11 Cross Selling Examples

Last Updated: August 20, 2024 by Editorial Team | Reviewed by: James Dyson

Cross Selling Examples

Do you want to increase sales and customer satisfaction?

Cross selling is the magic strategy you need to equip yourself with.

In this post, we’ll take a look at 11 cross selling examples from big brands that have used this technique to recommend related products and make more money.

What is Cross Selling?

Cross selling is a sales strategy used by businesses when they offer additional products or services to a customer who is already buying.

The key is to offer items that complement the original product so the customer gets more out of their purchase and is more satisfied. This adds more value to the customer and more revenue overall.

Unlike upselling, which is when you try to get the customer to buy a more expensive version of the product they are considering, cross selling is all about complementary products.

For example, if a customer is buying a laptop, suggesting a laptop bag or antivirus software would be cross selling. This way the customer gets more out of their purchase and continues to stay loyal to the brand.

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Understanding Cross Selling

Here are some easily comparable real-life cross selling examples in action to help you grasp how it works.

Fast-Food Restaurants: When you order a burger, the cashier often asks if you’d like to add fries or a drink. This simple suggestion increases the total sale value and enhances the customer’s meal.
Mobile Retailers: When buying a new phone, mobile phone retailers commonly suggest purchasing a protective case, screen protector, or additional charger. These items complement the primary purchase and add value for the customer too.
Bookstores: When purchasing a book, customers may be offered a bookmark, booklight, or related book titles. These suggestions add value to the reading experience.
Clothing Stores: When buying a dress, a salesperson might recommend matching accessories such as a belt, scarf, or jewelry. These complementary items can complete the outfit and enhance the overall purchase for both the vendor and the customer.

By implementing cross selling strategies, businesses can significantly boost their sales and provide customers with a more complete and satisfying shopping experience.

Benefits of Cross Selling

Cross selling has many benefits for your business:

Higher Average Order Value (AOV): By offering more products, you can increase the total amount customers spend per transaction.
Higher Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Getting customers to buy related products will increase their overall satisfaction and loyalty and their lifetime value to you.
Better Customer Experience: Offering products that match what customers bought can improve the overall shopping experience for them.
Faster Inventory Turn: Cross selling can move products that would otherwise have slower turnover, so you can manage your inventory better.
Stronger Customer Relationships: Knowing and meeting customer needs through recommendations can build trust and long term relationships.

Cross Sell Examples

Now that we’ve covered the why, let’s see some online store examples to inspire you. Here are 11 of the best cross selling examples from businesses that know what they're doing.

Cross Selling Examples - Amazon

Amazon nails cross selling by integrating recommendations everywhere. Whether you’re browsing or buying, Amazon suggests related products based on what you’re looking at or what you’ve bought before.

This goes beyond individual product pages. They feature cross-sell suggestions right on the homepage. For example, when you’re looking at a laptop, Amazon might suggest a mouse, laptop bag, or antivirus software and make it easy to add to your cart.

Key Takeaways:

Personalized Recommendations: Amazon uses data to personalize cross-sell suggestions so they’re more relevant and customers are more likely to buy more.
Visibility and Accessibility: Cross-sell suggestions are front and center so you don’t have to navigate far to see related products.
Cross-Category Integration: Amazon’s cross-sell strategy spans multiple product categories so you can buy complementary products across different types of items.
Cross Selling Examples - Zappos

Zappos is great at cross selling by suggesting related products to enhance the shopping experience. When you browse shoes on Zappos you’re often shown recommendations for socks, shoe care products, or other related items that go with your shoe choice.

For example on the Cloudmonster shoes for women product page, Zappos has a “Wear It With” section that shows pants, t-shirts, handbags, and socks that go with the shoes so you can buy the whole outfit in one go.

Key Takeaways:

Contextual Recommendations: Cross selling suggestions on the product page provide customers with easy options to buy more.
Product Pairing: The “Wear It With” feature shows full outfit suggestions for customers who want to buy more to go with what they’re buying.
Better Shopping Experience: By making it easy to buy related products Zappos increases customer happiness and potentially average order value.
Best Buy - Cross Selling

Best Buy is great at cross selling by offering additional warranties, accessories, and related electronics to devices and appliances.

For example, on the Lenovo Legion laptop product page, they have a “Complete your purchase” section that shows add-ons like Microsoft 360 Office, a gamepad and a wireless mouse. This section not only suggests related products but also makes it easy to add multiple items to the cart at once with a clear breakdown of the total cost.

Key Takeaways:

Strategic Placement: Best Buy integrates cross selling prompts prominently on relevant product pages, encouraging additional purchases.
Bundle Options: Offering bundled add-ons simplifies the shopping experience for old and new customers, making it easier to increase their purchase value with essential accessories.
Transparent Pricing: Clear pricing breakdowns help customers understand the cost implications of adding cross-sell items.
Cross Selling Examples - Verizon

Verizon cross sells by offering additional services and bundles to their mobile customers. Beyond mobile plans Verizon promotes home internet, TV packages, and device protection plans, to increase the overall value proposition for their customers.

For example, on the pricing page for their mobile plans, Verizon breaks down the monthly cost and features for each add-on, including discounts on popular streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ as part of bundled offerings.

Key Takeaways:

Diverse Product Portfolio: Verizon uses their wide range of products to cross sell complementary services to meet different customer needs beyond mobile.
Bundle Discounts: By bundling mobile plans with home internet or TV packages, Verizon gives customers cost effective solutions and convenience.
Transparent Pricing and Features: Breaking down the cost and benefits helps customers make a decision, increasing satisfaction and perceived value of the add on.
United Healthcare - Cross Selling

UnitedHealthcare cross sells by presenting related plans to customers based on their first choice. For example, when you add a hospital and surgical plan to your cart UnitedHealthcare offers a pop up to suggest additional coverage like dental.

These pop ups provide a full plan breakdown and allow you to add the suggested plans to your cart instantly. Plus links to brochures and more info are embedded so customers have all the information at your fingertips.

Key Takeaways:

Targeted Cross Selling: UnitedHealthcare cross sells based on the customer’s first choice, making it more relevant and that it meets their different insurance needs.
Easy Decision Making: By allowing instant cart adds and plan details at their fingertips UnitedHealthcare makes it easy for customers to make a decision.
Educational Resources: Links to brochures make its plans more transparent and gives customers all the info they need to make an informed decision.
Toyota - Cross Selling

Toyota sells more products and services to the customer using cross selling techniques that enhance the customer experience and increase sales. When a customer buys a vehicle from Toyota, the dealer often offers extended warranties, maintenance packages, and various accessories.

This could be upgraded sound systems, custom floor mats, and paint protection to go with the vehicle purchase. This way, customers have access to products that can boost the vehicle’s functionality, appearance, and longevity.

Key Takeaways:

Full Service Packages: Toyota offers extended warranties and maintenance packages to give customers long-term peace of mind and added value.
Accessory Customization: By suggesting accessories like upgraded sound systems and custom floor mats, Toyota helps customers personalize their vehicles to their taste.
Vehicle Protection: Offering products like paint protection allows customers to keep their vehicle’s looks and functionality in top shape and increases satisfaction and retention.
Cross Selling Examples - Apple

Apple are great at cross selling by suggesting accessories, AppleCare and related products when you buy an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. These premium products are exclusive to the Apple brand and operating system and make for a compelling cross sell.

For example when you buy an iPhone, Apple will suggest AirPods, cases and chargers, and AppleCare for extended warranty and ongoing support. This not only enhances the user experience but also builds brand loyalty by offering a cohesive product ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

Integrated Brand Ecosystem: Apple’s cross sell uses its ecosystem to make the additional products and services more attractive and relevant.
User Experience: By offering accessories and AppleCare, Apple makes sure customers have everything they need to use and protect their devices safely.
Brand Loyalty: The integrated products and services keeps customers within the Apple ecosystem and builds long term brand loyalty and repeat business.

8. Etsy

Cross Selling Examples - Etsy

Etsy does cross selling by suggesting related handmade items, supplies or personalized recommendations based on your browsing and purchase history.

This includes not only products from shops or small businesses you’ve bought from before but also from other sellers who offer similar items. This makes the user experience more personalized and customer-centric.

Key Takeaways:

Personalized Recommendations: Etsy uses browsing and purchase history to suggest products so the recommendations are tailored to each customer.
Multiple Vendors: By cross selling items from multiple vendors, Etsy is giving customers more options and supporting a community of small businesses.
User First: Cross selling is user experience first so customers can find related products easily and their customer journey is smoother and more fun.
Expedia - Cross Selling

Expedia sells travel insurance, airport transfers and local tours when customers book flights or hotels. By bundling these extras into the booking process Expedia makes the overall travel experience better for its customers.

The use of text like “No, I'm willing to risk my $304.68 stay booking” creates a sense of urgency and is a great built-in CTA while still giving the customer the final decision.

Key Takeaways:

Integrated Services: Expedia bundles travel insurance, airport transfers, and local tours into the booking and sales process so customers have one place to get everything they need.
Effective Call to Action (CTA): The use of urgent text can gets customers to think about the benefits of extra services even more, nudging them into the additional coverage.
Persuasive Testimonials: Customer testimonials on the checkout page adds credibility and trust so customers are more likely to buy extra cover and services.
Chase Bank - Cross Selling

Chase Bank does a great job of cross selling by offering other financial products when you sign up for a checking account. 

For example, they offer savings accounts with checking accounts.

This gives the customer a full financial solution and a better banking experience. They break down the monthly service fees and show you the different options to keep the monthly balance so you know what you’re getting into.

Key Takeaways:

Full Financial Solution: By offering savings accounts with checking accounts, Chase gives the customer a full banking solution for their multiple financial needs.
Clear Fees: Chase breaks down the monthly service fees and balance options so you know what you’re getting into.
Good CTA: The “Open both” button makes it easy and makes the customer want to take advantage of the value-added offer of both separate products.
Coursera - Cross Selling

Coursera cross sells by offering specializations or certificate programs related to the course you’re currently in or planning to get into. This adds to the learning experience by encouraging you to learn more in related areas.

For example, if you’re in an AI analytics course, Coursera might recommend courses on machine learning or data visualization or even a full data science specialization. 

This adds value to your educational journey and keeps you more engaged with the platform.

Key Takeaways:

Targeted Recommendations: Coursera recommends courses and specializations based on what you’re currently in or planning to get into.
Better Learning Experience: By offering related courses, Coursera helps you build a more complete skill set and helps you go deeper in related areas.
More Engagement: Encouraging you to explore more courses and specializations keeps you more engaged with the platform and leads to higher retention and happiness in the long run.

Cross Selling Examples Key takeaways

Cross selling can be an incredibly effective marketing strategy to boost sales, customer satisfaction, and bring in more revenue.

We’ve looked at cross selling examples examples from top brands sales tactics and how product recommendations can lead to a richer customer experience and more sales. 

Here are the key pointers to keep in mind from them all:

Personalized Recommendations: Recommendations based on customer browsing and past purchase history make them more relevant and more likely to buy more.
Strategic Placement: Cross selling prompts in the right place in the buying journey means identified customers see and consider more products.
Bundle Deals: Bundling products or services makes it easier to buy and adds value so customers buy more.
Transparency and Information: Clear information and pricing means customers can make informed decisions while building trust and satisfaction in your brand.
Enhanced Customer Experience: By cross selling supplementary products that are still separate, businesses can create a more complete and satisfying experience and higher customer loyalty.

It's a given that by offering more products and services, you’ll sell more and give your new and existing customers more value. 

Implement the ideas from these cross selling examples today and you’ll see higher customer loyalty, bigger order values, and a bigger bottom line.

Get cross selling campaigns into your overall sales strategy now!

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