify marketing specialists to enhance your strategy and maximize growth.

Quick Overview

Start implementing these strategies today to improve sales, build customer loyalty, and stand out in a competitive CPG market.

3 Successful Shopify Marketing Strategies

1. Set Up Your Shopify Store for CPG Sales

Getting your Shopify store ready for selling consumer packaged goods (CPG) is the first step toward reaching your customers and running effective marketing campaigns.

a. Build Clear Product Navigation

A well-organized store makes it easier for customers to find what they need. According to the Baymard Institute, "When it comes to Category Taxonomy, the average [ecommerce] site runs into significant issues, with a massive 88% performing ‘mediocrely,’ ‘poorly,’ or worse."

• Smart Category Structure: Group products logically into a few clear categories. For example, organize by dietary preferences (like gluten-free or vegan) or product type (chips, nuts, dried fruits).
• Enhanced Search Experience: Use clear labels, breadcrumb trails, and attribute filters to help customers locate items quickly. Include SEO-friendly titles that match common search terms.

b. Choose the Right Shopify Apps

The right apps can improve your store’s functionality and help you sell CPG products more effectively. Here are a few options to consider:

For example, MagMod saw 200% year-over-year growth by using strategic product bundling .

c. Make Your Store Mobile-Ready

With 68.1% of website visits now coming from mobile devices , having a mobile-friendly store isn’t optional – it’s a must.

• Speed Optimization: Compress images and use lazy loading to improve load times. Research shows 53% of mobile users leave sites that take over 3 seconds to load .
• Mobile-First Design:
  • Use buttons and links that are easy to tap with a thumb.
  • Simplify forms to make them quicker to complete.
  • Add a sticky navigation menu for easy browsing.
  • Avoid intrusive pop-ups that disrupt the browsing experience.
• Checkout Optimization: Simplify the checkout process by reducing form fields and offering digital wallet options. Poor navigation makes users five times more likely to abandon a site .

Once your store is set up, you can begin using customer data to boost sales.

2. Use Customer Data to Improve Sales

a. Track Customer Buying Patterns

Understanding customer behavior is key to boosting CPG sales. Research shows that about 25% of new customers only buy one item during their first transaction . By analyzing patterns like this, you can uncover ways to increase basket size and customer lifetime value.

Here are some metrics worth keeping an eye on in your Shopify dashboard:

• Purchase frequency
• Average order value
• Product combinations
• Reorder rates
• Time between purchases

For instance, customer data often highlights a 25% rise in purchases during the last quarter of the year . Use this insight to fine-tune your email campaigns and promotions.

b. Send Targeted Email Campaigns

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for CPG brands. Abandoned cart emails, in particular, deliver excellent results:

"Retention ultimately comes down to customer trust – trust that you’re going to deliver a high-quality product and trust that you care about treating your customers right" .

To get the most out of your email campaigns:

• Set up automated reminders for product replenishment based on typical usage cycles.
• Personalize welcome emails to highlight your best-selling items.
• Add dynamic reorder buttons to post-purchase emails.
• Segment your audience by their purchase history and browsing habits.

c. Show Related Products

Offering smart product suggestions can help increase the average order value. Shopify offers several apps to automate this process:

• Wiser Product Recommendations: With a 4.9/5 rating from 708 reviews, this app uses AI to suggest items like "Frequently Bought Together" and "You Might Also Like." Plans start at $9/month for stores with 51-100 monthly orders.
• Perzonalization AI-Suggestions: Free for up to 1,000 views per month, this tool uses purchase history and product attributes to create tailored recommendations. Paid plans start at $9.99/month.

Customer support data shows that 30% of shoppers abandon their carts due to complicated checkout processes . Simplify the experience by showing relevant product recommendations during checkout and streamlining the overall purchase journey.

3. Grow Direct Sales Channels

a. Build Your Direct Sales Store

Digital CPG sales have surged, doubling from 5% in 2019 to 10% in 2022 . This growth makes it a great time to create a direct-to-consumer store using platforms like Shopify.

To make your store effective, focus on these key areas:

• Consistent Brand Presentation: Keep product details, images, and messaging consistent to build trust with your audience.
• Customer Engagement Features: Add personalized product suggestions, educational content, customer reviews, and email marketing tools.

For example, brands with interactive product pages have seen increased sales .

Once your store is up and running, balancing retail and online channels becomes a critical task.

b. Manage Retail and Direct Sales

Studies show that 73% of shoppers prefer using multiple channels . Combining digital sales with retail can help you tap into both online growth and in-store strengths.

Here’s how to coordinate your efforts for better results:

• Inventory Management: Use automated tools to track stock in real time, predict demand, and prevent overstock or stockouts.
• Aligned Branding and Pricing: Ensure product details and pricing are consistent while adapting to each channel’s specific market needs.

Adding another sales channel can increase revenue by an average of 38% . However, success requires careful management of inventory, pricing, and customer experience. Shopify’s analytics and inventory tools can help you monitor performance and adjust your strategy as needed.

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4. Use Social Media to Drive Sales

Almost half of consumers (49%) buy products recommended on social platforms, and this figure jumps to 87% for Gen Z shoppers .

a. Connect Social Shopping Tools

Make shopping on social platforms as easy as possible:

• Set Up Shop Features
  Use tools like Facebook and Instagram Shopping through your Shopify dashboard. Ensure your Facebook page is public and has admin access, and make sure your Shopify store isn’t password-protected .
• Optimize Product Visibility
  Tag products in Instagram posts and stories. Use clear, high-quality images that highlight your product’s key features .

"The easier it is for potential customers to access your product page, the higher the chances of them making a purchase." – Steve, Expert at First Pier

To boost results, combine these tools with influencer collaborations to reach even more potential buyers.

b. Work with Product Influencers

Social shopping tools work even better when paired with influencer marketing. For every $1 spent on influencer marketing, brands see an average return of $6.50 .

For example, Healthish grew its brand by gifting products to fitness and fashion influencers, who then shared genuine endorsements with their audiences .

"Select influencers who naturally align with your brand, ensuring your product integrates seamlessly into their content." – Ryan Prior, head of marketing at Modash

Another success story comes from Nominal, a jewelry brand. They sent free pieces to influencers, who shared posts if they liked the products. Nominal then repurposed this content for their own campaigns .

"By using influencer content, we are now able to refresh our ad units on a regular basis. On top of that, using influencer content has improved our conversion rate by 19%." – Neil Waller, Shore Projects co-founder

5. Start Subscription and Loyalty Programs

Subscription and loyalty programs are a great way to encourage repeat business. Research shows that 85% of consumers are more likely to stick with brands that offer loyalty programs . These initiatives help build long-term customer relationships while boosting recurring revenue.

a. Set Up Product Subscriptions

Tools like Recharge Subscriptions (4.6/5 rating from 1,950 Shopify reviews) make it easy to offer subscription services. Here’s what Recharge can do:

• Let customers choose flexible delivery intervals
• Apply discounts (percentage-based or fixed amounts)
• Allow customers to manage their own subscriptions
• Automate billing and send notifications

A great example of this in action is CrunchLabs, which partnered with the Mark Rober YouTube Channel. Using Recharge, they launched a subscription program that quickly gained thousands of members, turning it into one of the largest virtual summer camps in the U.S. .

"Recharge helped us to quickly create a virtual summer camp with weekly videos and subscription shipments. In only a few weeks we created a program that reached thousands of additional subscribers and became one of America’s largest summer camps in our first year."
– Jim Lee, President & COO, CrunchLabs and the Mark Rober YouTube Channel

Subscriptions not only provide steady revenue but also offer opportunities to deepen customer loyalty with rewards.

b. Create Customer Rewards

Did you know 8% of customers account for 41% of revenue? Loyalty programs are a proven way to grow this high-value customer segment. Here are some examples of how brands are succeeding:

Blume‘s Multi-Channel Engagement
Blume, a bodycare brand, launched Blumetopia, a program where customers earn "Blume Bucks" by following the brand on Instagram or making purchases. These points can be redeemed for merchandise and exclusive gifts .

LIVELY‘s Tiered Rewards
LIVELY automatically enrolls customers in its loyalty program when they sign up. Members earn points through actions like:

• 10 points for following on TikTok
• 30 points for shopping in-store
• 100 points, which equals $10 in rewards

100% Pure’s Interactive System
This skincare company uses a three-tier rewards program that encourages engagement:

• Account signup: 50 points
• Writing product reviews: 10 points
• Social media actions: 20 points each for Facebook and Instagram

To make loyalty programs effective, focus on simplicity. Offer instant rewards for signing up and provide multiple ways for customers to earn points. In fact, 80% of U.S. consumers say loyalty programs improve their relationship with brands .

6. Show Your Brand Values

When it comes to boosting your Shopify store and connecting with customers, aligning your brand with eco-conscious values can make a big difference. In fact, 55% of US adults consider climate change a top business issue , and 40% of consumers are more inclined to buy from brands that prioritize sustainability – even willing to pay nearly 10% more for eco-friendly products .

a. Display Green Practices

Being transparent about your eco-friendly efforts can drive sales and build trust. Here’s how some leading brands are doing it on Shopify:

True Botanicals revamped their packaging in 2022, switching to 100% recyclable materials and FSC-certified paper . They prominently feature these certifications on their product pages, making it easy for customers to see their commitment to sustainability.

Rothy’s stands out with their environmental initiatives:

• Transformed 34 million water bottles into stylish footwear
• Achieved near-zero production waste through advanced knitting techniques
• Designed biodegradable shoeboxes made from 85% post-consumer materials

"Rather than shipping a box within a box, our shoeboxes are the vehicle for both shipping and returns." – Lauren Taflinger, Director of Production, Rothy’s

Want to showcase your green practices? Here are some ideas:

• Use Shopify Planet: Offer carbon-neutral shipping for as little as $0.00 to $0.15 per order .
• Display Certifications: Highlight eco-friendly badges on your product pages.
• Highlight Materials: Clearly list sustainable ingredients and packaging details.
• Use Widgets: Include tools that show your environmental impact.

Combine these efforts with relatable stories to strengthen customer trust.

b. Share Brand Stories

Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with your audience and showcase your values. Take inspiration from these brands:

Seed, a probiotic supplement company, uses their blog to educate customers on eco-conscious living and explain their glass container refill program .

Oceanfoam takes storytelling to the next level by sharing their ocean algae harvesting process and providing engaging facility tour content .

"I wanted Oceanfoam to be a sustainable brand, I wanted it to be tied to the ocean and our planet and make the world better." – Zachary Quinn, CEO and founder of Oceanfoam

TAMGA Designs highlights how transparency can be profitable:

"It’s really important for small businesses to know this isn’t something that is going to take away from their profitability. In the long run, we honestly believe it’s a net-positive impact on our bottom line, because customers do see it and they do value it." – Eric Dales, Co-founder, TAMGA Designs

Here’s how you can build trust through storytelling:

• Share behind-the-scenes content that documents your sustainability efforts.
• Use videos to showcase your processes and share impact reports.
• Maintain a blog with educational content related to your eco-friendly initiatives.

You can also use apps like Arbor to calculate and display your products’ carbon footprint or One Tree Planted at Checkout to let customers contribute to environmental causes . These tools make your sustainability efforts more visible and meaningful to your customers.

7. Work with Marketing Experts

Data reveals that businesses partnering with Shopify experts see an average annual revenue boost of 126% . This highlights the impact of working with professionals who know the platform inside and out.

a. Poast Ecommerce Services

Poast Ecommerce helps Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands grow on Shopify through:

• Paid advertising campaigns
• Email marketing improvements
• SEO strategy planning
• Shopify store management
• Conversion rate optimization

Led by Jeremy Scott, their team specializes in creating tailored digital strategies. Whether you’re a startup needing basic marketing help or an established brand requiring full-service solutions, they adapt their approach to fit your needs.

While Poast Ecommerce is one option, finding the right partner for your business is key to long-term success.

b. Choosing the Right Marketing Partner

Expert advice can give your business a competitive edge, much like optimizing your store and customer data boosts sales.

Here’s a breakdown of typical marketing costs:

• Freelance specialists: $15–$95 per hour
• Agency services: $3,000–$5,000 per month

When evaluating potential partners, focus on these factors:

"Shopify relies on its partners to ensure merchants have a great experience and use the platform’s full potential." – Rhys Furner, Australian Partnerships Lead

Ask potential partners questions like:

• What results have you delivered for similar CPG brands?
• How do you manage customer service and fulfillment?
• What marketing strategies work best for my product niche?
• Can you share references from current clients?

Look for agencies that not only understand Shopify but also have experience navigating the challenges of CPG marketing. Check their portfolios for creative designs and smooth functionality .

For the best outcomes, ensure your chosen expert or agency can handle:

• Store design and development
• Marketing campaign execution
• Inventory and operations management
• Customer service improvements
• Data analysis and reporting

With these capabilities, your CPG brand will be well-positioned to thrive on Shopify.

Conclusion: Next Steps for CPG Brands

The digital landscape for CPG brands is changing fast, and Shopify offers plenty of opportunities to adapt and grow. Here’s how you can stay ahead:

• Track key metrics like CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), ROAS (Return on Ad Spend), and CLTV (Customer Lifetime Value) . Tools such as Repeat have shown real results – Dr. Squatch, for example, boosted its 90-day repeat orders by 10% with personalized timing .
• Improve the customer experience by providing a smooth, consistent journey across all channels . Tools like 1-Click Pony have proven effective, increasing Average Order Value by 23% and driving a 151% boost in email conversion rates .

Tool Impact Overview

These tools can play a big role in sharpening your digital strategy.

Looking ahead, investing in personalization and AI is key to long-term growth. For example, Procter & Gamble has used customer data and AI to deliver highly targeted promotions and content . Additionally, consider subscription models and eco-friendly initiatives to align with rising consumer preferences for convenience and ethical products .

Related Blog Posts

• How to Launch a Successful CPG Brand on Shopify
• Solving Common CPG Brand Marketing Challenges
• Shopify Store Optimization Tips for Growth
• 7 Proven CPG Marketing Strategies for Shopify Success