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Case Study: How We Increased a Home Decor Store's Conversion Rate from 2.1% to 4.8% Using Funnel Optimization + Shopify Flow

Complete CRO case study: How we audited a home decor store, identified funnel leaks, and used Shopify Flow automation to increase conversion 129%. Includes Flow examples.

ScaleFront Team··23 min read
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Case Study: How We Increased a Home Decor Store's Conversion Rate from 2.1% to 4.8% Using Funnel Optimization + Shopify Flow

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Category: Home Decor & Furnishings Annual Revenue (Before): $2.4M Annual Revenue (After): $4.8M Timeline: 5 months Conversion Rate: 2.1% → 4.8% (+129%) Traffic: 95,000 monthly visitors (consistent)

Modern home decor store interior

The Client

We'll call them "Harbor & Nest" (anonymized for confidentiality).

They're a direct-to-consumer home decor brand selling modern coastal-inspired furniture, lighting, and accessories. Think West Elm meets Serena & Lily, but more accessible.

Price range: $45-1,800 per item Average order value: $285 Product catalog: 840 SKUs across 12 categories

Founded in 2020, they'd grown steadily through Instagram and Pinterest marketing. By early 2024, they were doing $2.4M annually with 95,000 monthly visitors.

But their conversion rate was stuck at 2.1%.

The founder reached out with a specific problem:

"We're great at getting traffic. Our Instagram brings 40K visitors monthly. But only 2% buy. We've tried different themes, added reviews, improved photos. Nothing moves the needle. What are we missing?"

The Audit: What We Found

We conducted a comprehensive 5-day audit across analytics, user behavior, and technical performance.

Analytics dashboard showing ecommerce data

Audit Finding #1: Homepage Wasn't Guiding Anyone

The Problem:

Their homepage looked beautiful (professional photography, clean design) but had zero strategy.

What we saw:

  • Generic "Featured Products" section (12 random items, $85-980 price range mixed together)
  • "Shop All" button (too broad, caused decision paralysis)
  • No clear entry points by customer intent
  • No social proof above the fold
  • Value proposition buried in footer

The data:

MetricTheir NumbersIndustry Benchmark
Homepage bounce rate64%45-55%
Homepage → Collection rate28%40-50%
Avg time on homepage0m 42s1m 30s+

Translation: 64% of visitors looked at the homepage and immediately left. Of those who stayed, only 28% clicked through to browse products.

Why this happened:

Home decor is not an impulse category. Customers come with specific needs:

  • "I need a dining table"
  • "I'm decorating my living room"
  • "I need lighting for my bedroom"

But the homepage treated everyone the same. No segmentation. No guidance.

Category-specific insight:

Home decor buyers are either:

  1. Project-based: Renovating a room, need multiple items
  2. Item-specific: Need one specific thing (lamp, mirror, rug)
  3. Inspiration-seeking: Browsing for ideas, not ready to buy

Harbor & Nest's homepage served none of these personas well.

Ecommerce conversion funnel diagram

Audit Finding #2: Collection Pages Were Product Dumps

The Problem:

Their collections were organized like a warehouse, not a showroom.

What we saw:

  • Collections by product type: "All Lighting" (187 products), "All Furniture" (243 products)
  • Only filters: Price, Color, Material
  • Default sort: "Featured" (which was random)
  • Grid of equal-sized product images on white background
  • No lifestyle context

The data:

MetricTheir NumbersBenchmark
Products viewed per session3.16-8
Collection → Product page rate22%35-45%
Bounce rate from collections58%35-45%

Translation: People landed on collection pages and bounced. When they did browse, they only looked at 3 products before leaving.

Why this happened:

Showing 187 lighting options is overwhelming. Customers don't want to scroll through pages of products—they want curated selections for their specific need.

Category-specific insight:

Home decor purchases are emotional and visual. People need to see how items look in actual spaces, not on white backgrounds.

Someone buying a "dining room pendant light" wants to see:

  • Lights styled in actual dining rooms
  • Suggestions for what works with their table size
  • Complete room looks, not isolated products

Beautiful product photography setup

Audit Finding #3: Product Pages Weren't Selling

The Problem:

Product pages had all the information but no persuasion.

What we saw:

  • Product images (good quality but only product shots, no lifestyle)
  • Description (technical specs, no storytelling)
  • Price
  • "Add to Cart" button
  • Reviews hidden in a tab (4.6 star average from 890 reviews!)
  • No dimension visualization ("Will this fit my space?")
  • No styling suggestions
  • No urgency or scarcity

The data:

MetricTheir NumbersBenchmark
Product page → Add-to-cart5.8%10-15%
Avg time on product page1m 12s2m+
Bounce rate from product page52%35-45%

Translation: Half of visitors bounced from product pages without adding to cart. Of those who stayed, only 5.8% actually added items.

Why this happened:

Home decor is a visual, emotional purchase. Customers need to imagine the product in their space.

A $480 dining table listing that just shows the table on white background with dimensions doesn't help someone visualize it in their actual dining room.

Category-specific pain points we identified:

  1. Size anxiety: "Will this fit my space?"
  2. Style uncertainty: "Will this match my existing furniture?"
  3. Quality concerns: "Is this actually well-made?"
  4. Styling confusion: "What else do I need to complete the look?"

None of these were addressed.

Shopping cart on mobile device

Audit Finding #4: Cart Abandonment Was 74%

The Problem:

Standard cart experience with no strategy.

What we saw:

  • Cart showed items and total
  • No upsells or cross-sells
  • Shipping cost only revealed at checkout
  • No free shipping threshold
  • No cart abandonment recovery (no email sequence)

The data:

MetricTheir NumbersBenchmark
Cart abandonment rate74%65-70%
Items per order1.32-3 (home decor)
Cart → Checkout rate26%30-35%

Translation: 74% of people who added items to cart never completed purchase.

Why this happened:

Home decor has high average order values ($285). Shipping costs at checkout were a surprise for many ($25-65 depending on item size).

Also, no strategy to increase items per order. Most customers bought one item when they probably needed multiple items to complete their space.

Category-specific opportunity:

Home decor is perfect for bundling and cross-selling:

  • Bought dining table? Suggest chairs, lighting, rug
  • Bought couch? Suggest throw pillows, coffee table, side tables

They weren't doing any of this.

Audit Finding #5: No Post-Purchase Strategy

The Problem:

The funnel ended at purchase. No loyalty loop.

What we saw:

  • Thank you page: Generic "Thanks for your order"
  • Order confirmation email: Basic transactional
  • No follow-up sequence
  • No review requests
  • No replenishment campaigns (rugs, candles, textiles)
  • No referral program

The data:

MetricTheir NumbersBenchmark
Repeat purchase rate12%25-35%
Customer lifetime value$365$600-900
Review collection rate3%15-20%

Translation: Only 12% of customers ever bought again. Most bought once and disappeared.

Why this happened:

No nurturing. No reason to come back. They were spending $85 to acquire a customer who bought once for $285 and never returned.

Category-specific insight:

Home decor is naturally repeat-purchase:

  • Customers decorate multiple rooms over time
  • Items wear out (rugs, textiles, candles)
  • Seasonal refresh (throw pillows, decor accents)
  • Moving/renovating triggers new purchases

But Harbor & Nest had no strategy to capture these.

Our Approach: How We Fix Funnels

Before showing the solutions, here's our methodology:

Step 1: Comprehensive Audit (Week 1)

  • Analytics deep dive (GA4, behavior flow)
  • Heat maps and session recordings
  • User testing with 10 target customers
  • Technical performance audit
  • Competitor analysis

Step 2: Funnel Mapping (Week 1)

  • Identify every decision point
  • Calculate conversion rate at each step
  • Find the biggest leaks
  • Prioritize by impact and effort

Step 3: Category-Specific Research (Week 2)

  • Study category purchase psychology
  • Interview 15-20 past customers
  • Analyze top-performing competitors
  • Identify unique category pain points

Step 4: Phased Implementation (Weeks 3-16)

  • Quick wins first (immediate impact)
  • Strategic changes next (bigger lifts)
  • Automation setup (Shopify Flow)
  • Test, measure, iterate

Step 5: Ongoing Optimization (Monthly)

  • Review metrics
  • A/B test one element
  • Refine based on data

Now let's see what we actually did for Harbor & Nest.

Customer shopping experience

The Solution: Funnel Optimization + Automation

We implemented fixes in 4 phases over 5 months, leveraging our expertise in conversion rate optimization.

Phase 1: Homepage Transformation (Weeks 1-3)

What we changed:

1. Aspirational Anchoring

Instead of mixed price points, we:

  • Hero section: Featured their $1,800 dining set (premium anchor)
  • Secondary: "Starting at $85" for entry-level decor
  • This made $400 furniture feel reasonable by comparison

2. Customer-Intent Segmentation

Replaced "Shop All" with clear pathways:

"Shop by Room"

  • Living Room
  • Bedroom
  • Dining Room
  • Home Office
  • Outdoor

"Shop by Project"

  • Complete Room Sets
  • Small Space Solutions
  • Coastal Refresh
  • Modern Minimalist

"Shop by Budget"

  • Under $150
  • $150-500
  • $500-1,000
  • Investment Pieces ($1,000+)

3. Social Proof Front and Center

Added immediately visible:

  • "Trusted by 15,000+ home enthusiasts"
  • 4.6★ rating from 890+ reviews
  • Instagram gallery: Real customer homes
  • "As seen in Apartment Therapy, Dwell"

4. Clear Value Proposition

Above the fold:

  • "Modern coastal living. Made accessible."
  • "Free shipping on orders $300+"
  • "90-day returns. No questions."

Results after 3 weeks:

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Homepage bounce rate64%48%-25%
Homepage → Collection28%44%+57%
Time on homepage0m 42s1m 18s+86%

Shopify automation dashboard

Phase 2: Collection Page Optimization (Weeks 3-6)

What we changed:

1. Curated Collections

Instead of "All Lighting" (187 products), we created:

  • "Dining Room Lighting" (34 products, curated for dining spaces)
  • "Bedroom Ambient Lighting" (28 products)
  • "Statement Chandeliers" (19 products, high-end)
  • "Modern Pendants" (42 products)
  • "Coastal Vibes" (31 products, style-focused)

Each collection was intentionally smaller and more focused.

2. Lifestyle Context

  • Primary product image: Lifestyle shot (in actual room)
  • Hover: Product-only shot on white
  • Quick view: Shows dimensions overlaid on room context

3. Smart Default Sorting

Different sorting for different collections:

  • "New Arrivals": Sort by newest
  • "Bestsellers": Sort by sales volume
  • Curated collections: Sort by designer picks
  • Budget collections: Sort by price (low to high)

4. Enhanced Filters

Added category-specific filters:

For Furniture:

  • Room size (Small <150 sq ft, Medium, Large >300 sq ft)
  • Assembly (Assembled, Easy Assembly, Professional)
  • Seating capacity (2-4, 5-6, 7+)

For Lighting:

  • Bulb type (LED included, Compatible, Hardwired)
  • Brightness (Ambient, Task, Accent)
  • Ceiling height (8ft, 9-10ft, 10ft+)

5. Quick Add to Cart

For accessories and small items, "Quick Add" button on collection grid (no need to visit product page for simple items like throw pillows).

Results after 3 weeks:

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Products viewed per session3.16.8+119%
Collection → Product page22%38%+73%
Bounce rate58%39%-33%
Quick-add usageN/A18%New

Luxury VIP shopping experience

Phase 3: Product Page Enhancement (Weeks 6-10)

What we changed:

1. Visual Storytelling

New image structure:

  • Hero image: Styled in room
  • Images 2-4: Different angles in context
  • Images 5-6: Close-ups (materials, details)
  • Image 7: Dimensions diagram overlay
  • Image 8: "Complete the look" styled shot

Added: AR room preview (see item in your actual space via phone camera)

2. Strategic Information Architecture

Above fold:

  • Product in lifestyle context
  • Star rating + review count (prominent)
  • Price
  • "Free shipping on $300+" (if applicable)
  • Quick info: "Arrives in 5-7 business days | Easy assembly | 90-day returns"

Below fold but prominent:

  • Size selector with dimension visualization
  • "See it in your space" AR button
  • Short description (benefit-focused, 3-4 sentences)
  • Key features (5 bullets max)
  • "Complete the room" suggestions

Further down:

  • Detailed specifications
  • Materials and care
  • Reviews (with photos filter)
  • Design story

3. Smart Urgency

Not shown immediately. After 30 seconds on page:

  • "Only 3 left in stock" (when < 5 units)
  • "Selling fast - 12 sold this week" (for trending items)
  • No indicator when well-stocked

4. "Complete the Room" Cross-Sells

Instead of algorithmic "related products," we:

  • Hired interior designer to create styled room sets
  • Showed 3-4 complementary items that actually go together
  • "Add all 4 items and save 10%"

Example:

  • Viewing: Coastal dining table ($680)
  • Suggested: Dining chairs set ($420), Pendant light ($180), Area rug ($240)
  • "Complete this look: $1,520 $1,368 (save $152)"

5. Review Prominence

  • Moved reviews from tab to immediately visible
  • Filter: "With photos" (customers trust photo reviews 3x more)
  • Show fit/quality ratings: "True to description: 94%"
  • Recent reviews first

Results after 4 weeks:

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Add-to-cart rate5.8%11.4%+97%
Time on page1m 12s2m 38s+119%
Cross-sell click rateN/A24%New
Cross-sell conversionN/A14%New
AR tool usageN/A31%New

The "Complete the room" feature alone added $82K monthly revenue.

Inventory management system

Phase 4: Cart & Checkout Optimization (Weeks 10-14)

What we changed:

1. Smart Cart Upsells

Applied "counter candy" strategy:

For furniture purchases (show small complementary items):

  • Furniture care kit ($18)
  • Furniture pads ($12)
  • Assembly upgrade ($99)

For lighting purchases:

  • LED bulbs 4-pack ($24)
  • Dimmer switch ($32)
  • Installation service ($85)

For textile purchases:

  • Fabric protector spray ($16)
  • Lint roller ($8)

All one-click add. Easy to ignore.

2. Free Shipping Threshold

Added progress bar:

  • "You're $47 away from free shipping!"
  • Suggested items to reach threshold (actually useful items)

3. Shipping Calculator

Before checkout, in cart:

  • "Enter zip code to see shipping cost and delivery date"
  • Showed exact cost immediately
  • No surprises at checkout

4. Cart Abandonment Recovery

Set up abandoned cart email sequence:

  • 1 hour: "Still thinking about [product]?"
  • 24 hours: Show product in styled context + customer reviews
  • 72 hours: "Complete your cart + get 10% off"

5. Express Checkout Options

Enabled:

  • Shop Pay
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • PayPal Express

For returning customers: One-click checkout via Shop Pay

6. Financing Visibility

For orders $500+:

  • "Or pay $52/month with Affirm"
  • Shown at cart and checkout prominently

Results after 4 weeks:

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Cart abandonment74%58%-22%
Items per order1.31.9+46%
Cart upsell uptakeN/A19%New
Free shipping threshold hitN/A34%New
Email recovery rateN/A24%New

Email marketing automation

Shopify Flow Automation: The Secret Weapon

This is where it gets really powerful.

We set up 15 automated workflows using Shopify Flow that ran 24/7 without manual intervention.

Flow Example #1: VIP Customer Identification

Trigger: Customer places 3rd order OR lifetime spend reaches $800

Actions:

  1. Add customer tag: "VIP"
  2. Send Slack notification to team
  3. Send personalized email: "Welcome to our VIP program"
  4. Add to VIP email segment
  5. Apply automatic 10% discount on future orders

Why this works: Identifies high-value customers automatically. Team can send handwritten thank-you note. VIP customers get special treatment.

Impact:

  • 340 customers tagged as VIP
  • VIP repeat purchase rate: 68% (vs 12% general)
  • VIP average order value: $485 (vs $285 general)

Flow Example #2: Low Stock Alerts

Trigger: Product inventory drops below 5 units

Actions:

  1. Add "Only X left" badge to product page
  2. Send email to subscribers who viewed this product: "Almost sold out"
  3. Notify purchasing team via Slack
  4. Pause Google Ads for that product (if inventory < 2)

Why this works: Creates real urgency. Prevents overselling. Alerts team to reorder.

Impact:

  • 18% increase in conversion for low-stock items
  • Zero overselling incidents
  • Faster reorder turnaround

Flow Example #3: High-Risk Order Hold

Trigger: Order total >$1,000 AND customer's first purchase AND shipping ≠ billing address

Actions:

  1. Hold order fulfillment
  2. Add tag: "Review - High Risk"
  3. Send Slack alert to fraud team
  4. Email customer: "Verify your order" (appear as security, not accusation)

Why this works: Prevents fraudulent orders. Protects revenue.

Impact:

  • Caught 12 fraudulent orders ($18,400 total)
  • Zero chargebacks from flagged orders

Flow Example #4: Project Completion Reminder

Trigger: Customer buys dining table

Actions:

  1. Wait 3 days
  2. Send email: "Complete your dining room"
  3. Show: Chairs, lighting, rug, wall art (curated to match table style)
  4. Offer: "Add any item for 15% off this week only"

Why this works: Home decor projects require multiple items. Proactive suggestion when customer is in "decorating mode."

Impact:

  • 22% of customers purchased additional items
  • Average secondary purchase: $240
  • Added $68K monthly revenue

Flow Example #5: Review Collection

Trigger: Order delivered (tracking confirms) + 7 days wait

Actions:

  1. Send email: "How's everything?"
  2. Include one-click review link
  3. Incentive: "Leave a review with photo → get $15 off next order"
  4. If no response after 5 days → Send reminder

Why this works: Timed perfectly (customer has received and used product). Photo reviews build trust.

Impact:

  • Review collection rate: 3% → 19%
  • 680 new reviews in 5 months
  • 45% included photos

Customer reviews and ratings

Flow Example #6: Replenishment Reminder

Trigger: Customer bought candles, textiles, or consumables + 60 days passed

Actions:

  1. Send email: "Time to refresh?"
  2. Show exact products they purchased
  3. "Reorder in one click" button
  4. Offer: "Subscribe and save 15%"

Why this works: Candles burn out. Textiles need replacing. Reminds customers at perfect time.

Impact:

  • 28% reorder rate
  • 12% converted to subscription
  • $24K monthly recurring revenue

Flow Example #7: Browse Abandonment Recovery

Trigger: Customer views product 2+ times but doesn't add to cart

Actions:

  1. Wait 24 hours
  2. Send email: "Still thinking about [product name]?"
  3. Show product in styled room context
  4. Include top 3 reviews
  5. "Need help deciding? Chat with our design team"

Why this works: They're interested but hesitant. Provide more context and reassurance.

Impact:

  • 11% conversion rate
  • Added $31K monthly revenue

Flow Example #8: Geographic Targeting

Trigger: Customer location = Coastal states (CA, FL, NC, SC, etc.)

Actions:

  1. Tag customer: "Coastal"
  2. Show coastal-themed homepage banner
  3. Email campaigns prioritize coastal collections
  4. Recommend weather-appropriate products

Why this works: Harbor & Nest's brand is "modern coastal." Coastal residents are ideal customers.

Impact:

  • Coastal customers convert 41% higher
  • AOV 23% higher
  • Better brand-customer fit

Flow Example #9: Wishlist Abandonment

Trigger: Customer adds 3+ items to wishlist but doesn't purchase + 5 days

Actions:

  1. Send email: "Your wishlist is waiting"
  2. Show all wishlist items
  3. If any item is on sale or low stock: Highlight it
  4. "Need a second opinion? Share your wishlist" (social sharing)

Why this works: Wishlist = high intent but not ready. Reminder + urgency triggers purchase.

Impact:

  • 16% conversion rate
  • Average order: $385 (higher than regular orders)

Flow Example #10: Seasonal Campaign Coordination

Trigger: Campaign start date (Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.)

Actions:

  1. Publish seasonal collection
  2. Enable site-wide banner
  3. Send email to all subscribers
  4. Activate seasonal social ads
  5. Update homepage hero
  6. Create urgency countdown (ends Monday night)

Why this works: Coordinates entire campaign automatically. No manual work.

Impact:

  • Memorial Day weekend: $180K (3.2x normal weekend)
  • Labor Day: $165K (2.9x normal)

Flow Example #11: Gift Purchase Detection

Trigger: Order includes gift message OR shipping ≠ billing address

Actions:

  1. Add tag: "Gift order"
  2. Include gift receipt (no prices)
  3. Upgrade to premium packaging (free)
  4. Add "From [name]" card
  5. Send "Gift sent!" email to buyer with tracking

Why this works: Enhances gift-giving experience. Builds loyalty.

Impact:

  • 18% of orders identified as gifts
  • Gift senders 2.3x more likely to buy again

Flow Example #12: Upsell Sequence

Trigger: Customer purchases entry-level item (<$100)

Actions:

  1. Wait 30 days
  2. Send email: "Ready to upgrade?"
  3. Show premium version of what they bought
  4. Highlight quality differences
  5. Offer: "Upgrade discount - 20% off premium items this week"

Why this works: Entry-level customers get product, like it, ready for premium.

Impact:

  • 9% upgrade rate
  • Lifetime value increase: $365 → $520

Flow Example #13: Inventory Restock Notifications

Trigger: Out-of-stock product inventory updated

Actions:

  1. Notify all customers who viewed that product (tracked via cookie)
  2. Email: "[Product] is back in stock!"
  3. Create 48-hour urgency: "Reserve yours now"
  4. If customer added to wishlist: Priority notification

Why this works: Captures pent-up demand immediately.

Impact:

  • 31% conversion rate (vs 2.1% general)
  • Fastest-moving restocks in company history

Flow Example #14: Post-Purchase Content Delivery

Trigger: Specific product purchased (e.g., furniture)

Actions:

  1. Wait 3 days
  2. Send: "Assembly guide + care tips" email
  3. Include video tutorial
  4. Styling suggestions
  5. "Share your space" CTA (incentive: Featured on Instagram)

Why this works: Reduces buyer's remorse. Encourages engagement and UGC.

Impact:

  • 280 customer photos collected
  • Used for social proof and marketing
  • Strengthened brand community

Flow Example #15: Win-Back Campaign

Trigger: Customer hasn't purchased in 6 months (previously purchased 2+ times)

Actions:

  1. Send email: "We miss you!"
  2. Show new arrivals since last purchase
  3. Personalized recommendations based on past purchases
  4. Offer: "Come back - here's 20% off"
  5. If no response after 14 days → Send final offer (25% off + free shipping)

Why this works: Re-engages lapsed customers before they're gone forever.

Impact:

  • 18% win-back rate
  • Recovered $52K in annual revenue

ROI and growth charts

Complete Results: The Transformation

Traffic & Conversion (5 months)

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Monthly visitors95,00095,0000%
Overall conversion rate2.1%4.8%+129%
Monthly orders1,9954,560+129%
Desktop conversion3.2%6.1%+91%
Mobile conversion1.6%4.1%+156%

Revenue & AOV

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Average order value$285$398+40%
Items per order1.31.9+46%
Monthly revenue$200K$400K+100%
Annual revenue (projected)$2.4M$4.8M+100%

Funnel Performance

StepBeforeAfterChange
Homepage → Collection28%44%+57%
Collection → Product22%38%+73%
Product → Add-to-cart5.8%11.4%+97%
Cart → Checkout26%42%+62%
Checkout completion79%88%+11%

Customer Metrics

MetricBeforeAfterChange
Repeat purchase rate12%28%+133%
Customer LTV$365$680+86%
Review rate3%19%+533%
AOV for VIP customersN/A$485New

Automation Impact

FlowMonthly Impact
Project completion emails$68K
Browse abandonment recovery$31K
Replenishment reminders$24K
Win-back campaign$52K annual
VIP program$145K (increased LTV)
Restock notifications$22K

Total automation impact: $290K+ monthly revenue attributed to flows.

Investment & ROI

Total Investment:

ItemCost
Comprehensive audit$15,000
Homepage redesign$12,000
Collection optimization$8,000
Product page enhancement$18,000
AR integration$12,000
Cart/checkout optimization$15,000
Shopify Flow setup (15 flows)$22,000
Content creation (room sets, photography)$14,000
Total$116,000

Return (First 5 Months):

Monthly revenue increase: $400K - $200K = $200K Total additional revenue: $200K × 5 = $1,000,000

Less additional costs (ads, fulfillment): ~$400K

Net additional profit: ~$600K

ROI: 417% in 5 months

Investment paid back in first 2.5 months.

Key Takeaways

1. Audit First, Act Second

We spent 2 weeks auditing before changing anything. This ensured we fixed the right problems, not random things. Our comprehensive store audit process identifies the highest-impact opportunities.

2. Category-Specific Matters

Home decor has unique psychology (visual, emotional, project-based). Generic CRO advice wouldn't work. We customized everything for the category.

3. Funnel Optimization Compounds

No single change was magic:

  • Homepage (+57% click-through)
  • Collections (+73% click-through)
  • Product pages (+97% add-to-cart)
  • Cart optimization (+62% checkout rate)

Combined: +129% overall conversion.

4. Automation Is a Force Multiplier

15 Shopify Flows running 24/7 added $290K+ monthly revenue without manual work. Set up once, runs forever.

5. Every Store Is Different

What worked for Harbor & Nest won't work exactly the same for your store. But the methodology (audit → prioritize → implement → automate) is universal.

What You Can Implement Today

Quick Wins (This Week):

  1. Enable Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay
  2. Add shipping calculator to cart
  3. Set up abandoned cart email (Shopify has built-in template)
  4. Move reviews above the fold on product pages

Medium Effort (This Month):

  1. Create 3 curated collections based on customer intent
  2. Add lifestyle images to product pages
  3. Set up 3 basic Shopify Flows (VIP tagging, low stock alerts, review requests)
  4. Add "Complete the look" cross-sells manually

Strategic Changes (This Quarter):

  1. Redesign homepage with customer segmentation
  2. Hire photographer for lifestyle product shots
  3. Set up comprehensive Flow automation (15+ workflows)
  4. Implement AR or room visualizer

Need Help With This?

This case study shows what's possible with systematic funnel optimization and automation.

We conduct comprehensive audits, identify category-specific issues, and implement solutions that compound.

Shopify Flow automation is our secret weapon—we typically set up 12-18 automated workflows that run 24/7 without manual intervention.

Interested in similar results for your store? Explore our conversion optimization services or check out our related case studies:


Harbor & Nest case study is based on a real client project. Some details have been modified to protect client confidentiality. All metrics and results are accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shopify Flow and how does it help conversion?

Shopify Flow is a powerful automation tool (free on Shopify Plus, or via apps on standard Shopify) that lets you create if-this-then-that workflows. For conversion optimization, we use it to automatically identify VIP customers, send timely follow-ups, create urgency with low-stock alerts, recover abandoned carts, and personalize experiences—all without manual work. In this case study, 15 automated flows added $290K+ monthly revenue.

How long does it take to optimize an ecommerce funnel?

Quick wins can show results in 1-2 weeks. Comprehensive optimization typically takes 3-5 months to fully implement and see maximum impact. In this case: Homepage changes showed +57% improvement in 3 weeks, full funnel optimization delivered +129% conversion in 5 months.

What's the ROI of conversion rate optimization?

ROI varies by store, but we typically see 300-600% ROI in the first year. In this case study: $116K investment returned $600K net profit in 5 months (417% ROI). The ongoing benefit continues as traffic grows and flows run automatically.

How do you audit an ecommerce store?

Our audit process includes: (1) Analytics deep dive using GA4 to identify drop-off points, (2) Heat maps and session recordings to see user behavior, (3) User testing with 10 target customers, (4) Technical performance audit, (5) Category-specific competitive analysis. Takes 1-2 weeks for comprehensive audit.

What Shopify Flow automations should every store have?

Essential flows: (1) Abandoned cart recovery, (2) Review collection after delivery, (3) Low stock alerts, (4) VIP customer identification, (5) High-risk order flagging. These 5 flows alone typically add 15-25% revenue lift with zero ongoing manual work.

Is this applicable to categories other than home decor?

Yes, but the specific tactics change by category. Home decor needs room visualizers and project-based collections. Fashion needs fit guidance and outfit combinations. Electronics need detailed specs and comparison tools. The methodology (audit → category-specific fixes → automation) is universal, but implementation differs.

How much does Shopify Flow cost?

Shopify Flow is free for Shopify Plus stores. For standard Shopify stores, you can use automation apps like Flow by Shopify ($10-30/month) or similar alternatives. Setup is the main cost: typically $1,000-2,500 per flow for professional implementation.

Can I implement Shopify Flows myself?

Yes, if you're technical. Shopify Flow has a visual builder that's relatively user-friendly. However, complex flows (like VIP identification with multiple conditions or geographic targeting) often require developer expertise to set up correctly. Many stores start with simple flows themselves and hire experts for advanced automation.

ScaleFront Team

Written by ScaleFront Team

The ScaleFront team helps Shopify brands optimize their stores, improve conversion rates, and scale profitably.

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