Offering free delivery at a certain spend threshold is a proven way to incentivize customers to add more to their cart. Many shoppers would rather purchase extra items than pay a delivery fee. You can use Fresh Relevance to detect the cart value in real time and show relevant, dynamic content to help customers reach that threshold.
This guide combines three practical approaches:
Show product recommendations that match the spend gap needed to qualify for free delivery.
Display dynamic cart page banners that indicate how much more the customer needs to spend, or confirm they already qualify.
Include dynamic messaging in cart abandonment emails to remind customers how close they are to free delivery.
By using these tactics together, you can maximize the chance that customers increase their order value before checkout.
Before you start
Things you need to know:
You need to have an accurate cart value tracking using CV or Cart Subtotal Variable.
The solution:
Is dependent on having adequate product inventory in each price band.
Requires integration between Fresh Relevance and your messaging provider for email placement outside the Cart Layout.
Example use cases
Cart page product recommendations
A customer has $65 worth of products in their cart and free delivery is available at $100. Instead of paying a $6 delivery fee, they might prefer to add another product. The cart page can display recommendations priced between $35 and $50, so they can instantly see items that will push them over the threshold.
Dynamic cart page banners
A shopper browsing their cart sees a banner stating "Spend $15 more to qualify for free delivery." Once they add another product and exceed the threshold, the banner updates to "You qualify for free delivery!" This immediate feedback can encourage action before they leave the site.
Cart abandonment email banners
A customer abandons their cart worth $48 when the free delivery threshold is $50. You can include a banner in the email that sent later reminding them about free delivery "Add $2 more to get free delivery." This message can be placed directly in the cart layout or in other areas of the email to drive re-engagement.
Solution overview
To implement these strategies in Fresh Relevance, use:
Recommendation SmartBlocks with Slot rules based on cart value.
Dynamic banner SmartBlocks with Jinja code to calculate spend needed.
Cart Layout or messaging provider Field Mapping to include threshold messaging in emails.
Merge Parameters such as CV (cart value) and curr (currency code).
Trigger Programs to send cart abandonment emails with threshold logic.
Step-by-step guide to setting up free delivery messaging
1. Set up cart page product recommendations
Go to Content > SmartBlocks.
Create separate Recommendation SmartBlocks for specific price ranges, for example $5–$10, $10–$15, $15–$25.
Configure each SmartBlock to filter products within its price band.
In your Slot rules, define conditions based on cart value to show the correct SmartBlock.
Example: If free delivery is $100 and the cart value is $65, display the $35–$50 SmartBlock.
Deploy the Slot to your cart page.
Ensure you have enough products in each price band for relevant results. If delivery costs are included in the cart total, use a Cart Subtotal Variable.
2. Create cart page banners with free delivery messaging
Go to Content > SmartBlocks and select the Banner tab.
Select CREATE NEW SMARTBLOCK, choose Create Dynamic, and select a textual template.
In the Properties tab, add CV and curr to Merge Parameters.
Add Jinja code to your banner text area:
{% if merges.cv < 60 %}
Spend ${{ (60 - merges.cv) }} more to qualify for free delivery!
{% else %}
You qualify for free delivery!
{% endif %}Replace 60 with your actual threshold.
Style the banner as desired.
Select PUBLISH AND USE and deploy using Slot rules to your cart page.
3. Add threshold messaging to cart abandonment emails
Option A – Add directly in Cart Layout
In the left nav, select Content | Cart Layout.
Hover over the layout you want and select View.
Choose where to place the messaging (before, after, or within product listings).
Edit the Cart Layout code to include the provided Jinja snippet for threshold message.
Save, then test using your Trigger Program before going live.
Option B – Pass threshold messaging using messaging provider Field Mapping
Go to Settings | messaging provider.
Next to your messaging provider, select Field Mappings.
Add a custom field name, for example, threshold_text.
Add the Jinja code to dynamically calculate the spend needed and save changes.
Use this field as a variable in your messaging provider email builder to place the message anywhere in your email.
Test and deploy as part of your cart abandonment Trigger Program.
Best practices
Keep price bands relevant to your catalog size and average product price.
Make threshold messages short and clear.
Always test Slots, layouts, and Trigger Programs before going live.
If using the Catch-all feature in Trigger Programs, monitor emails to confirm correct firing.