5 ways to turn holiday gift buyers into subscribers

Holiday shoppers are different. Some are buying gifts. Some are trying you for the first time because the price was right. Some are treating themselves. Most of them will buy once and disappear. Unless you give them a reason to stay. Subscriptions do exactly that. One checkout turns into revenue every month, well past December.

Here are five ways to make it happen with Bold Subscriptions.

1. Make subscribing the default

With Default to Subscribe, the subscribe option is preselected at checkout. Shoppers can still switch to one-time. But most people go with the default, especially when it comes with savings. During BFCM, shoppers move fast. Make the best choice for your business, the easiest choice for them.

2. Offer the upgrade right in the cart

A shopper adds a one-time item to their cart. That's your moment. Subscriptions Upsell shows an offer to switch that item to a subscription. Sweetened with a subscription discount. They already want the product. Now they have a reason to keep getting it.

Pair it with a smart first order offer. Give a bigger discount on the first subscription order, then shift to a standard discount after that. Shoppers get a holiday deal. You get a subscriber at a healthy margin.

3. Let them try it first

New customers are cautious. Asking them to commit to a full-size subscription on their first order is a big ask. Try Before You Subscribe lowers the barrier. They start with a sample in month one. Month two, they move to the full-size product automatically.

It's perfect for holiday shoppers who found you through a deal. Low risk for them. A clear path to recurring revenue for you.

4. Start with a kit, keep them on refills

Holiday bundles and starter kits sell well. The problem is what happens after.

Convertible Subscriptions let customers subscribe to a kit in month one, then automatically switch to refills. The razor comes first. The blades keep coming. Same for cartridges, filters, pods and anything else with a refill. Your holiday gift set becomes the first order of a long relationship.

5. Turn gift givers into a new channel

This is the one most brands miss. During the holidays, a lot of your buyers aren't shopping for themselves. So let them gift a subscription instead.

With the Givy integration, shoppers can gift a subscription to a friend or family member in a few clicks. The giver gets a gift that keeps showing up. You get a brand new subscriber who might never have found you on their own.

One purchase. Two customers.

Bonus: reward the subscribers you already have

Your existing subscribers are your most loyal customers. Don't forget them during the rush. Use our VIP pricing integration with our Custom Pricing app to give them exclusive holiday pricing. Loyal customers feel valued. And they stay longer.

Your holiday subscription playbook

1. Pick your top products for subscription. Turn on Default to Subscribe and set up your Subscriptions Upsell offers.
2. Build your kits and sample offers. Set up Convertible Subscriptions and Try Before You Subscribe.
3. Turn on gift subscriptions. Promote them in your holiday gift guides and emails.
4. Let the offers work. Every one-time order is a chance to convert.
5. December and January: Your new subscribers are already on their next order. No reminders needed.

Ready to convert holiday shoppers? Bold Subscriptions Maximizers™ turn one-time holiday buyers into predictable, year-long subscribers.