The Shift to Owned Channels for Better Margins

In a retail environment where paid acquisition costs are constantly rising, relying solely on third-party ad networks is a quick way to drain your profit margins. Today, successful Shopify brands focus heavily on owned channels. By utilizing email automation and push notifications, operators can communicate directly through platforms they control, eliminating reliance on fluctuating ad rates. This independence is the foundation of sustainable eCommerce growth.

What Are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are those quick, attention-grabbing messages that pop up on your device, whether you’re actively using it or not. You might see them on your lock screen, in your browser, or even while using an app. They provide updates, special offers, or reminders in real-time: think of them as little nudges that keep your audience engaged with your brand. Tools such as PushOwl & Brevo make this easier.

From flash sales to delivery updates and event reminders, push notifications have become a common part of our daily digital experience. Even though they feel like a staple of modern communication, they’re actually pretty new. Apple introduced them in 2009 with the Apple Push Notification Service (APNS). This was a game-changer for how businesses connect with their audiences, making push notifications essential for real-time interactions.

Take a look at their influence:

97% of Americans own a smartphone.

The average person in the U.S. checks their phone 144 times a day.

On average, 46 push notifications are received daily.

Opt-in rates are impressive, with about 51% of iOS users and 81% of Android users signing up.

What Is Email Automation?

If push notifications are the immediate nudge, email automation is your persistent, data-driven sales assistant. Email automation allows you to send the right message to the right segment at exactly the right moment. It removes the manual labor from customer follow-ups by using specific dates, subscriber preferences, and real-time site behaviors to trigger personalized sequences.

Often referred to as triggered emails, this methodology allows operators to scale relationship-building. For example, if a user browses a specific product category or interacts with a VIP promotion, the system automatically deploys a highly relevant follow-up. If your brand is looking to implement advanced workflows, reaching out to a team that handles Klaviyo Automations or Brevo setups ensures that your marketing runs on autopilot while maintaining strict brand alignment.

Why You Need Both: The Multi-Channel Approach

Email automation and push notifications are crucial for modern retention strategies, especially as traditional advertising costs erode margins. Here is exactly why senior eCommerce operators utilize both systems simultaneously:

• Cost-Effective Acquisition: Unlike paid media campaigns that require a massive and continuous budget to sustain visibility, email and push channels allow you to reach your audience at a fraction of the cost.
• Unmatched Personalization: These tools are built around custom data variables. Operators can send highly tailored messages based on individual shopping behaviors and preferences, which historically drives much higher conversion rates than broad advertising.
• Long-Term Loyalty: While paid ads are great for initial top-of-funnel awareness, automated emails and push alerts actively nurture the long-term relationship. They keep your brand top-of-mind with timely updates and educational content.
• Superior ROI: Because you are targeting a warm audience with zero media spend per click, the return on investment consistently outperforms top-of-funnel ads.

Introduction to PushOwl & Brevo

PushOwl is a game-changing web push notification app made just for Shopify stores, helping businesses connect with their visitors and increase sales. With PushOwl, you can send real-time notifications right to your subscribers’ devices, whether they’re using their phones or browsing on a desktop. This keeps your brand in their minds even when they’re not actively checking out your site.

What really makes PushOwl special is how it emphasizes automation and personalization. It includes handy features like abandoned cart reminders, back-in-stock alerts, and flash sale announcements, all designed to draw customers back to your store and keep them engaged. Plus, its segmented marketing options let you target specific groups with messages that really speak to their interests and behaviors.

Installation:

Getting PushOwl set up on your Shopify store is easy and it takes just a few easy steps:

1.   Visit the PushOwl App Page: Go to the PushOwl page on the Shopify App Store.
   

2.   Install and Grant Permissions: Shopify will take you to your admin dashboard. Just click “Install app” to finish the setup and allow PushOwl to work with your store.

Once you’ve got PushOwl up and running, setting up a solid push notification and email automation strategy is effortless with the PushOwl & Brevo integration. This powerful combination lets you connect with your customers through web push notifications, emails, and SMS: all from one platform. Here’s how to get started:

1. Sync Your Shopify Data: After installation, the app will sync your Shopify data, including customer info, product details, and orders. This sets you up for personalized messaging and effective audience segmentation.
2.   Authenticate Your Domain: To ensure your emails land in inboxes instead of spam folders, authenticate your domain on the Brevo platform. This step helps establish your sender identity and boosts deliverability.
3.   Set Up Your Sender Identity: Create a sender profile with your business name and email address, so your audience immediately recognizes your emails.
4.   Design and Automate Campaigns:

Push Notifications: Use PushOwl to send personalized, real-time notifications for sales, back-in-stock updates, and cart reminders.

5.   Email Campaigns: Brevo’s drag-and-drop editor makes it simple to create beautiful emails, and you can easily pull in your Shopify products with just one click.
6.   SMS Campaigns: Set up SMS messages for time-sensitive updates or offers to keep your customers engaged on the go.
7.   Automate Your Marketing: Create workflows that automatically send messages based on customer actions, like welcoming new subscribers or re-engaging those who haven’t interacted in a while. You can also set up abandoned cart reminders to encourage customers to complete their purchases.
8.   Segment Your Audience: Organize your subscribers into targeted lists based on their behaviors and preferences. This way, your messages become more relevant, leading to better engagement.
9.   Track and Optimize: Use the app’s analytics to keep an eye on how your campaigns are performing. A/B tests different strategies and refine your approach to achieve the best results.

By combining PushOwl and Brevo, you’re giving your Shopify store an all-in-one solution to connect with your audience across various channels. It’s a smart, scalable way to boost conversions and build lasting customer loyalty.

Ark Crystal Store Case Study

Using PushOwl for web push notifications and Brevo for email automation has been a game-changer for Ark Crystal Store, really enhancing customer engagement and ramping up sales. Let’s dive into the numbers from the past week to see just how effective this strategy has been.

Performance Overview (Nov 26 – Dec 2):

Revenue: (up 118% from last week)

New Customers: (89% of revenue, 41 orders)

Returning Customers: (11% of revenue, 5 orders)

Total Orders: (up 130%)

New Customers: (up 105%)

The Strategy:

By combining PushOwl’s web push notifications with Brevo’s email automation, the store connected with both new and returning customers in a timely and meaningful way.

Push Notifications:

Automated abandoned cart reminders brought customers back to finish their purchases.

Flash sales and back-in-stock alerts created a sense of urgency, driving quick conversions.

Real-time updates kept customers in the loop, contributing to a 130% increase in orders.

Email Automation:

Welcome emails and targeted promotions helped turn leads into first-time buyers, making up 89% of revenue from new customers.

Re-engagement campaigns encouraged returning customers to make more purchases, boosting loyalty-driven sales.

Key Product Insights:

Some standout products during this period included the ARK Crystal & Classic Pendant Set, and the ARK Crystal & Purple Water Bottle Set. Personalized notifications and emails effectively showcased these popular items, and the detailed audience segmentation ensured they reached the right customers, speeding up sales.

What Worked:

Personalized Messaging: Both PushOwl and Brevo allowed for tailored messages that really resonated with customers.

Real-Time Engagement: Push notifications tapped into moments of interest, like abandoned carts and flash sales, converting leads quickly.

Data-Driven Insights: Analytics from both platforms helped optimize campaigns, leading to significant revenue and order growth.

Results:

The results were impressive:

Revenue grew by 118% compared to the previous week.

The number of new customers doubled, with a 105% increase in first-time buyers.

Total orders jumped by 130%, showing just how effective this combined approach is.

 This case study highlights how powerful it is to integrate PushOwl and Brevo for Shopify stores. By leveraging personalized notifications and automated emails, Ark Crystal Store not only boosted sales but also strengthened its relationship with both new and returning customers. This strategy offers a smart, cost-effective way to maximize revenue and engagement in today’s competitive eCommerce landscape.