Bundle products, boost sales: create custom offers with SumUp POS
Looking for a tried-and-tested method to increase sales? Whether you’re running a café, retail location, or another type of business, bundles are one of the most effective ways to boost revenue. Here's a guide to how bundles can work for your business, and how you can implement them using your SumUp POS.
More sales, less stress — bundle offers like the pros
Product bundles are a simple but effective tactic. In the most basic terms, a bundle deal gives customers a discount when they buy two or more specific products together. That could be two particular items, or it could be any two from a selection or range.
Product bundles are easy to dream up, but can be hard to implement if you don't have the right tools. Luckily, SumUp POS puts them within your reach. You can set up product groups and bundle promotions in just a few clicks, so there's no need for you to dig out your calculator at the till or struggle to remember exactly which products are included in the offer.
What is product bundling and why does it work?
As a consumer, you're probably already familiar with bundles. We all are, because they're such a common sight in supermarkets — think of the standard lunchtime meal deal. The popularity of the meal deal actually offers a lesson in how bundle offers for retail are so successful. These reasons include:
They're easy to understand. Bundle offers are usually very simple: buy any three products for £5, for example. Customers can grasp the concept in seconds.
Customers enjoy the perceived value and the chance to save money. A good bundle can make a customer spend more than they intended. Perhaps they just wanted a sandwich, but the value of the meal deal encourages them to add a drink and a packet of crisps.
They simplify decision-making. Customers don't have to waste time considering which products to buy – they reach for whatever is in the bundle.
These customer benefits are also good for you. Bundle deals mean bigger baskets, faster-moving stock, and quicker decisions from customers. They also give you greater control: by using bundle offers effectively, you can nudge customers in a particular direction, one that suits your business needs.
Why bundles are great for small businesses
You may associate bundle deals with large operations like supermarkets and chain stores. However, any retail business can benefit from bundling. If you can make bundles work for you, they may well become one of the most valuable pricing strategies for your business.
Think about these advantages of product bundling for small businesses when you plan deals:
They add value without heavy discounting. A bundle doesn't need to offer enormous savings to be effective, as you'll see once you find the psychological sweet spot involved with bundle deals.
They let you shift slow-moving inventory. Small business owners often wonder how to promote products in-store. Well, by bundling a less popular product with one of your bestsellers, you can improve stock management.
They're a great way of introducing new products. When you decide to stock a brand new item in your shop, immediately add it to a bundle for a limited period of time, to encourage customers to start buying it.
They're a simple way to create seasonal offers. Making special bundle deals for Christmas, Valentine's Day, the summer holidays, or the back-to-school period can help you win customer loyalty.
They're easy to market. Promoting bundles on social media couldn't be easier. Everyone understands the principle of bundle deals, so they're a great way to advertise and attract fresh customers to your business.
How to create bundle-style offers with SumUp POS
Now you know why bundles make sense — so how do you set them up? Good news: with SumUp POS, you can create bundle offers from your SumUp dashboard, activating them with a few simple clicks. Your SumUp POS gives you complete control over how you group, price and promote items, all from one dashboard.
To create custom offers with a POS, you'll first need to set up grouped products. Make a group consisting of the products in your offer. That might be just two, or it could be several, so customers can mix and match. Next, you'll create the offer. Decide what sort of offer you want: a set price like three items for £15, or a sliding discount like 30% off. Either way, your POS allows you to create bundle-style offers using grouped products and discounts.
You can also set the timing for your offer. Is your bundle deal going to run for a limited time only, like a couple of weeks before Christmas, or do you want it to run indefinitely? Easily apply custom pricing or seasonal promotions through the POS.
The great thing about setting up POS promotions is that your team members don't need to overthink things. When they're taking payments through the POS system, discounts and deals will automatically be applied.
Real-world bundle examples by business type
Can't think of how bundles could work for you? It's time to do some creative thinking. Just about every small business can benefit from bundle deals. Here are some ideas:
Retail: offer discounts on similar items that customers often buy in bulk. In a clothing shop, that might be socks, underwear or T-shirts. Consider products that often go together, like cleanser and moisturiser. If you're running a gift shop, you could put together special gift boxes before holidays like Christmas or Mother's Day.
Café: if it works for the supermarkets, it could work for you. Create your own meal deal at lunchtime, or try a simple bundle offer of a cup of coffee and a pastry or biscuit in the morning.
Beauty salon: bundle deals are a superb way to encourage customers to spend more on their beauty treatments. A bundled deal of manicure and pedicure is a classic, and extremely effective, example.
Market stall: in a small business where space is limited, take advantage of bundle deals to encourage customers to buy slow-moving stock.
Remember, your bundle will be even more effective if you promote it properly. Make sure you highlight it in your business marketing. That means posts on social media, emails to your mailing list, eye-catching posters in your shop window and clear signs inside the shop. The more customers know about your deal, the more revenue it'll bring in.
Track what’s working with POS insights
Are you already using the analytics from your POS system? If so, you've got a great starting point for effective bundling. If not, it's time to start. Your dashboard contains valuable data about your business. Used wisely, this data can become one of the most important tools in your arsenal.
First of all, check your data to see what your bestselling products are, and which items may need some help to move. Do any of these products work together naturally? If so, they could be a natural choice for a bundle. If you're unsure where to start with bundles, your data will show you which combinations of items customers tend to buy together.
Over time, regular monitoring of your data will show you how effective your bundles are. Check your sales reports to see how many customers are taking advantage of your offers. Successful combos can be repeated again and again, while unsuccessful bundles may need some tweaking.
Be sure to keep analysing your data regularly. This is not a one-off process: you ought to get into the habit of checking your sales reports every week. You may find that some bundles are more successful at particular times of year. Your wonderful winter warmer deal of hot chocolate and a gingerbread biscuit may work brilliantly in December, but you could swap it for an iced coffee and a muffin in summer. Keep track of which deals work for you, as you may want to reuse them the following year. That's also a great way to generate marketing buzz, as you hype up the return of a popular bundle.
Remember, while the basic SumUp POS is a great place to start for many small businesses, you'll find even more insights if you use POS Pro. This more sophisticated system also allows you to integrate greater stock management tools, so you'll stay on top of your bestselling items. As your business grows, it may be time to consider an upgrade.
