Shopify + Klaviyo email automation after WooCommerce (2026)

WooCommerce stores used a range of email tools: MailPoet (built into WP), Mailchimp for WooCommerce, Klaviyo (already connected to WC), or ActiveCampaign. Shopify has tighter native integrations with Klaviyo, making Shopify + Klaviyo one of the most powerful email automation stacks in ecommerce. If you were already on Klaviyo with WooCommerce, the migration is mostly reconnecting the integration. If you're moving from MailPoet or Mailchimp, this is the right time to upgrade your entire email automation strategy.

Email tool comparison post-migration

Tool	WooCommerce support	Shopify support	Best for
Klaviyo	Native integration	Native integration (best-in-class)	Growing DTC brands, data-driven automation
Shopify Email	N/A (Shopify native)	Built-in, free	Simple campaigns, very small stores
Mailchimp	Official WC integration	Limited (Mailchimp left official Shopify app)	Simpler list management
MailPoet	WordPress native	Not available on Shopify	— (must migrate away)
Omnisend	Native WC integration	Native Shopify integration	Omnichannel (email + SMS + push)
ActiveCampaign	Custom integration	Custom integration	Complex CRM + email

Migrating to Klaviyo from WooCommerce email tools

If already on Klaviyo with WooCommerce

• Disconnect WooCommerce integration: Klaviyo → Integrations → WooCommerce → Disconnect
• Connect Shopify integration: Klaviyo → Integrations → Shopify → Connect
• Historical data: Klaviyo retains all historical data (subscriber profiles, events, segments). No data loss.
• Flows: existing flows using WooCommerce events (Ordered Product, Started Checkout) need to be updated to Shopify equivalents (same event names — Klaviyo normalizes them). Most flows work unchanged.
• Verify: after reconnecting, trigger test events (add to cart, start checkout) to confirm events flow through correctly.

Migrating from MailPoet to Klaviyo

• Export subscribers from MailPoet: MailPoet → Lists → Export → CSV (email, first name, last name, tags)
• Import to Klaviyo: Klaviyo → Lists & Segments → Create list → Import contacts
• Map fields: email → email, first_name → first_name, lists/tags → custom properties or list membership
• Suppression list: export unsubscribed/bounced contacts from MailPoet → add as suppressed in Klaviyo to avoid sending to contacts who opted out
• Historical orders: import WooCommerce order history via Klaviyo's WooCommerce historical import (before disconnecting) — or export CSV and use Klaviyo API to import events

Migrating from Mailchimp to Klaviyo

• Export from Mailchimp: Audience → Manage contacts → Export audience → CSV
• Mailchimp export includes: email, first name, last name, tags, GDPR consent, subscription status
• Import to Klaviyo: map GDPR consent field; only import contacts with "Subscribed" status
• Unsubscribes: add Mailchimp "Unsubscribed" contacts to Klaviyo suppressions
• Mailchimp automations: rebuild as Klaviyo flows (Mailchimp "Customer Journey" → Klaviyo "Flow")

Core Klaviyo flows for Shopify

1. Abandoned Cart flow (highest ROI)

• Trigger: "Started Checkout" event in Shopify/Klaviyo
• Sequence:
  • Email 1: 1 hour after abandonment — "You left something behind" — show cart items, direct cart link
  • Email 2: 24 hours — social proof — reviews of the items in cart
  • Email 3: 48–72 hours — urgency or small discount (5–10%) — "Stock is limited" or "Here's 10% off"
• Flow filter: only send if order not placed
• Expected conversion: 5–15% of abandoned checkouts recovered

2. Welcome Series flow

• Trigger: "Subscribed to List" (newsletter signup, or account creation)
• Sequence:
  • Email 1: immediately — brand welcome + best sellers + first-purchase incentive (discount code)
  • Email 2: 3 days — brand story / about us + social media follow
  • Email 3: 7 days — category highlight + popular products
  • Email 4: 14 days — last chance on welcome discount
• Flow filter: exclude contacts who made a purchase during the sequence

3. Post-Purchase flow

• Trigger: "Placed Order" event
• Sequence:
  • Email 1: 2 days after delivery — review request (use Klaviyo integration with Judge.me or Yotpo)
  • Email 2: 14 days after order — cross-sell complementary products from purchased category
  • Email 3: 30–60 days — replenishment reminder (for consumable products)
• Delay on email 1: use order fulfillment event + 2-day delay, not order placed + delivery estimate

4. Browse Abandonment flow

• Trigger: "Viewed Product" — customer viewed product but didn't add to cart
• Email: 4–24 hours later — show the viewed product, related products, reviews
• Flow filter: only send if no checkout started in same period
• Requires: Klaviyo onsite tracking script installed on Shopify (via Klaviyo app — auto-installed)

5. Win-Back flow

• Trigger: segment — customers who purchased 6+ months ago and haven't ordered since
• Sequence:
  • Email 1: 180 days since last order — "We miss you" + new products since last visit
  • Email 2: 14 days later — 10–15% re-engagement discount
  • Email 3: 7 days later — last chance + survey: "Why haven't you been back?"
• After sequence: if no engagement, move to suppression list to maintain list hygiene

Segmentation for Shopify + Klaviyo

• VIP customers: Purchased 3+ times AND total order value £300+
• High AOV customers: Average order value over £150
• At-risk customers: Purchased in last 12 months but not last 90 days
• Category buyers: Ordered any product with tag "category-X" — send relevant new arrivals
• Engaged non-purchasers: Opened email in last 30 days but never purchased — win with targeted offer
• SMS subscribers: Opted in for SMS — Klaviyo handles SMS alongside email in same flows

Klaviyo migration checklist

• Export subscriber list from current email tool (MailPoet/Mailchimp) before migration
• Export unsubscribes/suppressions from current email tool
• Install Klaviyo app on Shopify (Klaviyo → Integrations → Shopify)
• Import subscriber CSV to Klaviyo; add suppressions
• Reconnect or rebuild: abandoned cart, welcome series, post-purchase, win-back flows
• Update email templates to new Shopify brand (logo, colours, links)
• Test each flow: trigger test events, verify emails send correctly
• Set up browse abandonment (requires onsite tracking — auto-configured via Klaviyo app)
• Create core segments (VIP, at-risk, category buyers)
• Verify Shopify transactional emails are still handled by Shopify (order confirmation, shipping) — not Klaviyo
• Send first Klaviyo campaign within 2 weeks of migration to re-engage list with new Shopify store

Migrating from MailPoet or Mailchimp to Klaviyo is the single highest-value email upgrade most WooCommerce stores will make during their Shopify migration. The capability gap is significant: MailPoet doesn't do predictive analytics or smart send time optimization; Mailchimp's Shopify integration has been degraded since the official app was discontinued. Klaviyo's Shopify integration is deeper — it receives every event (product viewed, cart updated, checkout step completed, order placed, order fulfilled) and makes each event actionable as a flow trigger or segmentation signal. The abandoned cart flow alone typically generates £2–5 per subscriber per year with zero ongoing maintenance once it's set up correctly.