Shopify gaming stores: Sell more with email marketing

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Running a Shopify gaming store sounds like a dream if you were a gamer as a kid or still love to play as an adult. However, it’s not quite as simple as selling your favorite games and hoping others love them as much as you — you need to be able to generate a steady income.

If you’ve got the best games of all time, a professional site, and maybe even a merch section, why might the sales not be rolling in?

You need optimized marketing — even the best ecommerce websites need this to get noticed. While Shopify provides the storefront, it’s your marketing that drives traffic and turns visitors into loyal customers.

Gamers are active on many platforms like Discord, Reddit, and YouTube. And while ads on these platforms can work well, they’re also easily scrolled past. Email marketing, on the other hand, allows you to connect directly with them, making it a reliable way to keep your store top of mind.

This is where Omnisend comes in. This powerful email marketing automation tool creates automated campaigns that feel personal and on-brand. From welcome email series to abandoned cart recovery and segmented campaigns, Omnisend can help you maximize store sales.

In this guide, we’ll explore the leading gaming store categories and show you the most effective way to sell video games on Shopify. We’ll also walk you through setting up Omnisend for your Shopify gaming store.

Why email marketing is crucial for Shopify gaming stores

An estimated 2.87 billion people play video games worldwide, with most gamers prioritizing mobile gaming following the rollout of 5G technology. There’s also an increasing demand for immersive and interactive gaming experiences, leading to more demand for advanced gaming accessories and technologies like AR and VR.

Email marketing offers a powerful avenue for Shopify gaming store owners to connect with gamers on a personal level. It’s effective for educating customers about specific accessories, announcing new product arrivals, and sending product recommendations that resonate with individual gamers. 

Social media allows you to build a large following, reach new audiences, and swiftly respond to customer inquiries and complaints. However, algorithms are unpredictable, and there’s no guarantee that your followers will see your content.

Paid ads are effective but limited. Once the campaign ends, the communication also ends unless the customer takes further action. 

However, email marketing has an advantage over both social media marketing and paid ads. This is because customers interested in your brand or its offerings opt to receive communications from you, allowing you to nurture a relationship with them over time.

Although commenting and direct messaging exist on social media, responding across multiple platforms isn’t as efficient as managing email replies. In fact, paid ads are one-way communication, whereas emails allow you to request feedback through polls, surveys, and direct replies. This two-way interaction with customers demonstrates that you value their opinions, which can improve customer satisfaction and retention.

In terms of return on investment (ROI), emails offer up to 36% against $1. Omnisend’s customers in the US recorded an average of $68 for every $1 spent, which is an incredible ROI of 6,800%.

The number of online customers who leave items in carts has risen from 68% in 2014 to 70% in 2024. However, with email marketing, you can send automated reminders with an incentive to complete the purchase. Omnisend found that one in two people who click on an abandoned cart email make a purchase.

By delivering valuable and engaging content, you can use email marketing to create a customer journey and convert your Shopify gaming store visitors into subscribers. Targeted emails also nurture subscribers through educational content and personalized offers until they make the first purchase. With consistent communication, you can turn one-time shoppers into loyal customers, making email indispensable for sustained growth.

Here’s a quick comparison of how email marketing compares to social media and paid ads:

	Email marketing	Social media	Paid ads
Purpose	Connects personally with customers, educates, and recommends products	Builds followers, handles questions in real time	Attracts first-time buyers, drives short-term traffic
Communication	Two-way (polls, replies, surveys)	Two-way, but harder to manage across platforms	One-way only
Reach	Sent directly to people who opt in	Depends on algorithms, and no guarantee that followers will see your content	Reaches audiences temporarily
Control	You own your list and control message delivery	Controlled by platform algorithms	Stops when budget runs out
Cart recovery	Sends automated reminders, with one in two clicks leading to purchases	No built-in cart recovery tools	Not effective for recovering abandoned carts
Customer retention	Builds long-term relationships and loyalty	Less effective for nurturing long-term engagement	No relationship building
ROI (Return on investment)	Up to 3,600% (Omnisend users saw 6,800%)	Around 180%	Lower than email, and when the campaign ends, the results stop
Best for	Growing and retaining customers, personalized marketing	Brand visibility, engaging new users	Quick visibility and conversions
Challenges	Needs engaging email content and strategy	Algorithm changes, limited visibility	Variable cost, temporary results

Top gaming Shopify stores: Who’s leading the market?

The most successful Shopify gaming stores are building communities and keeping customers engaged long after checkout. For inspiration on how to sell games online, let’s explore how top video gaming stores use email marketing to stay ahead of the game.

Gaming merch and apparel stores

1. Fangamer

The core strategy of Fangamer appeals to niche gaming communities. Its emails feature merchandise like Metal Gear Solid and Celeste, showcasing the brand’s understanding of fandom.

Fangamer also uses emails to announce its latest collections, restocked items, and preorder sales. The Shopify gaming store segments its audience based on the video games they’re interested in, allowing for personalized product recommendations.

The brand’s promotions revolve around special events using time-limited discounts, such as Stardew Valley’s anniversary. Sites like Fangamer use an automation workflow with a welcome email for new subscribers, order confirmation, shipping updates, and new product releases, events, and sales announcements.

2. Loot Crate

Operating as a “Comic-Con in a Box” since 2012, Loot Crate has been a subscription service for epic games. Its emails include unique fandom collections, such as the Wizarding World, and pop culture merch inspired by movies, video games, TV shows, and comics.

Loot Crate segments subscribers based on engagement levels, offering special perks to highly active customers. Its promotions involve an exclusive t-shirt every month and free shipping for pop culture fans.

An automation workflow is essential for managing Loot Crate’s subscriptions. This includes recurring billing, shipping notifications, order cancellations, and cart abandonment. 

3. The Yetee

Known for its daily t-shirt announcements, The Yetee leverages limited-time product releases as part of its email marketing strategy. Pop culture, internet memes, and video games inspire the designs.

Due to the nature of its messaging, The Yetee often segments subscribers based on their design preferences or past purchases. The brand also groups subscribers based on engagement with previous emails to ensure it reaches active customer groups.

The Yetee promotes its products through pre-order sales and coupons so subscribers can enjoy discounts or free shipping. This Shopify gaming store automates welcome emails, design updates, order tracking details, promotions, and news.

Video gaming stores

4. Limited Run Games

This Shopify gaming store thrives on scarcity and nostalgia, using emails to announce physical releases of digital-only games. Email marketing is crucial here as it allows customers to pre-order video games that are only available in limited quantities.

Subscribers will likely receive communications based on their preferred gaming platform (e.g., PlayStation and Nintendo Switch). The brand also divides its email list into video game genres based on customers’ previous purchases. 

Limited Run Games can drive sales immediately because its games are mostly limited. A typical automation workflow for this store should include pre-order and shipping notifications and win-back campaigns for customers who haven’t pre-ordered games in a while.

5. Video Games Plus

Video Games Plus (VGP) uses emails to announce new product arrivals, restocks, and pre-orders for upcoming international releases. It segments customers based on location, especially for regions that require specific consoles.

Additionally, the brand uses customers’ pre-order history to provide personalized product recommendations. VGP promotes sales by creating a sense of scarcity around its products. It also offers free shipping when customers meet a spending threshold.

A typical email workflow for this brand should manage pre-orders and notify customers of shipping delays or changes. It can also include abandoned cart reminders.

6. Mega Cat Studios

This is one of the best gaming stores on Shopify tapping into the nostalgia for retro-gaming and offering new experiences on modern platforms. Its email communication involves new game announcements, promotions, and updates on game development projects.

Subscribers receive emails based on their interests in specific retro game genres or types of consoles. The brand also makes product recommendations based on whether a customer prefers to buy a digital or a physical video game.

Mega Cat Studios promotions include free shipping on specific orders, limited edition game bundling, and discounts on holiday or gaming events. Its email sequence involves welcoming new subscribers, offering exclusive content, inviting loyal customers to become game testers, and sending transactional emails.

PC and console accessories stores

7. Keygeak

Specializing in keyboard accessories, such as keycaps, switches, and mousepads, Keygeak’s email marketing strategy revolves around new product announcements and community building. Its messaging to subscribers differs based on browsing history on the PC games store.

The store recommends new keycaps or accessories based on a customer’s previous purchase or promotes products in their preferred color scheme. Keygeak’s promotion campaigns include giveaways, discounts, and loyalty rewards for repeat customers.

A typical automation sequence for Keygeak includes welcome emails with introductory offers for new subscribers, abandoned cart reminders, order tracking, and shipping updates.

8. KontrolFreek

This Shopify gaming store relies on emails to sell products, inform and nurture new subscribers, and encourage them to join the brand’s online community. Its messaging depends on the customer’s preferred gaming platform (PS5/4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox) or PC game preferences.

The brand can recommend thumbsticks designed for the type of games a customer purchases. Its campaigns include free delivery, coupons, and a FreekNation program with access to exclusive updates.

KontrolFreek has a three-part email sequence. The first email tells the customer what to expect and offers a discount. This is followed by an introduction to the brand and its products, while the last part is a request to join the FreekNation Community. 

9. Apex Gaming PCs

This PC games store announces new pre-built PC configurations, promotions on components, or updates on the latest hardware releases via email. It segments subscribers based on their browsing history on the Shopify gaming store and recommends PCs that match a customer’s gaming interests. 

Apex Gaming promotes its products through discounts on upgrades and a product financing program. The brand manages its custom gaming PC sales process by sending automated updates on production progress, estimated delivery times, and post-purchase support information.

Board games and retro gaming stores

10. Board Game Bliss

This retailer offers a large selection of modern and classic board games that appeal to diverse gaming interests within board game communities. Its emails announce new game releases, restocks of popular titles, and pre-orders for highly anticipated games.

Board Game Bliss sends targeted messages to customers based on their preferences upon signing up. This includes industry news, new arrivals, imported games, and promotions. Customers can also receive emails related to their favorite games. 

The brand promotes its products using discounts on first-time orders, pre-orders, and seasonal sales. Additionally, its email automation includes welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and follow-up emails with recommendations.

11. Atari

This top Shopify gaming store offers classic consoles, new retro-inspired hardware, and merchandise. Its emails notify customers of new hardware releases like updated consoles, new game collections, and company news.

Atari can segment its customers depending on their preference for digital or physical games. It can also recommend merchandise or game collections based on the customer’s previous purchases.

The brand promotes its club, where members can benefit from discounts, exclusive merch, and more. The Shopify gaming store promotes through win-back campaigns and updates the customers on consoles through its automation workflow.

12. Castlemania

Specializing in retro video games, consoles, and related merchandise, Castlemania is home to both game collectors and enthusiasts. It sends emails on new game arrivals, restock of popular accessories, and newsletters.

Its Shopify gaming store offers a wide range of products to base its segmentation on the console platform or gaming brand. The store can also notify customers when a rare game they’ve been searching for comes into stock. 

Castlemania offers coupons for most orders, first-time customer discounts, and limited editions. Its workflow includes welcome email campaigns, automated notifications for rare accessories, and transactional emails.

Esports and streaming equipment

13. Shopify Rebellion

Shopify Rebellion’s emails unite players, creators, and sports fans, informing them of the latest merchandise drops and upcoming esports events. It can organize its email list based on the type of esports customers are interested in.

This Shopify gaming store can send personalized merch recommendations based on previous purchases. Its promotions include discounts and collaborations with other esports brands. 

Shopify Rebellion can use an automated system to welcome new subscribers, remind customers of abandoned carts, and notify customers of trends in the esports industry.

14. G2 Esports

Showcasing a strong brand and dedicated fan base, G2 Esports sells team merchandise and hardware, such as headsets, on its Shopify gaming store. Its emails will likely announce jersey arrivals, limited edition merch, and special collections tied to tournament victories. 

The brand can categorize customers by their preferred esports titles (e.g., Valorant, League of Legends) or favorite players. Customers may also receive apparel recommendations based on players they previously supported.

G2 Esports’ promotions include discounts, collaborations with other sports brands, and rewards for loyal customers. A common workflow for this brand involves match reminders, order tracking, and abandoned cart reminders.

15. HyperX

This top Shopify gaming store uses emails to announce new product releases, highlight features of its streaming gear, and promote special offers. The level of segmentation here depends on whether a customer has shown interest in or purchased gaming or streaming gear.

The brand can suggest products based on items that are popular among the same group of customers. HyperX offers product bundles, discounts, and exclusive offers in its partner program. Its email sequence includes a welcome email, order confirmation, product updates, and post-purchase emails.

Best way to sell video games on Shopify

With the gaming industry projected to reach $522.46 billion by 2025, selling video games on Shopify can be highly profitable, provided you have a smart marketing strategy in place. Here’s a step-by-step guide to launching and scaling a successful Shopify gaming store:

1. Selecting a business model 

When running an online business, you can choose a dropshipping business model, where you partner with gaming dropshipping suppliers to fulfill customer orders. Here, the investment costs are low, and you don’t have to maintain an inventory. 

Managing your own store gives you greater control over product quality, but be prepared to take on additional responsibilities like storage and shipping costs.

2. Setting up a Shopify store

Best Shopify stores with video games use themes and layouts that appeal to fans. Ensure your store design is mobile-friendly and has detailed product descriptions. You should also offer popular payment options like Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

3. Sourcing reliable suppliers

It’s advisable to make bulk orders from established distributors like Ingram Entertainment if you’re stocking inventory. If you prefer a hands-off approach, use gaming dropshipping suppliers from reliable platforms like Spocket or Modalyst. 

Remember to read online reviews, check their delivery time, and product quality to avoid hurting your brand reputation.

4. Choosing a niche, adding products, and configuring payment and shipping options

Instead of selling all dropshipping gaming products, focus on a specific niche like retro editions, esports gear, or indie game merchandise. This way, you can carefully curate your product selection, such as bundles and limited editions.

Also, when adding products to your Shopify gaming store, upload high-quality images, trailers, and key information, such as release date and region restrictions. If you need to send digital game keys to customers, use an automated email platform like Omnisend to prevent fulfillment delays.

Finally, configure your payment gateways to clearly show shipping rates, and consider regional carriers for faster delivery. 

5. Marketing strategies

You need a multi-channel marketing approach to run your Shopify gaming store. This involves email marketing with automated abandoned cart recovery sequences, reminding customers of what they left behind. Other strategies include new release campaigns and tailored promotions based on purchase history and gaming platform preference.

Complement your email efforts with search engine optimized (SEO) content, like how-to and best product guides, targeting customers’ search queries. You can also partner with gaming influencers for authentic product demonstrations, allowing you to reach a larger audience.

Paid ads also work well for Shopify gaming stores when targeting specific gamer personas or retargeting potential customers. We recommend combining all these strategies with building a community on spaces like Discord, where customers can connect and discuss games.

6. Analytics and optimization

After implementing all the steps discussed above, you need to track what’s working and what isn’t. Use the built-in reporting feature in your Shopify gaming store with Google Analytics to identify top-sellers, traffic sources, and customer behavior.

Also, conduct A/B testing for different elements, from email subject lines to landing page designs, and scale the one that delivers the best results. Continuously monitor industry trends to discover what customers are demanding and re-strategize accordingly. 

Automating your email marketing to maximize conversions

Instead of manually sending every message, email automation can help you reach customers where they are at the right time. It involves setting up email workflows triggered based on customer actions, such as signing up, abandoning a cart, or placing an order. 

Your Shopify gaming store’s automated email can follow trigger-based responses that ensure you never miss an opportunity to send the right messages at the perfect moment.

Here’s a breakdown of essential automated workflows for your Shopify gaming store:

1. Welcome email series: Introduce your brand to first-time visitors, showcase exclusive merch or upcoming game releases, and attach a discount as an incentive
2. Abandoned cart recovery: Before customers leave, remind them of their pending purchase, usually with a time-sensitive discount, nudging them to complete checkout
3. Post-purchase follow-ups: Confirm orders, send shipping updates, request feedback, and suggest complementary products to build a customer relationship after purchase
4. Re-engagement campaigns: Target customers who haven’t opened your emails in a while and give them reasons to come back, using new product teasers or special discounts
5. Back-in-stock alerts: Notify customers of high-demand items, such as limited edition consoles, when you restock to create urgency and drive quick sales

Omnisend’s pre-built workflows simplify email marketing by offering ready-made automation templates for your Shopify gaming store. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editing loved by beginners, you can customize sequences in minutes with zero coding knowledge. 

The platform also has advanced segmentation features, ensuring your messages reach the right set of gamers at the right time. Even if a customer cancels an order, Omnisend sends a cancellation confirmation email, assuring them that their request has been processed. This keeps communication transparent and professional.

Omnisend features a comprehensive built-in analytics dashboard, allowing you to track open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. These metrics can help you optimize future campaigns and plan your marketing strategy well in advance.

Email segmentation: Reaching the right gamers with personalization

Customer segmentation is the process of segmenting your email list into small groups based on customer behaviour and their characteristics.

Segmentation is essential for your Shopify gaming store because gamers have various game interests and platform preferences. A casual mobile game player wants different products than a hardcore PlayStation gamer. With targeted groups, you can send relevant emails instead of generic blasts that customers are more likely to ignore. 

Here are some strategies you can use to segment your audience:

• Casual gamers vs. hardcore gamers: Your messaging should reflect the gamer’s interests and level of engagement in games. For instance, a casual player would benefit from emails on fun game titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
  
  On the other hand, a hardcore gamer may prefer hardware recommendations, such as consoles and PCs, and competitive games like Street Fighter.
• Limited edition game buyers: Customers who previously bought limited editions of games or accessories have shown a willingness to pay for premium products.
  
  For instance, Castlemania displays rare accessories and games in its vault. This way, it can inform buyers of an upcoming exclusive sale or allow them to pre-order sold-out items.
• First-time buyers vs. repeat customers: You can welcome new customers with discounts, motivating them to explore your brand and purchase an item. On the other hand, repeat customers have already experienced your product and can benefit from a loyalty program. Top Shopify gaming stores like KontrolFreek customize promotions based on the customer’s journey.
• Gamers by platform: Gamers have strong platform loyalties (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation, PC) and specific accessory needs. You can extract this information from their purchase history, browsing history, or signup form for targeted product recommendations. For instance, a PlayStation gamer can receive emails on the latest accessories or notifications to pre-order an upcoming title. 

Omnisend provides advanced segmentation features for businesses of all sizes to implement the strategies discussed above. Watch this video to see how to segment your email list in 60 seconds:

You can create segments based on a wide range of criteria, including:

• Active email subscribers: Segment based on opens, clicks, and engagement with previous emails
• High-value subscribers: People who tend to spend more money in your store
• High potential buyers: Customers who bought premium items but haven’t purchased in a while
• Stopped visiting your store: Contacts who visited your store but haven’t visited again

How to get started with Omnisend for gaming Shopify stores

Integrating Omnisend with your Shopify gaming store allows you to build an email list directly from your store and segment contacts using customized rules. You can also automate emails to target the right customers and drive sales. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Sign up and integrate Omnisend with Shopify: 

• Visit the Omnisend website and click on Start free
• Follow the prompts to set up an account

• In the last phase of the registration, select Shopify to connect your store 
• Input the store URL

2. Import customer lists and set up segmentation:

• After the integration, Omnisend will sync your store data, contacts, products, and orders
• Omnisend will separate your contacts into subscribed and unsubscribed, depending on whether they opted to receive emails from your brand
• Return to your dashboard, click Audience, and then select Segment
• Click Create segment on the top right side

• Choose any of Omnisend’s prebuilt segments or create your own

3. Launch pre-built email automation workflows:

• Omnisend won’t replace your existing automation system, but if you have none, go back to your dashboard and click Automation
• Select Browse pre-built workflows to choose a workflow or start from scratch

4. Run the first email campaign:

• Click Campaign, then select Create campaign
• Select one of Omnisend’s email templates and customize it to suit your brand

5. Track performance and optimize for better results:

• Keep an eye on your open rates and click rates on the Campaign section
• Conduct an A/B test for your subject line or email content to know which one will produce the best results
• Click Report to view a detailed performance of your email campaigns and automation

Shopify gaming stores FAQs