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If you're running a Shopify store and using Klaviyo, your flows are the difference between a list that pays you passively and a list that just sits there. This post breaks down the best Klaviyo flows for Shopify brands, what each one does, and how to prioritize them.
Why Shopify + Klaviyo Is the Standard Retention Stack
Klaviyo is the most widely used email platform for Shopify brands because the integration is native and deep. Klaviyo pulls in your full Shopify order history, syncs your product catalog, and tracks on-site behavior in real time - page views, product views, cart activity, checkout steps, and purchases.
That behavioral data is what makes flows possible. Every flow in Klaviyo is triggered by something a customer did (or didn't do) on your Shopify store.
The Best Klaviyo Flows for Shopify, Ranked by Impact
1. Welcome Series
What it does: Triggers when someone subscribes to your list - usually through a popup, landing page, or checkout opt-in.
Why it matters: This is the highest open-rate window you'll ever have with a subscriber. They just said yes to hearing from you. A 3-4 email welcome series that delivers your offer, tells your brand story, and drives to your bestsellers will consistently be your top revenue-generating flow.
Shopify-specific tip: Use Klaviyo's Shopify integration to pull in your top-selling products dynamically inside the welcome series. No manual updating needed.
2. Abandoned Cart
What it does: Triggers when someone adds to cart and starts checkout but doesn't complete the purchase.
Why it matters: Klaviyo data consistently shows abandoned cart as one of the highest-converting flows for Shopify stores. The customer already has purchase intent - they just need a nudge.
Best structure: 3 emails - a 1-hour reminder, a 24-hour objection handler, and a 48-72 hour urgency close. Use Klaviyo's dynamic product blocks to show the exact items they left behind.
3. Browse Abandonment
What it does: Triggers when someone views a product on your Shopify store but doesn't add to cart.
Why it matters: Lower intent than cart abandonment but much higher volume. A well-timed browse abandonment email - sent 1-4 hours after the visit - captures customers who were interested but got distracted.
Key setup note: Add a flow filter to exclude anyone who started checkout or purchased in the last 7 days. You don't want to send a browse email to someone already in your cart flow.
4. Post-Purchase Flow
What it does: Triggers immediately after a Shopify order is placed.
Why it matters: The post-purchase window is the highest-trust moment in the customer relationship. A strong post-purchase flow thanks them, sets expectations, asks for a review at the right time, and cross-sells based on what they bought - all automatically.
LTV impact: Brands that build out a full post-purchase sequence (4-5 emails over 30 days) see measurably higher repeat purchase rates compared to brands that only send a transactional order confirmation.
5. Winback Flow
What it does: Targets customers who purchased at least once but haven't ordered in 90-120 days.
Why it matters: Re-engaging a lapsed customer is significantly cheaper than acquiring a new one. Klaviyo makes it easy to build a segment of at-risk customers and hit them with a winback sequence before they churn permanently.
Best practice: End the winback flow with a suppression step - if someone goes through the full sequence and still doesn't engage, remove them from your active list to protect deliverability.
6. Back-in-Stock Flow
What it does: Notifies customers when a product they were interested in is back in inventory on Shopify.
Why it matters: These emails have some of the highest open and click rates of any flow because the customer opted in specifically for that notification. If you sell products that sell out, this flow is non-negotiable.
7. Price Drop Flow
What it does: Alerts customers when a product they viewed or saved drops in price.
Why it matters: Captures price-sensitive buyers who were on the fence. Works especially well for higher-ticket products where cost is the main objection.
8. Sunset / Unengaged Flow
What it does: Runs contacts through a last-chance re-engagement sequence before suppressing them from your list.
Why it matters: Deliverability on Klaviyo is tied to engagement. Keeping unengaged contacts on your list hurts your sender reputation and inbox placement. A sunset flow cleans your list automatically and keeps your metrics healthy.
How Many Klaviyo Flows Does a Shopify Brand Actually Need?
For a mid-size Shopify brand doing $500K-$5M/year, you realistically need 8-12 flows to cover the full customer lifecycle. That includes pre-purchase flows (welcome, browse, cart), post-purchase flows (thank you, cross-sell, review request, winback), and list health flows (sunset).
At Sendly, we build 24 flows for every client - covering every stage of the funnel with Shopify-native triggers and personalization built in. Brands like Body Glove, Dakine, and Dr. Brandt have gone through the process.
How Long Does It Take to Set Up Klaviyo Flows on Shopify?
Building all 8-12 core flows from scratch - including copy, design, trigger setup, flow filters, and QA - takes most brands 30-50 hours if they're doing it themselves. Most never finish.
The faster path is working with a done-for-you Klaviyo agency that already has the frameworks built. At Sendly, we deliver a full flow build in 14-21 days, one-time payment, no retainer.
Book a free strategy call and we'll audit what your Shopify store is missing.
Sendly is a done-for-you Klaviyo and SMS agency for Shopify brands. We've helped 80+ ecommerce brands generate $30M+ in revenue through retention marketing.
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