BOGO (Buy One, Get One) promotions are a proven sales strategy where customers purchase one item and receive another at a discount or for free, encouraging higher purchase volumes and repeat buying.
Common BOGO types include “Buy One Get One 50% Off,” “Buy X Get Y Free,” fixed value discounts, free samples, and free gift offers each designed to drive conversions and product discovery.
Real life brands like Publix, Sephora, Famous Footwear, and Bewakoof effectively use BOGO promotions to boost sales, clear inventory, and enhance customer loyalty.
To run successful BOGO campaigns, follow best practices like strategic product selection, personalization, urgency creation, balanced pricing, and testing multiple BOGO formats to see what resonates with your audience.
BOGO deals are one of the fastest ways to boost sales, clear slow‑moving stock, and attract value‑driven customers. Whether you're running a simple BOGO sale or launching a Buy X Get Y promotion, the right BOGO example can immediately lift conversions. In this guide, we break down the most effective types of BOGO deals and how Shopify merchants can use them to increase AOV and sell more units.
What is BOGO Sale?
BOGO stands for “Buy One Get One,” a promotion where shoppers get an additional item free or discounted when they buy one. A BOGO sale works because customers perceive high value while merchants increase order quantity and sell through inventory efficiently.
What are the Different Types of BOGO offers?
Some of the most common types of BOGO sale promotions include:
1. Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO Free)
“Buy 1 T-shirt, get the second T-shirt free.”
In this classic BOGO deal, a customer purchases one item at full price and receives the second item at no cost. This promotion works well for fast-moving or low-cost inventory.
2. Buy X, Get Y at a Discount (BXGY Discount)
“Buy 3 candles, get the fourth at 70% off.”
In this deal, when a customer buys one or more items at full price, they can purchase another item of equal or lesser value at a discount. Instead of “free,” the bonus item is heavily discounted. Great for protecting margins while still boosting AOV.
3. Buy One, Get One for a Fixed Price
“Buy 1 snack box, get the second for $5.”
Instead of offering a percentage discount or free item, the second item is sold at a reduced, fixed price. This protects margins while still encouraging multi-unit purchases.
4. Value discount BOGO
"Buy one smartphone and get $100 off your second smartphone."
In this sales promotion example, customers receive a specific dollar amount discount on the second item when they purchase the first item at full price. It encourages customers to buy multiple items while saving money.
5. Buy X, Get Y (BXGY)
"Buy 2 shirts and get 1 shirt for free."
In a Buy X, Get Y deal, customers are required to purchase a specified number of items (X) to receive another item (Y) for free or at a discounted rate. It encourages customers to buy in bulk or spend more to unlock the offer.
6. Free samples
"Spend $50 and receive a free skincare sample set."
This type of deal rewards customers with complimentary product samples when they reach a certain spending threshold. It allows customers to try out new products, potentially leading to future purchases.
"Purchase a camera and receive a free camera bag as a gift."
Free gift promotions offer customers an additional item at no extra cost when they purchase a specific product. These gifts are often related to the main product and can enhance the overall value of the purchase.
8. Buy One, Get One of Lesser Value
“Buy 1 jeans, get any second item of lesser value free.”
This version limits the customer’s free/discounted item to something equal or cheaper in value. Stores use this to prevent high-margin losses.
9. Spend X, Get Y Free (Threshold BOGO)
“Spend $75, get a free accessory.”
Instead of tying the promotion to a specific product, it's based on cart value. This encourages shoppers to add more items to hit the spend threshold.
Best BOGO Examples (Buy One, Get One) from Real-Life Brands
If you’re not sure how BOGO promotions work, let’s take a look at some of the popular sale campaigns run by real-life brands using this product bundling strategy:
1. Publix
Publix offers a variety of BOGO promotions twice a week, presenting customers with the opportunity to purchase one item and get another at no additional cost. As you can see in this BOGO example, in addition to these standard BOGO sales, Publix often introduces special offers like 'buy two for a set price,' providing customers with even more value and savings.
2. Famous Footwear
In this BOGO example, famous Footwear often has BOGO deals: buy two pairs of shoes, and the second one (of equal or lesser value) is 50% off.
3. Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble offers enticing BOGO deals, allowing customers to buy one book and get another at 50% off, catering to all age groups. Some of these promotions are time-limited, instilling a sense of urgency, while others are available until stocks run out.
4. Beauty Bay
In this BOGO example, Beauty Bay includes a complimentary product with the purchase of an item from a specific category, and this initiative is highly commendable because it can attract customers to explore and purchase items from the specified category, increasing the visibility and sales of those products.
Sephora offers free samples for orders over $35, and this is a good idea because it allows customers to not only enjoy BOGO deals but also explore and try out additional products without extra cost, enhancing their overall shopping experience.
6. Maquibeauty
In this BOGO example, Maqui Beauty has a BUY ONE GET ONE 40% OFF promotion, where the discount is applied to the lower-priced item when customers purchase any two products.
7. Supplement X
Supplement Xpress specializes in nutritional supplements and employs a marketing strategy centered around impactful BOGO tactics, offering customers exceptional value with a Buy One Get One at 50% off deal.
8. Pharmeasy
In this BOGO example, PharmEasy offers a Buy One Get One Free deal for new diagnostic users. PharmEasy's BOGO deal offers a valuable promotion where customers can avail of a second diagnostic package for free when they purchase one package.
9. Bewakoof
Bewakoof, a versatile brand specializing in fashion products for both men and women, frequently provides BOGO deals (Buy one get one free 50%) throughout the year. The strategyof this BOGO example proves beneficial as it not only boosts sales and customer loyalty but also helps in inventory management by encouraging higher product turnover and reducing excess stock.
10. HealthKart
In this BOGO example, Healthkart presents an extra 50% discount, along with an additional 15% off. Moreover, there is a policy in place limiting each person to a maximum of two orders.
Strategy Best Practices for BOGO promotions
‘Buy one, Get one’ is an effective strategy to get online shoppers to buy more than they intend to; but you need to keep the following best practices in mind:
1. Clear and Strategic Product Selection
Ensure that the products you select resonate with your target audience and seasonality. Consider customer preferences, trends, and your inventory levels to make informed choices. BOGO discounts work best when they genuinely appeal to your customers' needs and desires.
2. Segmented Targeting and Personalization
Use customers' past purchase history and browsing behavior to recommend BOGO deals that align with their interests. Sending personalized recommendations can significantly increase conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
3. Create a Sense of Urgency
Incorporate a sense of urgency into your BOGO promotions to encourage immediate action from customers. Use phrases like "Limited Time Offer" or "While Supplies Last" to instil a fear of missing out (FOMO) and drive quicker purchasing decisions.
Employ countdown timers or display the number of items left in stock to create a perception of scarcity, further motivating customers to make a purchase and take advantage of the enticing BOGO deal before it's gone.
Determine the pricing strategy for your BOGO promotion to ensure it's profitable for your business while still providing value to customers.
Calculate the discount percentage and set the BOGO price point carefully to avoid losing money on the offer. It's essential to strike a balance that benefits both your business and customers.
5. Test Different BOGO Types
Experimentation is key to refining your BOGO strategy. Test various types of BOGO promotions to understand what resonates best with your audience. This could include "Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO F)," "Buy One, Get One at a Discount," or "Buy Two, Get One Free." Each type may yield different results, impacting factors such as sales volume, revenue, and customer perception.
Use A/B testing to compare the performance of different BOGO types and optimize your future promotions based on the insights gained from these experiments.
Hurrify customers to buy within a given timeframe with a sales countdown timer & improve conversions
Another popular Shopify checkout app is Checkout Promotions. The app comes with the ability to leverage a collection of highly robust visibility rules that help show customers one-click post purchase upsell promotions after an order payment has been made. Some of its key features include:
Features
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Complete branding control.
Checkout Upsell for increasing AOV.
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
Free
Monthly Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
FAQs on 10 Best BoGo Examples to Skyrocket your Sales
What is a BOGO example?
Do BOGO deals increase profits?
How do Shopify merchants run BOGO deals?
What is the difference between BOGO and BXGY?
Recommend the best Shopify apps for running BOGO offers
How can I make a BOGO deal profitable?
×
Diksha P
Diksha leads Product Management at Skai Lama. She talks about discount campaigns, product recommendations, quizzes, and surveys to personalize Shopify stores.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg)
.avif)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
