A dead-simple way to make your Shopify store stop leaking money
You don’t need more traffic. You need to stop ghosting your customers.
Most brands spend 90% of their energy chasing new customers and forget the ones already sitting in their cart history.
Here’s the truth:
Retention isn’t rocket science.
You can build a system that boosts your LTV, automates follow-up, and brings back buyers — in 48 hours flat.
How do I know?
Because I did it for a client.
The result? 💸 $103,287 in additional revenue in 90 days — from customers they already had.
Let’s unpack it. 👇
📦 A True Story: From Ghost Town to Gold Mine
A few months ago, I got a late-night Slack from a DTC founder I’ll call Alex.
He was stuck.
“Our AOV’s not terrible. CAC’s manageable. But LTV sucks. People buy once... and vanish.”
I peeked behind the curtain.
No post-purchase flow.
No winback emails.
No first-purchase welcome series.
Nada.
The customer journey basically ended at “thank you for your order.” 🫠
So, we rolled up our sleeves and built a simple retention system.
Not a bloated ecosystem.
Not some complex multi-step wizardry.
Just the essentials — shipped fast.
🧰 The Weekend Retention Stack
Here’s what we built — and what you can build too, without needing a team of 5 or a doctorate in flows.
✅ 1. The Warm Welcome Sequence
Tool used: Klaviyo
Goal: Build trust + set expectations = reduce churn
We sent:
📬 Day 0: “You’re in good hands” (friendly confirmation + brand vibe)
🧠 Day 2: “What to expect + how we’re different” (sets the hook)
🤝 Day 5: “Customer love stories” (screenshots, testimonials, proof)
💰 Day 7: “Tips to get the most from your product” (value > pitch)
Why it works:
People are most open to communication right after they buy.
It’s like dating — you don’t disappear after the first dinner.
✅ 2. The Post-Purchase Cross-Sell Flow
Tool used: Klaviyo + ReConvert
Goal: Increase AOV by suggesting the next smart thing
Sent based on product type:
🧴 Bought face serum? Show them the moisturizer.
🍫 Bought the 6-pack? Show them the 24-pack upgrade.
👟 Bought shoes? Show them socks, inserts, and sneaker cleaner.
Timing:
🕐 Day 10: Offer a bundle or complementary product
🕐 Day 17: Reminder with social proof
Why it works:
If they’re happy, they’re already primed to buy again.
Don't wait 90 days to check in — they’ve moved on.
✅ 3. The 60-Day Winback Flow
Tool used: Klaviyo
Goal: Catch the “I meant to buy again” crowd before they ghost forever
Sent to:
Anyone who hadn’t bought in 60 days (based on product lifecycle)
Flow:
😢 “We miss you” email with a cheeky tone
🎁 Offer with urgency (“Just for you — 48 hrs only”)
🧠 Reminder with a value prop twist
Pro tip:
Add a text message if your audience skews Gen Z or millennial.
SMS winbacks convert 2–3x higher than email alone in some verticals.
✅ 4. The First-to-Second Purchase Bridge
Tool used: Loop + Klaviyo
Goal: Turn one-time buyers into loyal repeat customers
How it worked:
🎯 Segmented first-time buyers
🧪 A/B tested “Here’s what’s next” vs. “Did you know we offer X?”
💥 Winner got 2.5x higher click-through rate
Most brands bleed out here — they never close the loop.
You must guide customers to their next logical purchase — and do it soon.
Think like Netflix: Always serve up what’s next.
💥 The Big Lesson
Jason, your brand doesn’t need another cold traffic funnel — it needs a warm hug machine.
Retention is where the margin lives.
A good email flow doesn’t just boost revenue — it:
Makes customers feel seen 🫶
Builds long-term brand love 🧡
Gives you a buffer when CAC spikes 💥
And you don’t need months.
You can build this system in a weekend.
👉 Just:
Map your flows
Write simple, human copy
Set up triggers in Klaviyo
Test, tweak, and let it run
🧠 Repeat After Me:
“Retention is the new acquisition.”
Say it every morning until it sticks.
Then say it again.
⚡ Quick Recap:
To build your $100K retention system:
✅ Start with a solid welcome flow
✅ Set up post-purchase cross-sells
✅ Win back the “almost gone” crew
✅ Bridge the first-to-second purchase gap
All doable this weekend.
All worth it.
💬 Let’s Make This Stick
If you:
Want help mapping these flows 👇
Built your own version and want feedback 👇
Or just need a joke about Shopify checkout rates 👇
Drop a comment and let’s chat.
Or…
⭐ Save this article to refer back to
📬 Share it with an ecommerce buddy
🧠 Star it in your inbox for future rainy-day funnel building
#ShopifyTips
#RetentionMarketing
#EmailFlows
#EcomGrowth
#KlaviyoFlows
#CustomerLTV
#DTCMarketing
#ShopifySuccess
#EcomAscent
#WeekendWin
👋 Until next time,
Adrian Cole
Your calm in the ecommerce chaos
Proverb of the Week:
“The best time to plant a retention system was yesterday. The second best time is this weekend.” 🌱