What is Basket Building

Basket building is a strategy used to increase the number of items a customer adds to their cart during a single shopping session. It typically involves recommending products that go well together or are commonly bought as a set.

A brief history

Basket building is a concept that’s been around since the early days of brick-and-mortar retail, where store layouts and product placement were designed to encourage customers to pick up more items as they browsed. As shopping moved online, the same idea carried over, only now, it shows up as product recommendations, bundles, and prompts during the shopping journey. Whether in-store or online, the goal has always been the same: help customers find more of what they need before they check out.

Good to know

Basket building doesn’t have to be pushy. Small, thoughtful prompts like “complete the look,” “frequently bought together,” or “you might also need” can encourage customers to add more to their cart without disrupting the shopping experience. The key is to offer value, not just more stuff.

Know more

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if basket building is working on my site?
Look for signs that shoppers are adding more than one item to their cart:Your average order value is trending up over time.Customers are engaging with product recommendations or bundles.There’s less drop-off between product pages and checkout.If most orders still include just a single item, there may be room to improve your approach.
What kinds of prompts help with basket building?
The most effective ones feel natural and helpful. Think:“Frequently bought together” suggestions on product pages.“You might also need” add-ons before checkout.Bundles or kits that make sense for your products and audience.The goal is to guide, not overwhelm.
Does basket building only work for certain types of products?
It works best when products are complementary like accessories, refills, or items that naturally go together. But even with stand-alone products, you can encourage larger orders by offering incentives like volume discounts or free shipping thresholds.