The Amazon-Style 'Frequently Bought Together' Guide

Amazon’s “Frequently Bought Together” (FBT) widget is responsible for an estimated 35% of their total revenue. It’s a masterclass in social proof and convenience.

Now, you can bring this same power to your Shopify store using Product Bundles by Appfox. Here is the complete setup and configuration guide.

🏗️ Step 1: Choosing Your FBT Strategy

Appfox allows you to choose between two ways of populating your widget:

1. Manual Selection: You hand-pick specifically which accessories or products appear on a given product page.
   • Best for: New stores or high-end brands where curation is key.
2. Order-History Based (Automated): Let the Appfox AI analyze your past orders to show what customers actually buy together.
   • Best for: Scaling stores with a large SKU count.

⚙️ Step 2: Configuring the “Add-to-Cart” Deal

The “Frequently Bought Together” widget isn’t just a suggestion - it’s a bundle offer. In the configuration panel:

• Total Bundle Discount: Incentivize the “Add All 3 to Cart” action with a small discount (e.g., “Buy all 3 and save 10%”).
• Checkbox Logic: Enable checkboxes next to each item so customers can opt-out of one item while still buying the others.
• Total Price Calculator: The widget should dynamically update the “Total Price” in real-time as items are checked or unchecked.

🎨 Step 3: UI & Placement Configuration

For FBT, placement is everything. In the Appfox Appearance settings:

• Compact “Plus” Layout: Use the iconic Product A + Product B + Product C horizontal layout. It’s familiar to shoppers and fits perfectly under the main “Add to Cart” button.
• Theme Integration: Use the Shopify Online Store 2.0 Theme Editor. Locate the “App Blocks” and drag the Appfox: Frequently Bought Together block directly under your product info.
• Mobile Scrolling: On mobile, Appfox can automatically switch the widget to a swipeable carousel to save vertical space.

🔍 Step 4: Advanced Performance Tweaks

• Exclusion Rules: Ensure that out-of-stock items or “hidden” products never appear in the widget.
• Redirect Logic: Control where the customer goes after clicking “Add All to Cart”. You can send them straight to the Checkout for a “Buy Now” experience or keep them on the page with a success notification.
• Variant Swatches: If someone is buying a t-shirt bundle, let them choose their size directly inside the FBT widget without leaving the page.

📈 Conversion Best Practices

1. The “Utility” Play: Suggest items that are functional requirements (e.g., Batteries for a Flashlight). These have the highest conversion rate.
2. Inexpensive Add-ons: The items in the FBT widget should ideally be lower-priced than the main product. It makes the decision to “Add All” feel much easier.
3. A/B Test your Discounts: Test whether “Buy 3 and get Free Shipping” works better than “Buy 3 and save 10%”.

Unlock the power of cross-selling. Set up FBT with Appfox today.