How to Increase Average Order Value (AOV): 28 Tactics

Last updated on June 23rd, 2026 at 05:30 pm

Average order value (AOV) is one of the most important metrics for retail growth. When customers spend more per transaction, revenue increases without requiring additional foot traffic, marketing spend, or customer acquisition. For retailers looking for how to increase average order value, the biggest gains often come from helping customers discover relevant products, giving associates better selling tools, and making it easier to complete purchases anywhere.

Below, we discuss a variety of ways your brand can effectively increase the average order value, from leveraging loyalty programs and mobile POS systems to personalized clienteling and interactive in-store displays. By implementing these tactics, you’ll create a seamless shopping experience that encourages customers to spend more each time they shop with you.

What Is Average Order Value (AOV)?

Average order value (AOV) is a key metric for retail businesses that measures the average amount customers spend each time they make a purchase from your brand from any channel. This can include purchases made online, via a mobile app, or in-store. 

AOV Formula

Average Order Value (AOV) = Total Revenue ÷ Number of Orders

Example

If a retailer generates $50,000 in revenue from 1,000 orders:

Average Order Value = $50,000 ÷ 1,000 = $50

The average order value is $50.

Why AOV Matters

Tracking AOV helps retailers understand purchasing behavior, evaluate merchandising performance, and identify opportunities to increase revenue without increasing customer acquisition costs.

According to PwC’s 2025 Customer Experience Survey, 29% of consumers stopped buying from a brand due to poor customer experience, either online or in person. When customers encounter friction during product discovery, checkout, fulfillment, or post-purchase interactions, retailers risk losing future revenue opportunities.

Tracking AOV alongside customer experience metrics can help retailers identify opportunities to increase basket size while strengthening customer loyalty.

28 Ways to Increase Average Order Value in Retail 

Clienteling

1. Personalized Shopping Experience: Although luxury brands have been showing us how effective clienteling can be for many years, modern clienteling goes beyond even traditional luxury levels of service. Your brand can build customer profiles to offer hyper-relevant products and services. Personal information, notes, and a “look” into the person’s closet can be leveraged to serve customers with personalized offers.
   UNTUCKit reports a 17.28% higher AOV from clienteling customers compared to the company average, showing what associate-led personalization can deliver when supported by the right tools.
2. In-App Live Chat: Live chat helps customers get answers when they need them, increasing the likelihood of conversion. Unlike scripted chatbots, in-app live chat connects shoppers directly with store associates who can provide personalized recommendations and product guidance. This is especially valuable for higher-consideration purchases and helps build stronger customer relationships that drive repeat sales.
3. Post-Purchase Communication: Associates can communicate with customers after the sale through the app, SMS, or email, providing additional opportunities to recommend complementary items. Further, if a customer isn’t ready to purchase in-store, associates can send them links to the items they were pondering so they can purchase online when it’s convenient.
4. Real-Time Inventory Visibility: A mobile POS gives associates access to enterprise-wide store inventory in the palm of their hands. With this real-time inventory visibility as well as access to the customer’s purchase history, associates can make targeted upsell and cross-sell recommendations.

Point of Sale (POS)

5. Seamless Buyer Journey: Consumers are mobile-first and more informed than ever before. Integrate mobile loyalty within your shopping app, making it easier to send personalized messages and provide timely promotional coupons at checkout. With discounts and rewards available at their fingertips exactly when they need them, it makes spending a little more per order much easier and justifiable for customers.
6. Effortless Checkout: The shopping process must be seamless, convenient, and enjoyable. Use a mobile POS to allow checkout anywhere in-store, reducing wait times and bringing the point of sale to the customer.
7.  Impulse Buying: Use QR codes and App Clips to facilitate spontaneous purchases in-store. Eliminating any friction during these spontaneous buying moments with a mobile app makes your mannequin displays highly effective for increasing average order value. Capitalizing on spontaneous discovery is invaluable for increasing AOV.

Loyalty Programs

8. Personalized Rewards: When you use the data from your loyalty programs to better understand buying behaviors, rewards can be personalized. And personalization is everything. When personalizing to increase average order value, it’s all about the individual and leveraging data on things like past purchase history. You might consider sending special occasion discounts or vouchers as well, making the shopper feel special and celebrated. While events such as birthdays are once per year, the aim here is to help enhance loyalty.
9. Tiered Loyalty Programs: Tiered loyalty programs encourage customers to spend more by offering stronger benefits as engagement grows. Rewards such as early access to limited-edition products or invitations to in-store events can make customers feel valued, build trust, and support repeat purchases.

Experiential Retail 

10. In-Store Interactive Displays: Interactive displays captivate customers by allowing them to explore products hands-on, fostering a deeper understanding of features and benefits. By integrating technology like AR or VR, retailers can create immersive experiences that increase customer engagement and encourage additional purchases. These displays also serve as educational tools, helping customers make informed decisions and elevating the overall shopping experience.
11. Demonstrations: Live demonstrations offer customers the opportunity to see products in action, showcasing their functionality and practical applications. By highlighting key features and benefits through interactive presentations, retailers can effectively demonstrate value and quality, prompting customers to consider complementary products or upgrades. This hands-on approach not only educates but also builds confidence in purchasing decisions, translating into higher average order values as customers see firsthand the benefits of products.
12. Community Events: Hosting community events within the store creates a social hub where customers can engage with each other and the brand. These events could include product launch parties, workshops, or themed gatherings that align with the store’s offerings. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, retailers can deepen customer loyalty and encourage repeat visits.

Traditional Tactics

13. Upselling: Suggest higher-end versions of the products customers are considering. For example, offer a premium version with additional features or higher quality.
14. Cross-Selling: Recommend related products that complement the customer’s current purchase. This can be anything from accessories to service packages.
15. Product Bundling: Create bundles of products at a discounted price. Bundling encourages customers to buy more items together, increasing the total order value.
16. Volume Discounts: Offer discounts for purchasing in larger quantities. This can be effective for consumable products or items frequently bought together.
17. Free Shipping Thresholds: Provide free shipping for orders over a specific amount.
18. Limited-Time Offers: Use urgency to drive higher purchases with time-limited deals. Limited-time offers can create a sense of urgency, encouraging customers to buy more to take advantage of the deal.
19. Exclusive Memberships: Offer memberships with special perks for higher spenders. Membership programs can include benefits such as exclusive discounts, early access to sales, or members-only products.
20. Gift with Purchase: Provide a free gift when customers spend over a certain amount. This can incentivize customers to increase their order value to receive the gift.
21. Email Marketing: Send targeted promotions to past customers. Use data from previous purchases to send personalized offers and discounts.
22. Enhanced Product Descriptions: Use rich media to showcase the benefits of premium products. High-quality images, videos, and detailed descriptions can help convince customers of the value of more expensive items.
23. Seasonal Promotions: Align special offers with holidays or seasonal events. Seasonal promotions can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy more during these times.
24. Subscriptions and Recurring Purchases: Encourage customers to subscribe for regular deliveries of consumable products. This can ensure repeat business and higher lifetime value. Offer discounts or perks for subscribing to products, such as a 10% discount on each delivery.
25. Flexible Payment Options: Provide options for installment payments or financing for higher-ticket items to make them more accessible to customers.
26. Gift Wrapping Services: Offer gift wrapping for a small fee to incentivize customers to include this service with their order, thereby increasing the overall value of their purchase.
27. Social Proof and Reviews: Display customer reviews and social proof on product pages to build trust and encourage customers to make larger purchases. Highlighting popular or high-rated items can lead to increased sales of those items.
28. Checkout Impulse Buying: Place low-cost, high-margin items near the register for easy addition to customers’ purchases, encouraging impulse buys.

The Takeaway

Increasing average order value (AOV) does not depend on a single tactic. Retailers that combine personalized associate interactions, inventory visibility, loyalty programs, and relevant product recommendations can consistently increase basket size while improving the customer experience.

Want to increase average order value through more personalized customer conversations? Explore clienteling. Reach out for a demo today!