How many emails should an abandoned-cart flow have?

Two to three is a common, effective range. A timely first reminder recovers most of the value; one or two well-spaced follow-ups capture additional sales. More than three messages tends to increase unsubscribes without proportional gains.

Should I offer a discount in the cart reminder?

Not necessarily. Many carts are recovered by a simple, timely reminder with no discount at all. If you do offer one, consider holding it for a later message so you don't train shoppers to abandon carts on purpose, and make sure it fits your margins.

Who enters the abandoned-cart flow?

Shoppers who start checkout or add to cart and don't complete the purchase. Boostmail uses your Shopify checkout events to trigger the flow, and you can target it to subscribers who have consented to marketing.

Does this run automatically once it's on?

Yes. Once activated, the flow runs 24/7 with no manual work, every qualifying cart triggers the sequence you configured.

Set up an abandoned-cart flow

Reviewed by Eran Betzalel, founder · 2026-06-29

An abandoned-cart flow automatically emails shoppers who add items to their cart but don’t check out, and it is one of the highest-return automations a store can run, because studies of cart abandonment consistently find that a large share of online carts are never completed. Boostmail ships an abandoned-cart template wired to your Shopify checkout events, so you can have it recovering sales on autopilot in a few minutes.

How the flow works

When a shopper begins checkout or adds to cart and then leaves without purchasing, Boostmail’s automation starts a timed sequence of reminder emails. Each step waits a set delay, then sends, bringing the shopper back to a pre-filled cart so completing the order is one click away. Once you turn it on, it runs around the clock with no manual effort.

Designing the messages

Keep the first email simple and helpful: show the product they left, add a prominent Return to cart button, and include reassurance such as free-shipping thresholds, easy returns, or a customer review. You can draft the copy with AI and then edit it to sound like your brand.

For timing and sequence:

First reminder, fairly soon after abandonment (often 30 minutes to a few hours), while intent is fresh.
Second reminder, hours later or the next day; this is a good place to add gentle urgency.
Optional third, a final nudge, where a small incentive can help if it fits your margins.

Resist the temptation to add more steps than that. Over-messaging drives unsubscribes and spam complaints, which hurt your sender reputation.

Before you activate

Send yourself a test and confirm the cart link, product images, and prices render correctly, then switch the flow on. After it is live, check its performance periodically and adjust delays or copy based on what converts.

A welcome flow is a natural companion to cart recovery. See welcome series to greet new subscribers and turn first-time visitors into buyers.

1

Open Automations and choose Abandoned cart

In Boostmail, go to Automations and start a new flow from the Abandoned cart template. It comes pre-wired to the Shopify checkout-started trigger, so you are not building the logic from scratch.
2

Confirm the trigger

The flow triggers when a shopper begins checkout or adds to cart but does not complete the purchase. Confirm the trigger is enabled so qualifying carts enter the automation automatically.
3

Set the first reminder delay

Choose how long to wait before the first email, commonly somewhere between 30 minutes and a few hours. Soon enough that intent is fresh, but not so fast it feels pushy.
4

Design the recovery email

Use the drag-and-drop builder to remind the shopper what they left behind. Include the product, a clear Return to cart button, and reassurance like shipping or returns info. Use AI to draft the copy, then edit it to your voice.
5

Add follow-up steps

Add a second (and optional third) email spaced hours or a day apart. A later message can add urgency or, if it fits your margins, a small incentive. Avoid over-messaging, which drives unsubscribes.
6

Preview, test, and activate

Send yourself a test, verify the cart link and product details render correctly, then turn the flow on. From that point it recovers carts automatically, around the clock.

Frequently asked questions

How many emails should an abandoned-cart flow have?: Two to three is a common, effective range. A timely first reminder recovers most of the value; one or two well-spaced follow-ups capture additional sales. More than three messages tends to increase unsubscribes without proportional gains.
Should I offer a discount in the cart reminder?: Not necessarily. Many carts are recovered by a simple, timely reminder with no discount at all. If you do offer one, consider holding it for a later message so you don't train shoppers to abandon carts on purpose, and make sure it fits your margins.
Who enters the abandoned-cart flow?: Shoppers who start checkout or add to cart and don't complete the purchase. Boostmail uses your Shopify checkout events to trigger the flow, and you can target it to subscribers who have consented to marketing.
Does this run automatically once it's on?: Yes. Once activated, the flow runs 24/7 with no manual work, every qualifying cart triggers the sequence you configured.