What is Repeat Purchase Rate?

Repeat Purchase Rate is the percentage of customers who make more than one purchase from a store within a specific timeframe. A high repeat purchase rate indicates that a significant number of customers are coming back for additional purchases, reflecting customer loyalty and satisfaction with the brand.

What is Repeat Purchase Rate?

Repeat Purchase Rate (RPR) is the percentage of customers who make more than one purchase within a specific timeframe.

This metric reflects customer loyalty and satisfaction, highlighting the effectiveness of your efforts in attracting repeat business. 

A high repeat purchase rate indicates a large base of loyal customers who consistently choose your brand, boosting long-term revenue and reducing acquisition costs.

How to Calculate Repeat Purchase Rate

The formula for calculating your repeat purchase rate involves dividing the number of customers who made multiple purchases by the total number of customers during a specified period and multiplying the result by 100. 

The formula is expressed as follows:

RPR = Number of Repeat Customers / Total Number of Customers * 100%

In this formula:

  • “Number of Repeat Customers” represents the amount of customers who have made more than one purchase in the specified timeframe.
  • “Total Number of Customers” is the number of unique customers who bought during the specified timeframe.

This calculation provides a percentage that reflects the proportion of customers who have engaged with the online store multiple times. 

Example: If 1,000 customers bought from your store in a month, and 300 of them came back and bought again during that time, your RPR for that month would be 30%. This tells you that nearly a third of your customers are loyal and continue to purchase products from you.

By regularly calculating and monitoring this metric, businesses can make informed decisions to enhance the overall customer experience, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to boost repeat purchase rates.

Importance of a High Repeat Purchase Rate

A high repeat purchase rate is a key indicator of a thriving and sustainable eCommerce business. This indicates that a high percentage of customers are not just making one-time purchases but are returning for more. This is crucial for several reasons. 

Firstly, a high RPR indicates customer satisfaction and loyalty, indicating that the products, services, and overall shopping experience resonate positively with customers. Repeat customers are more likely to spend more over time, contributing to the overall revenue of the business. 

Moreover, a loyal customer base can be a valuable resource as these customers are more inclined to act as brand advocates, referring others and expanding your customer base. 

A high RPR also reduces the cost and effort associated with constantly acquiring new customers, providing a more sustainable and cost-effective growth model.

How to Increase Repeat Purchase Rate

Some strategies to increase your store’s repeat purchase rate include:

1. Build Customer Trust

A foundation of trust is the bedrock of customer loyalty. This means ensuring top-notch product quality and consistent value. Delight your customers with reliable products that go above and beyond their expectations.

Offer prompt, helpful support across all channels, whether it’s a live chat, email, or phone call. Building trust takes time and effort, but it pays off in loyal repeat customers.

Personalize the Shopping Experience 

In today’s digital age, customers expect a personalized experience. Go beyond generic marketing and embrace the power of tailored recommendations – suggest products based on their past purchases and browsing history, and offer discounts and loyalty rewards.

Speak their language with engaging email marketing that feels relevant, not robotic. Celebrate milestones like birthdays or anniversaries with special offers. 

These personalized touches make customers feel valued and special, strengthening their connection to your brand. Remember, the solution cannot be one-size-fits-all; make them feel like VIPs.

Nurture Customer Relationships

Don’t let interactions end at the checkout. Follow up with customers after their purchase to ensure satisfaction, and engage them with exclusive early access to new products and special buying opportunities. 

Share valuable content related to your products and interests, fostering a sense of community and making them feel part of something special. 

By going the extra mile to build lasting relationships, you turn customers into vocal brand advocates who don’t just come back to buy again but also bring their friends and family along for the ride.

Streamline the Return Process

Optimizing and streamlining your return process is a crucial element in increasing repeat purchase rates. A smooth and customer-friendly return experience, facilitated by platforms like ReturnGO, ensures a positive post-purchase experience. 

When customers find it easy to return products and are met with a hassle-free process, it contributes significantly to customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Offering clear return policies, an easy-to-follow return process, and attractive refund alternatives like exchanges or store credit can turn a potentially negative experience into a positive one. 

A streamlined return process addresses customer concerns effectively while demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction, fostering trust and encouraging customers to come back for future purchases.

RESOURCES

What is considered a return?

Shopify Returns

Returns vs. exchange

Product Returns Factors

Returns Best Practices

Returns Metrics