Summer’s heating up - and your Shopify store should be too! 

With shopper mindsets shifting, seasonal trends kicking in, and lots of fresh marketing opportunities popping up, now’s the perfect time to give your store a little refresh. 

Refine your strategies, launch something new, and get ready to make the most of the summer sales wave. This is a prime time to see more Shopify revenue growth, while engaging and connecting with customers on a different level. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through 12 of the best ways to prepare your store for the new season and stay one step ahead - so while your competitors are busy juggling store tasks with booking their own summer holiday, you’ll be soaking up your Shopify sales. 

Let’s get started…

1 - Set clear goals for the Shopify summer sales period 

Before diving into summer promotions, it’s a good idea to get clear on what success actually looks like for your unique store. Everyone’s goals are a little different - so what’s yours?

Are you looking to grow Shopify revenue, clear out seasonal inventory, enhance your customer base, or drive more traffic to your site? Getting clear on your main goals will help shape the decisions you make - from your marketing strategies, to the products you spotlight, or even how you structure your discounts. 

And who are you trying to reach this summer? Are you aiming to reach loyal repeat customers, new shoppers looking for seasonal deals, or a specific demographic - like holiday-goers/vacationers, music lovers heading to festivals, or parents prepping for back-to-school?

Understanding the answers to these questions lets you connect with your audience and show up where it matters most. 

Setting clear, measurable goals will help keep your campaign on point and give you something solid to look back on once summer wraps up.

2 - Prepare for the highs and lows of summer sales 

Summer sales can be a rollercoaster - some weeks will be buzzing with activity, while others might slow down as people head off on holidays or adjust their spending habits. To stay ahead, it’s key to plan for both the sales peaks and dips. 

Start by forecasting based on past sales and what’s trending now to get a feel for demand. This way, you can stock up on bestsellers, as well as prevent over-ordering on products that might not move as quickly.

Beyond inventory planning, think about how you’ll keep operations and cash flow running smoothly all season long. Try scheduling production and restocks in a way that gives you some breathing room during busy weeks, and set aside a little buffer for those quieter stretches too.

Preparing in advance means fewer last-minute scrambles and a steadier business rhythm overall. With a clear plan in place, you’ll be ready to maximise profits when sales are hot - and stay stable when things slow down. 

3 - Update and refresh your branding & visuals

Give your store a summery refresh - think bright, sunny photos, vibrant colours, and incorporate feel-good vibes that align with the season.

75% of a website’s credibility comes down to design - so it really matters. Whether it’s your site’s banners, Shopify mobile app graphics, or social posts, having cohesive visuals, a good design, and a smooth shopping experience can instantly grab attention and make your brand feel current and relevant.

Refreshing your visuals isn’t just about aesthetics - it helps create an immersive shopping experience that really resonates with shoppers' moods and interests during the summer months. Updating your creative assents shows customers you’re present, paying attention, and ready to meet their ever-changing needs. 

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Atolea Jewellery is a great example of this - they’ve not only refreshed their website branding to match the season, but they’ve also highlighted their USP, "waterproof jewellery you’ll never have to take off”. 

Summer is obviously an important sales period for this brand, and they’re capitalising on it.

4 - Decide what sales, promotions, and discounts you’re going to run

When you're getting your store ready for the Shopify summer sales season, one of the first things you'll want to decide is what kind of sales, promotions, or discounts you're going to run. 

Are you thinking about running one big, singular sale, or will smaller, more frequent promotions throughout the summer work better for your brand?

Consider your audience; are you going to offer the same promotion to everyone, or should you tailor discounts for loyal customers or specific segments of your market?

83% of consumers are interested in customised discounts and promotions. So, offering exclusive deals for loyal customers can help retention, while a broader sale might be the best way to attract some new customers.

You’ll also want to think about which products to spotlight during your sale. Focus on the items you want to promote and take a look at what’s performed well in past seasons. This could be a great opportunity to clear out seasonal stock or introduce new products with a tempting discount.

Don’t forget about the marketing aspect and how you’ll get the word out. What are the best channels to advertise your sale - organic social media, email newsletters, or paid ads?   

By planning these details ahead of time, you can create a smooth and successful promotional strategy for the summer season.

5 - Introduce more summer-themed products & collections

Think about how you can give your existing products a summer twist. 

If you sell accessories, why not expand with more sunglasses, beach bags, or hats & caps? And if you’re a beauty brand, adding SPF-infused moisturisers or lightweight foundations is a great way to cater to sun-conscious shoppers.

Creating a dedicated summer collection is another great way to draw attention to specific offerings. Curate a selection of products under relevant, catchy titles like, “Hot Picks for Summer” or “Holiday Essentials”.

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ORIGINS did just so - putting together a “summer skin essentials” collection, filled with products for all kinds of skin types, SPF needs, and preferences. Everything is in one place, so customers aren’t wasting time searching around the store. 

74% of businesses say user experience (UX) is key to increasing sales, and making it easier for shoppers to browse your site through collections is a simple way to improve that experience - something customers definitely love.

Also be sure to use vibrant imagery and language to bring your collection to life and get everyone excited for the new season.

6 - Add summer countdown timers & urgency widgets 

Creating a sense of urgency is powerful when it comes to driving action - especially during the limited-time Shopify summer sales period.

In fact, some marketers have even seen sales skyrocket by 332% just by adding a little urgency to the mix.

Countdown timers can be a simple yet highly effective tool to build excitement and encourage faster purchasing decisions. Consider adding one to your homepage, product pages, or banner to count down to things like the official start of summer, the kickoff of your summer sale, or the final hours before a big discount ends. 

Urgency widgets like low stock alerts, ‘selling fast’ tags, or pop-ups saying, ‘X people are viewing this’ are brilliant for enhancing that sense of urgency. They give shoppers that extra nudge, making them feel like they need to act fast before it’s gone.

There’s many countdown timer and urgency widget tools to choose from on the Shopify App Store. Just pop a few keywords into the search bar here based on what you need, and you’ll find plenty of options to explore.

This way, you’re tapping into FOMO (fear of missing out), which can signvificantly increase conversions. After all, 60% of shoppers admit that FOMO plays a huge role in their buying decisions - so why not make the most of it? 

Just make sure to use urgency tactics sparingly and keep it authentic, so you don’t overdo it. You want to build trust with your customers while still giving them that gentle push to make a purchase at the right time.

7 - Offer exclusive summer bundles, upsells & cross-sells

Summer’s the perfect time to create some limited-time bundles that tap into seasonal trends and help boost your average order value (AOV). Bundles don't just encourage shoppers to spend more - they also make the deal feel more valuable, so it's easier for them to justify making a purchase. 

Think fun, curated kits like a “Beach Day Essentials” pack or a “Summer Skincare Set” that mix and match complementary products at a slight discount. These bundles make shopping a breeze for customers who want a convenient, all-in-one solution without having to hunt for each item individually. 

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Take LookFantastic’s “Travel Edit” bundle, for example. It’s perfect for holiday shoppers travelling via airplane, packed with all the holiday essentials under 100ml. Plus, it’s not just valuable for shoppers by product, but also price.

You can feature them on your homepage, in a dedicated collection, or promote them through email campaigns and social media to drive attention.

For upsell and cross-sell opportunities, try adding a “You might also like” or “Get the look” feature on your product pages, just like Mango have done above. They’ve suggested seasonal add-ons, such as accessories to go with a pink summer dress.

At checkout, offer last-minute suggestions like a sunhat to go with a swimsuit, or an after-sun gel alongside a suncream. The trick is to keep it smooth and helpful, not pushy - offering real value while giving your sales and AOV a boost.

According to McKinsey research, these strategies can bump sales up by 20% and profits by 30% - which would be a huge win for seeing more Shopify revenue growth this summer.

8 - Update your SEO for seasonal search trends

As summer rolls around, shoppers start hunting for products that fit with the season, so it’s super important that your store shows up in those search results.

Start by reviewing and updating your product titles, descriptions, meta tags, and collection names with relevant summer keywords. 

Think about what your target audience might be Googling: phrases like “best sunglasses for summer”, “lightweight summer shirts for men” or “must-have beach accessories” can help guide your keyword strategy, but of course, tailored to your product range. 

Don’t forget to update your blog posts and homepage copy too. Adding fresh, seasonally-optimised content improves your SEO and also shows customers that your store is active and on top of what they’re looking for right now.

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Jane Iredale’s makeup blog, ‘Summer Makeup Tips: How to Sweatproof Your Makeup to Withstand the Heat & Humidity’, is a great example. It provides value to readers, boosts the brand’s chances of ranking in search results, and even subtly weaves in their product range throughout.

With just a few tweaks, your store can be better positioned to catch more summer search traffic and turn browsers into buyers. 

9 - Create an engaging summer-themed quiz

Quizzes are a creative and interactive way to bring more engagement while helping customers find just the right products for their summer plans, so it’s a win-win.

Build a fun, quick-fire quiz like “Find Your Perfect Summer Style”, “Which Festival Vibe Are You?”, or “Build Your Summer Jewellery Stack” to guide shoppers toward product picks or bundles.

Since 71% of customers expect personalised experiences, this adds that personal touch they love. Plus, it’s a clever way to introduce them to products they might not have discovered on their own.

Quizzes also work brilliantly for email capture and lead generation. Add a pop-up by inviting visitors to take the quiz in exchange for a special discount or early access to your summer sale.

Make sure to promote the quiz on your social channels, highlighting the value to followers, as well as bringing in more traffic to your website. It’s a low-pressure, high-value way to enhance the shopping experience and build stronger customer relationships.

10 - Add a UGC social feed to your Shopify website

User-generated content (UGC) is one of the best ways to build trust, increase engagement, and drive conventions - especially during busy seasons like summer, where shoppers are on the lookout for holiday must-haves, festival outfits, and back-to-school pieces, or just a wardrobe refresh for these warmer months.

UGC is becoming a huge part of the shopping journey - especially with 70% of Gen Z and 78% of Millennials saying it influences what they buy.

Showing real customer photos, videos, and reviews on your site gives shoppers a feel for how your products look and work in real life - something polished brand shots just can’t match. In fact, 60% of consumers see UGC as the most authentic form of marketing content.

UGC also gets your audience more involved, turning happy customers into genuine brand advocates. By integrating a UGC feed directly into your Shopify store, like Instagram posts, tagged posts, or standout reviews, you create a more relatable and community-driven shopping experience, which helps build trust and nudges people toward making a purchase.

Take a cue from brands like ASOS - they ask customers to tag @asos in their outfit posts for a chance to be featured on the site. Their UGC feed is packed with summer-ready looks right now, giving shoppers both inspiration and social proof.

You can do something similar by encouraging your customers to share how they’re using your products in their summer plans or everyday life - then spotlight that content on your website, Shopify mobile app, social media, or any other appropriate channels.

11 - Get a mobile app for your Shopify store 

While a mobile-friendly website is essential, going the extra mile with a dedicated mobile app for your Shopify store can really make you stand out. In fact, data shows that mobile apps have a 157% higher conversion rate than mobile websites.

With more on the move, a mobile app makes it super easy for customers to shop on the go, helping you convert more buyers while they’re out and about.

85% of shoppers actually prefer using apps over mobile websites for online shopping. So, you’d be meeting them where they’re most comfortable.

Beyond just convenience, Shopify mobile apps come with some seriously powerful tools to grow engagement and sales. Push notifications provide you with a direct line to your customers, so you can send them timely updates about new summer product drops, flash sales, or low-stock alerts.

Mobile apps also typically offer a smoother checkout experience with saved payment and shipping info, which reduces friction and increases conversion rates. You can even create app-exclusive offers or early access to summer collections to build loyalty and encourage downloads.

In short, having a mobile app for your Shopify store keeps your brand accessible, engaging, and competitive during the summer sales season and beyond.

To learn more about why your store needs a Shopify mobile app, discover our article or chat with one of our mobile experts at StoreLab.

12 - Run Shopify summer marketing campaigns

Once your store’s all set for summer, it’s time to spread the word. Launch a well-rounded marketing campaign that reaches your audience wherever they are - whether that’s on your website, in their inbox, on social media, or through paid ads.

This kind of omnichannel approach helps keep your message consistent and your brand top of mind. It can also boost customer retention by 89% and increase sales by a massive 287%.

Schedule vibrant, on-brand email campaigns to announce your summer product launches or sales, use short-form videos on Instagram and TikTok to show off seasonal collections in action, and run targeted ads to attract new customers searching for summer essentials.

Don’t forget to add mobile app push notifications to your summer marketing mix. They give you a direct, real-time way to reach your customers - and they’re super effective for boosting engagement and driving conversions.

Studies showed that 88% of users were more engaged on an app platform and had a 12% click rate due to push notifications, which is way higher than the average 2.3% open rate of email marketing.

With high open rates and immediate visibility, they’re perfect for delivering timely updates, promoting limited-time offers, or re-engaging shoppers who haven’t completed their purchase. Used strategically, they can help boost sales, reduce cart abandonment, and grab customer attention throughout the busy summer season. Learn more about the benefits of Shopify mobile app push notifications here.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming article, where we talk you through more of the top summer marketing strategies to grow your Shopify sales.

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Final thoughts 

As you wrap up your preparations for the Shopify summer sales season, remember that planning ahead is key. 

The more organised you are, the smoother your promotions will go, and the more likely you are to grow your Shopify revenue and see great results overall. 

Keep an eye on what works, stay flexible, and be ready to adjust your strategy if needed. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can make this summer your best sales season yet.

If you’d like some help optimising your campaigns and ensuring the most success for your business during these seasons, then our team at StoreLab can help! 

Our Shopify Growth Service is designed to grow your sales, brand awareness, and customer retention with experienced, passionate guidance from our Shopify experts. Get in touch with a friendly member of our team to learn more.