Creative ways to use draft orders for promotions on Shopify
How to use draft orders to offer exclusive discounts and deals on Shopify
When it comes to Shopify, draft orders are a bit like the backstage passes of your favorite concert. They allow you to roll out the VIP treatment, giving your customers that exclusive, front-row experience with personalized deals and discounts.
What are Shopify draft orders?
Draft orders are a powerful feature allowing merchants to create orders on behalf of customers, add items, apply discounts, and customize to the nines before sending an invoice. They’re especially great if you’re in the wholesale or B2B sector.
Why is this important? Because in the realm of B2B, where relationships and tailored experiences reign supreme, the power of a personalized draft order can’t be overstated. As reported by Salesforce, 80% of customers say a company's experience is as important as its products or services. The stats speak even louder for B2B commerce, where 72% of B2B customers expect a deep understanding of their needs, reflected through personalized experiences. Draft orders in Shopify are your golden ticket to crafting those experiences.
Moreover, exclusive discounts and deals are your best bet in an arena where customer retention is the equivalent of holding onto a winning lottery ticket. They enhance customer loyalty and are a potent weapon in a merchant's arsenal to boost sales. A study by Bain & Company indicates that a mere 5% increase in customer retention can increase profits by 25% to 95%—numbers that make any business take note.
Understanding draft orders
Before we dive into the "how-to's" and "what-fors," let's set the foundation by understanding what draft orders actually entail. Draft orders are an underutilized selling tool that can be leveraged for a variety of purposes such as:
Custom B2B orders that require negotiation and personalization
Pre-orders for products before they hit the general market
Special discounts for VIP clients that aren't available publicly
Manual orders taken offline, at events, or over the phone for high-touch sales processes
But the true beauty of draft orders lies in their flexibility—allowing you to create an exclusive buying experience that caters to the bespoke needs of B2B customers, which, as we all know, is the kind of red-carpet treatment that fosters loyalty and repeat business.
Setting Up Exclusive Discounts with Shopify's Native Features
Let's walk through crafting a draft order in Shopify:
Navigate to the Orders section in your Shopify admin.
Click on ‘Create order’ to start a new draft.
Add products or services to the order, just as you would with a regular transaction.
Apply custom discounts—either by percentage or fixed amount—directly on the draft. This is where you make the order feel exclusive.
Add any necessary details or notes that personalize the order or offer further context.
When ready, you can email the invoice to the customer or mark the draft order as paid if you're handling payments outside Shopify.
Shopify’s limitations
Shopify aims to solve most problems that most merchants have, so while their draft order functionality is robust, there are still some limitations that merchants should be aware of (don’t worry - most of these are solved with the use of third-party apps from the Shopify App Store).
These limitations are mainly:
Discount limitations
Customization restrictions
Order editing post-payment
12 Creative Ways to Use Draft Orders for Promotions
Imagine draft orders as your canvas for crafting the most intriguing promotional campaigns. By leveraging draft orders in these inventive ways, Shopify merchants can craft compelling promotions that not only delight B2B clients but also drive meaningful business growth. These strategies highlight the flexibility of draft orders and how they can be tailored to fit any promotional need.
1. Exclusive Launches for VIPs
Premiere Products: Allow your B2B partners the chance to order new products ahead of an official launch. Create draft orders for these early releases and combine them with a promotional discount or a special bundled package. This not only drives sales but also bolsters the relationship by making clients feel privileged. You can also offer:
Early Bird Access: VIPs get the first look at new collections, with draft orders prepped for an easy buying experience.
Special Editions: Offer limited edition products through draft orders, providing VIPs the opportunity to purchase unique items that underscore their special status.
2. Abandoned cart promotions
Customer re-engagement: Re-engage customers who have shown interest in your products but didn’t complete their purchase by converting your abandoned cart into an editable draft order. You can directly reach out to customers, offering them tailored incentives to complete their purchase. You could offer discounts, substitute sold-out items, or alter shipping methods to provide a more appealing offer. Making those adjustments may just be the nudge they need to finalize their order and allow you to resurrect lost sales. Use Cleverific Order Editor to convert abandoned carts into editable orders.
3. Tiered Discounts
Volume Incentives: Encourage larger purchases by offering scaled discounts. For example, set up draft orders with a 10% discount for 100 items, increasing to 15% for 200 items. This tiered approach incentivizes bulk buying, a common practice in the B2B sphere that can significantly impact your bottom line.
4. Bundled Offers
Bespoke Bundles: Combine products or services that complement each other into a single offer at a reduced rate. Create a draft order with the bundle, and add an exclusive service or an extended warranty. Such packages are appealing to B2B customers looking for comprehensive solutions.
5. Custom Loyalty Rewards
Tailored Treats: Develop a loyalty program with a twist by offering custom-crafted deals for your repeat customers. Use draft orders to put together personalized packages based on their purchase history, adding a free service or product as a thank you for their business loyalty.
6. Seasonal Promotions
Timely Temptations: Capitalize on the power of seasons and holidays by setting up draft orders with special deals that tap into the festive spirit or the need for year-end budget spending in the B2B sector. Offer a year-end "clearance" to help them utilize their remaining budgets.
7. Flash Sales
Limited Time Offers: Create a sense of urgency with time-sensitive deals. Send draft orders that have a ticking discount—think 24-hour flash sales or a week-long price drop, perfect for clearing inventory or promoting trial of new services.
8. Subscription Services
Predictable Perks: Offer subscription-based models for your products or services. Use draft orders to set up the initial subscription terms, including any special setup fees, discounts, or trial periods. This could solidify a long-term relationship and predictable revenue stream.
9. Pre-Order Benefits
Anticipation Awards: For products yet to hit the market, use draft orders to let B2B customers pre-order. Sweeten the deal with benefits such as lower prices or extra features, fostering excitement and securing sales ahead of time.
10. Custom Projects
Special Service: When you’re dealing with bespoke projects or services, draft orders allow you to quote custom prices and terms. For instance, if offering a tailored marketing service or a bulk manufacturing project, set the ground for negotiations with a preliminary draft order.
11. Referral Rewards
Network Nurturing: Encourage your existing B2B clients to refer new customers by setting up referral programs using draft orders. Offer discounts or added services for both the referrer and the referred, creating a win-win scenario that expands your network.
12. Tailored wholesale orders
Customized Commerce: Draft orders are a perfect fit for the nuanced needs of wholesale customers. Each B2B client might have specific requirements, from pricing to product bundles. Utilize draft orders to:
Negotiated Pricing: Set up draft orders that reflect negotiated prices for bulk purchases, which can vary from one wholesaler to another.
Custom Bundles: Create bespoke bundles for wholesalers who require specific product combinations that aren't available to regular retail customers.
Flexible Terms: Use draft orders to offer payment terms that accommodate the cash flow patterns of wholesale clients, like net-30 or net-60 payment terms.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
While draft orders are a powerful feature, there are a few cautionary notes to keep in mind:
Overcomplicating Offers: Keep the deals straightforward. Complexity can confuse customers and deter sales.
Ignoring Inventory Management: Ensure that your promotions don't lead to stock issues. Anticipate demand and prepare accordingly.
Neglecting Training: Your team should be well-versed in managing and fulfilling draft orders to avoid customer service hiccups.
Failing to Follow-Up: After sending an invoice, always check back in. A nudge can sometimes be the difference between an abandoned draft and a sale.
By sidestepping these pitfalls, you set the stage for a harmonious relationship with your B2B customers—one where they feel understood and valued.
Crafting an exclusive customer journey
Harnessing the flexibility of draft orders for creative promotions isn't just about boosting sales—it's about crafting a narrative for your brand that speaks to exclusivity and personalized care. Whether it's through VIP exclusive offers that make your top customers feel like royalty or tailored wholesale deals that fit the bespoke needs of each business client, draft orders open up a realm of possibilities that extend far beyond a simple transaction.
Shopify apps like Cleverific Order Editor fine-tune the capabilities of draft orders. With these apps, the customization features at your fingertips are as limitless as your creativity. They empower you to modify, adjust, and perfect each draft order to meet the exact desires of your customers, from personalized discounts to detailed product customizations.
By utilizing these sophisticated tools, you not only enhance the functionality of Shopify's draft orders but also ensure that each customer interaction is as unique as the individuals behind the screen. It's about forging a deeper connection with your clients by showing them that their business isn't just another number in your analytics—it's a valued relationship that you're eager to grow and nurture.
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