How to Use Shoppable Galleries to Boost Average Order Value

technologhy
Sep 10, 2025
8M
Alice Pham

Increasing your store’s average order value (AOV) is one of the smartest ways to maximize revenue without constantly chasing new customers. Instead of spending more on ads to acquire traffic, you can focus on encouraging existing visitors to buy more in a single transaction.

One highly effective method to achieve this is by using shoppable galleries. These interactive galleries let customers browse lifestyle images or lookbooks and purchase products directly from them. This creates a seamless shopping journey that both inspires and reduces friction.

In this article, we’ll explore how shoppable galleries work, why they boost AOV, practical strategies you can apply to your online store, and the best tools to help you implement them.

What Are Shoppable Galleries?

A shoppable gallery is a curated collection of lifestyle or product images that customers can interact with. Instead of just looking at photos, shoppers can click on tagged items within the image to view details and purchase instantly.

For example, imagine a fashion store showcasing a photo of a model wearing a full outfit. Instead of linking only to the jacket, a shoppable gallery lets customers click on the jacket, shoes, pants, and even accessories, all available to add to cart directly.

This approach transforms visual inspiration into instant purchasing, bridging the gap between browsing and buying.

Why Shoppable Galleries Boost AOV?

Shoppable galleries do more than make your website look good. They directly impact buying behavior and cart value. Here’s why:

1. Encourage Product Bundling

When customers see products grouped together, they are more likely to purchase them as a set rather than individually. A styled collection eliminates the guesswork of mixing and matching.

  • Fashion Example: A full outfit with shoes, bag, and jewelry. Instead of buying only the dress, the shopper feels tempted to complete the look.
  • Home Decor Example: A cozy living room display showing a sofa, rug, and coffee table encourages buying all three instead of just one item.

Bundling not only drives higher order values but also improves customer satisfaction by delivering a complete experience.

2. Reduce Decision Fatigue

Customers often abandon carts because they feel overwhelmed by choices. Shoppable galleries act as a personal shopping assistant, showing curated combinations so the customer doesn’t need to think too much.

When people are guided, they make faster decisions and often buy more. For example, a tech store could show a “Work from Home Desk Setup” gallery that includes a laptop stand, wireless mouse, and ergonomic chair. Instead of browsing 20 product pages, the shopper sees the essentials in one place.

3. Inspire Lifestyle Purchases

Shoppable galleries tap into aspirational buying. People don’t just buy products, but they buy the lifestyle associated with them. By showcasing products in real-life scenarios, you help customers imagine how items will fit into their own lives.

  • A fitness brand showing a morning yoga routine inspires customers to buy not just the mat, but also leggings, water bottle, and fitness tracker.
  • A cookware brand showing a family dinner setup motivates shoppers to buy multiple kitchen tools to recreate the scene.

4. Increase Cross-Selling Opportunities

Traditional product recommendations often appear as “Related Products” at the bottom of a page. Shoppable galleries, however, present cross-sells in a more natural way.

For example, on a product page for a blazer, instead of recommending random shoes, a shoppable gallery shows a styled business outfit with trousers, belt, and loafers. The suggestion feels intentional rather than algorithmic, making customers more likely to add extras.

5. Drive Higher Perceived Value

When items are shown together, customers perceive the collection as more valuable than the individual items. This can justify premium pricing or upsell bundles, further increasing AOV.

Key Strategies to Use Shoppable Galleries for Higher AOV

Implementing shoppable galleries successfully requires strategy. Here are proven methods to maximize results:

1. Create “Shop the Look” Experiences

Customers love ready-to-buy looks. A “Shop the Look” feature makes it simple to purchase everything from an outfit to a room decor setup.

  • How to Apply:


    • Style products into complete looks.
    • Add clickable hotspots for each product.
    • Offer a one-click “Add All to Cart” option.

  • Industries That Benefit: Fashion, beauty, home decor, fitness, travel gear.

This works because it eliminates friction and customers don’t need to search multiple product pages.

2. Build Seasonal or Themed Collections

Customers often shop for a specific season or occasion. A shoppable gallery tailored to these needs drives multiple purchases.

  • Examples:
    • Fashion: “Winter Wardrobe Essentials” gallery with coats, boots, and scarves.
    • Home Decor: “Holiday Table Setup” with dinnerware, candles, and placemats.
    • Beauty: “Summer Skincare Routine” with SPF, toner, and serum.

By grouping relevant items together, you create a natural buying path where customers feel compelled to buy the entire set.

3. Highlight User-Generated Content (UGC) in Galleries

People trust other customers more than branded content. By turning user-generated photos into shoppable galleries, you combine authenticity with commerce.

  • Collect photos from Instagram or customer reviews.
  • Tag each product in the photo.
  • Create a UGC gallery showcasing real-life product use.

This not only builds trust but also encourages community engagement—customers get excited to be featured on your site.

4. Use Galleries to Promote Bundles & Upsells

Shoppable galleries are perfect for showing value-added bundles instead of pushing products individually.

  • Bundle Strategy: Tag a base product with accessories that improve its functionality.
  • Upsell Strategy: Show premium alternatives side by side in the gallery.

Example: A coffee brand can show a “Morning Coffee Kit” gallery with a grinder, premium beans, and a French press. Customers are likely to purchase more when they see how the items complete each other.

5. Optimize Galleries for Mobile Shopping

With over 70% of eCommerce traffic coming from mobile, galleries must be mobile-friendly.

  • Use lightweight, high-resolution images to reduce load times.
  • Make product tags large enough for tapping.
  • Enable one-click checkout directly from the gallery.

A smooth mobile experience is key for impulse purchases, which are often higher in value.

6. Integrate Galleries Across Your Store

Shoppable galleries shouldn’t live in one corner of your site. Integrate them across multiple touchpoints:

  • Homepage banners (seasonal looks).
  • Product pages (Complete the Look).
  • Blog articles (turn inspiration posts into galleries).
  • Email campaigns (embed lifestyle photos linked to shoppable content).

The more exposure customers have to these galleries, the more opportunities they have to increase order value.

7. Leverage Data & Analytics for Gallery Optimization

Data helps you identify which galleries drive the biggest AOV.

  • Metrics to Track:
    • Click-through rates on product tags.
    • Add-to-cart conversions from galleries.
    • Average order value uplift compared to normal browsing.
  • How to Optimize:
    • Remove low-performing products.
    • Test different photo styles (studio vs. lifestyle).
    • Experiment with bundle pricing.

Regular testing ensures your galleries continue to drive measurable growth.

Best Practices for Designing Shoppable Galleries

A great gallery balances inspiration with usability. Follow these best practices to maximize effectiveness:

1. Focus on Lifestyle Imagery

Lifestyle photos show products in action. They tell a story, helping customers picture themselves owning the product. Use aspirational settings that reflect your target audience’s lifestyle.

2. Use Clear, Interactive Tags

Product tags must be visible but subtle. Use hover effects, small icons, or text labels that make it clear which items are clickable without cluttering the photo.

3. Offer a “Buy the Entire Look” Option

Adding all items at once should be frictionless. A single button like “Add All to Cart” can significantly increase AOV because it saves time for the shopper.

4. Balance Inspiration and Clarity

While beautiful images are essential, customers also need details. Use quick-view popups that show product names, prices, and a brief description without taking users away from the gallery.

5. Keep Navigation Simple

Avoid overloading galleries with too many tags or complex layouts. A clean design ensures the shopping journey feels effortless.

6. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness

Test galleries on different devices. Mobile shoppers should enjoy the same intuitive experience as desktop users.

Lookfy – The Best Lookbook and Gallery App to Create Shoppable Galleries

When it comes to creating shoppable galleries and lookbooks on Shopify, Lookfy stands out as one of the most powerful and user-friendly apps. It’s designed specifically to help merchants transform lifestyle images, collections, or even Instagram-style feeds into interactive galleries where customers can shop directly.

Pricing

Lookfy offers flexible pricing plans suitable for different store sizes:

  • Free Plan: Ideal for small stores just starting out. Includes basic gallery creation with limited features.
  • Paid Plans: Starting at $5.99/month, which unlock advanced features like unlimited galleries, product tagging, analytics, and priority support.

This pricing makes Lookfy accessible to both small businesses and larger brands that want to scale.

Key Features of Lookfy

  • Drag-and-Drop Gallery Builder: Create lookbooks and galleries with ease, no coding required.
  • Shop the Look Functionality: Tag multiple products in one image, allowing customers to purchase complete outfits or setups.
  • Product Tagging & Hotspots: Add clickable tags directly onto lifestyle photos, so shoppers can explore items instantly.
  • Add All to Cart Option: Customers can buy the entire look in one click, increasing AOV significantly.
  • Mobile-Optimized Design: Ensures galleries look stunning and functional on all devices.
  • Analytics Dashboard: Track clicks, conversions, and sales generated from each gallery.
  • Customizable Layouts: Choose grid, slider, or masonry styles to match your brand’s theme.

How Customers Can Use Lookfy to Create Shoppable Galleries

Using Lookfy is straightforward, even for non-technical store owners:

  • Install Lookfy from the Shopify App Store – Once installed, connect your store’s product catalog.
  • Upload Lifestyle Images or Lookbooks – Add product photos, styled outfit shots, or themed collections.
  • Tag Products in the Gallery – Use the hotspot tool to tag items within each image. For example, tag a dress, handbag, and shoes in a single photo.
  • Embed the Gallery on Your Store – Place it on your homepage, product pages, blog posts, or landing pages.
  • Enable “Add All to Cart” – Give customers the option to buy an entire look or collection instantly.
  • Track Performance with Analytics – Monitor which galleries drive the most clicks and conversions, then optimize based on results.

By following these steps, merchants can turn static images into interactive sales channels that encourage customers to buy multiple products together.

Lookfy is not just a gallery app, but it’s a conversion tool built to boost both customer engagement and average order value. For fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and home decor brands, it’s the go-to choice to create immersive shopping experiences.

Conclusion

Shoppable galleries are more than just visually appealing features—they are powerful sales tools that can significantly increase your average order value. By showing products in context, encouraging bundling, and making it effortless to buy multiple items at once, galleries bridge the gap between inspiration and conversion.

From “Shop the Look” collections to UGC galleries, and from bundled product displays to mobile-optimized layouts, these strategies transform how customers shop. Combined with the right apps and careful design, shoppable galleries help customers feel inspired while driving measurable revenue growth.