Why Most Brisbane Online Shops Are Leaving Money on the Table
If you run an online store here in Brisbane, you know the biggest headache isn't just getting a visitor to your site—it's making sure they spend enough money to make the shipping and advertising costs worth your while.
I see it all the time with local businesses: a customer buys one $20 item, you pay for the packaging, you spend time packing it, and by the time you've paid for the Facebook ad that brought them there, you've actually lost money.
That’s where product bundling comes in.
Bundling isn't just a fancy marketing term. It’s simply grouping items together so people buy more in one go. It’s the difference between a customer spending $30 and spending $85. In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to do this without sounding like a pushy salesman or destroying your profit margins.
The Goal: Increase Your Average Sale
Before we dive into the 'how', let’s talk about the 'why'. Most business owners think bundling is just about giving discounts. It’s not. It’s about solving a problem for your customer so they don't have to think.
When someone buys a BBQ from a shop at Indooroopilly, they don't just want the BBQ. They want the cover, the scraper, and the gas bottle. If you make them hunt for those things individually, they’ll probably forget or buy them elsewhere. If you put them in a "Ultimate Weekend Griller Pack," you’ve done them a favour, and you've tripled your sale value.
1. The "Starter Kit" Bundle
This is the easiest place to begin. Think about your best-selling product. What does a customer need to actually use it?
If you sell skin care, don't just sell a moisturiser. Sell the "Morning Routine Set" with a cleanser, a toner, and the moisturiser.
Why this works: It removes the guesswork. People are busy. They don't want to research which products go together; they want you, the expert, to tell them.
The Payoff: You’ll see your average order value jump immediately. Instead of one-off sales, you're building a relationship where the customer uses your whole range. If you want to take this a step further, you can even look at ways to make more sales on autopilot by setting up systems that offer these kits the moment someone looks at a single item.
2. The "Buy More, Save More" Bundle
This is perfect for items people use up and need to replace—think coffee beans, socks, soap, or cleaning supplies.
Instead of selling one bag of coffee for $20, sell a 3-pack for $50. You lose a few dollars in margin on the items, but you save a fortune on shipping and handling because you're only sending one box instead of three over three months.
I’ve seen a local pet food business in North Lakes double their monthly revenue just by offering a "Bulk Buy" option on their treats. It turns out, people would rather buy six months' worth of dog treats at once if it means they don't have to keep remembering to reorder.
3. The "Gift Box" Bundle
If you aren't doing this, you are missing out on Father's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas.
Take your individual items, put them in a nice box with some wood wool or tissue paper, and give it a name like "The New Mum Pamper Pack" or "The Tradie's Weekend Kit."
The Secret Sauce: You can often charge more for a gift bundle than the items cost individually because you are providing the service of gift-wrapping and curation. People will pay for convenience.
How to Price Your Bundles (Without Going Broke)
This is where most people get it wrong. They discount too heavily and end up working for free.
The 10-15% Rule: Generally, a bundle should offer about a 10% to 15% saving compared to buying the items separately. This is enough to tempt the customer but not so much that it kills your profit. Focus on the Value, Not the Price: Use words like "Everything you need to get started" rather than just "10% off." Watch Your Shipping: Make sure your bundle doesn't push the weight into a much more expensive shipping bracket. A $50 bundle that costs $20 to ship is a disaster.
Stop Overcomplicating Your Product Photos
One mistake I see Brisbane businesses make is spending thousands on fancy studio photography for every single bundle. You don't need it. In fact, overly polished shots can sometimes look like stock photos that people ignore.
I’ve found that authentic, clear photos often perform better because they look like the real product the customer will receive. If you're spending all your profit on photographers, you might find that studio shoots are killing your results by making your brand feel unreachable or fake. Take clear photos in natural light—that’s usually enough to get the job done.
Step-by-Step: How to Launch Your First Bundle
Don't try to bundle your whole shop at once. Start small.
1. Identify your 'Hero' product: What is the one thing people buy most? 2. Find the 'Add-ons': What are two smaller, high-margin items that go with it? 3. Create the Bundle: On your website (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.), create a new product that is the bundle itself. 4. Name it for a Result: Don't call it "Product A + Product B." Call it "The Ultimate Garden Revive Kit." 5. Place it Front and Centre: Put a link to the bundle on the individual product pages. When someone looks at the $40 shovel, show them the $90 "Pro Gardener Set."
What to Avoid: The "Junk Drawer" Bundle
Don't try to use bundling to get rid of stock nobody wants by pairing it with something popular. Customers aren't stupid. If you try to force a dud product onto them just to clear your warehouse, they’ll see right through it.
Only bundle things that actually make sense together. If you have dead stock, it's better to run a clear-out sale than to ruin the reputation of your best-sellers by tethering them to junk.
The "Thank You" Page Trick
Once someone has bought from you, they are in a "buying mood." This is the best time to offer a bundle for their next purchase.
If they just bought a single bottle of wine, your thank you page should say: "Loved that? Get the 6-bottle Taster Case for 15% off on your next order." Most businesses treat the confirmation page as a dead end, but your thank you page might be costing you sales if you aren't using it to suggest the next logical step for the customer.
Real Talk: Costs and Timelines
Costs: If you do this yourself, it costs $0. Most website platforms have free or cheap apps to help you group products. If you hire someone like us to strategise and set it up properly, you're looking at a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars depending on the size of your range.
Timelines: You can have your first bundle live this afternoon. You'll usually see if it's working within 14 to 30 days based on your sales data. If nobody is clicking, the bundle is either too expensive or the products don't match.
Summary for the Busy Owner
Bundle for convenience: Help the customer by grouping everything they need. Protect your margins: Keep discounts small (10-15%) or focus on the value of the 'kit'. Start with your best-seller: Don't waste time bundling products that don't sell.
- Keep it simple: Use clear names and honest photos.
Need a hand getting your online store to actually make money? At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses stop guessing and start growing. Contact us today and let’s look at your numbers.