Cart abandonment is the retail equivalent of someone walking into your store, picking up an item, then vanishing mid-checkout. Frustrating, right? Good news: Klaviyo gives you a smart, simple way to bring them back. No gimmicks, no pressure; just a well-timed reminder and a little nudge in the right direction. This guide breaks down exactly how to do that.
Why Cart Abandonment Happens
People get distracted. Their toddler spills juice, their phone dies, they second-guess the price. The good news? They were interested enough to get that far, which makes them far easier to convert than someone brand new.
And that’s where Klaviyo comes in.
Why It’s Worth Fixing
- Up to 70% of carts are abandoned. That’s a lot of potential revenue just sitting there.
- Email automations recover 10–15% of those. With a few emails you set up once.
- It costs nothing extra to send. These are people who already know you. You just need to reconnect.
This isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a low-effort, high-return part of running a Shopify store well.
Key Tip: The best abandoned cart emails aren’t about pushing discounts. They’re about reminding people why they wanted the product in the first place.
The 3-Part Abandoned Cart Flow (That Actually Works)
Klaviyo gives you full control over your abandoned cart automation. Here’s the most effective setup:
1. Email #1 – The Gentle Nudge (Sent ~1 hour after abandonment)
- Subject: “Still thinking it over?”
- Purpose: Casual reminder. No pressure.
- What to include:
- Product image(s) from their cart
- Short, clear message (friendly, human tone)
- Button back to cart
Pro tip: Don’t lead with a discount. Save that for later if they don’t bite.
2. Email #2 – The Reassurance (Sent 24 hours later)
- Subject: “Here if you have questions”
- Purpose: Build trust. Address objections.
- What to include:
- Social proof (reviews, testimonials)
- Shipping info or return policy
- Brand message or product benefit
Tone tip: Sound helpful, not salesy.
3. Email #3 – The Sweetener (Optional, sent 48–72 hours later)
- Subject: “A little something to help you decide…”
- Purpose: Close the sale
- What to include:
- A limited-time offer (small discount, free shipping)
- Clear expiry or reason to act now
Only send this if the first two don’t convert. You’re trying to recover value, not train every customer to wait for a discount.
What Makes These Emails Work
Here’s what separates great abandoned cart flows from ones that get ignored:
Timeliness: Send the first email within an hour while it’s still fresh.
Personalisation: Use their first name. Show them the exact products left behind.
Clarity: Make it dead simple to finish the purchase. One CTA, clean layout.
Trust builders: Anything that makes the decision easier: reviews, guarantees, support info.
Mobile friendly: Most people open on their phones. Keep it skimmable.
How to Set This Up in Klaviyo
You don’t need to start from scratch. Klaviyo has a pre-built abandoned cart flow for Shopify. Here’s how to get going:
- Go to Klaviyo Flows
- Click “Create Flow”
- Use the “Abandoned Cart Reminder” template
- Tweak each email:
- Update copy to sound like you
- Add your product images and branding
- Set send times (we recommend 1hr, 24hr, and optional 72hr)
- Turn it on and let it run.
What to Avoid
Email overload: Three emails max. Don’t annoy people.
Aggressive discounting: You’re training people to abandon again next time.
Bland, robotic copy: These emails should sound like your brand: human and helpful.
What to Do Now – Checklist
- Log into Klaviyo and find the Abandoned Cart Flow
- Customise each email (copy, tone, branding)
- Add product images and a clean checkout CTA
- Set timing for each email (1hr, 24hr, 72hr)
- Review on mobile before launching
- Turn it on and monitor results weekly
- Adjust subject lines, incentives, or order based on performance
Want Help? We’ve Got You
If you’d rather not fiddle around in Klaviyo, or if you want emails that sound sharp, look great, and actually convert, we can help. At Skyrocket, we set up Shopify automations that are smart, not spammy. No fluff, no over-complication. Just clean, well-built flows that do their job. Get in touch.
