Every customer who visits your store or orders online generates revenue, but their spending can differ greatly from one transaction to the next. That’s why one of the most powerful levers for growing your business isn’t just getting more customers, it’s getting each customer to spend more.
The good news? Increasing your average order value doesn’t require aggressive upselling or gimmicks. With a little help from your loyalty program and the right mix of personalization, you can gently guide customers to add just one more item to their cart.
Here are five ways your loyalty program can help grow average spend.
1. Bundle Products and Create Value-Packed Combos
One of the most effective ways to increase average spend is by offering product bundles. Bundling gives customers more perceived value while subtly encouraging them to spend more than they originally planned.
Try bundle strategies like:
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Product pairing bundles at the grocery store: Combine items that naturally go together to increase cart size (eg. “Buy 2 boxes of cereal and get a 2L carton of milk for free” or "Buy ribs and hot sauce and get 200 bonus points”).
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Upgrade to two sides and a drink: DataCandy client, Edo Japan has mastered the combo upsell with their famous Bento bundle, encouraging customers to get more value while Edo Japan sees $4.95 more per order.
When done right, bundles should feel like a deal for the customer and drive meaningful revenue for your business.
Read the full case study to learn how Edo Japan leveraged DataCandy’s tools to simplify their gift card process.
2. Offer Tiered Rewards
Tiered rewards or membership levels spark customers’ desire to reach the next milestone, whether it’s to avoid missing out or to enjoy VIP treatment.
Sweeten the deal with perks like exclusive discounts, early access, or birthday rewards, and you’ll encourage bigger carts and stronger loyalty.
Try tiered incentives like:
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Point multiplier over a minimum purchase: Encourage customers to slightly increase their order to unlock better rewards. (eg. PC Optimum regularly offers 20x the points for purchases over $75)
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Tiered memberships with escalating perks: Offer increasingly attractive benefits as customers hit higher spend levels. For example, Crumbl’s Crumbs Rewards program has Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Pink tiers. Higher tiers unlock more points per dollar, special bonus offers, early product access, birthday treats, and even voting rights on local store flavors. By tying rewards to status, Crumbl keeps fans engaged (and spending).
With DataCandy’s loyalty program dashboard, you can even see what your average customer spends (let’s say, $22) and set tiered rewards that nudge them toward a slightly higher purchase (like $25). It’s a simple way to increase average order value without making customers feel like they’re overspending.
3. Use Personalized Upselling and Cross-Selling
Personalized promotions feel more relevant and valuable.
When you know what your customers love, you can tailor your offers to match—like suggesting a bestselling serum to skincare lovers or offering a bundle discount on their go-to snacks. The key? Start by collecting customer data and shopping habits through your loyalty program.
Personalized offers to try:
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Personalize based on purchase history: Use loyalty data to suggest relevant offers customers are more likely to say yes to (editor’s note: my go-to grocery store always gives me an offer for my favourite chocolate chip cookies…especially if they notice I haven’t bought them in a while.)
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Purchase reminders: Use your customers’ purchase history to create offers that feel like they’re made just for them. If you notice they haven’t bought a product they typically buy every month, send them a friendly nudge (eg. “Running low on your favourite moisturizer? Restock today and earn 100 bonus points!”).
Pro Tip: With DataCandy, you can create SKU-based loyalty rewards tied to bundles, offering bonus points or discounts for combo purchases that boost your margins.
4. Create Limited-Time Offers and Promotions
Urgency is one of the most powerful motivators in marketing because it taps into the human fear of missing out (FOMO). Limited-time offers create this sense of scarcity, encouraging shoppers to prioritize your brand over competitors and make purchasing decisions they might otherwise postpone.
Try offers like:
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Spend-based bonuses: Encourage customers to meet a minimum spend with a discount. For example, DataCandy client, Copper Branch, ran a promotion giving 25% off all DoorDash orders over $30 until November 5th.
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Time-sensitive point multipliers: Increase average spend during slower periods by adding urgency (eg. Starbuck’s Double Star days attract huge line-ups and help to increase sales during slow periods)
Short-term offers like these work because they create urgency while making the reward feel achievable.
Learn how Copper Branch boosted average order size by $2 with DataCandy’s loyalty and gift card tools.
5. Offer Free Shipping or Gifts With Purchase
Last but certainly not least, a freebie or free shipping offer is the perfect incentive to nudge customers to add just a little more to their cart.
Some promotions to try:
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Free shipping on orders over $50
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Free dessert with orders over $25
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Free trial size moisturizer with purchases over $100
With these promotions, adding a little more to the order feels like a no-brainer (editors note: I’ll never pay for shipping. Even though I know my total order is higher with free shipping offers, I still feel like I’m saving money).
Pro Tip: Want to leverage this to get even more sign-ups? Make it exclusive to loyalty members. For example, “Get free shipping on orders $50+. Loyalty members? You get free shipping every time, no minimum.” It feels like a perk and gets you more signups in the process.
For example, FootLocker’s FLX Rewards offers free shipping and returns with no minimum purchase for its loyalty members.
Final Thoughts
Increasing average spend doesn’t have to mean reinventing your business. It’s about creating the right mix of incentives, experiences, and value so customers naturally want to spend a little more.
By combining smart bundling, thoughtful upsells, time-limited offers, and loyalty-driven rewards, you can nudge your average ticket up without sacrificing satisfaction. When done right, these tactics feel like added value, not a sales push.
Use our Loyalty ROI Calculator to see how implementing a loyalty program can boost your revenue.
