Prepared for the Proper Savage Team

Turning Visitors Into Customers

Your brand is strong. Your products are quality. But the site is leaving money on the table. This proposal identifies exactly where visitors drop off and what to do about it — prioritized by impact, not complexity.

ForProper Savage
PreparedApril 2026
CoversTrust · Product Pages · Email · Storefront · Brand

Where Things Stand

The Proper Savage brand has a strong identity — "meticulously crafted, American-made tools and gear" is a compelling message, and the products back it up. The photography is solid, the Shopify infrastructure works, and the brand voice is authentic. The problem isn't the product — it's the path from browsing to buying.

Right now, a first-time visitor lands on a $90–$230 specialty product with no reviews, no testimonials, and no social proof of any kind. There's no way to capture their email if they aren't ready to buy today. The product pages are missing specs, FAQs, and cross-sells that would push someone from "interested" to "add to cart." And several products show "Sold Out" with no waitlist — those visitors are just gone.

The good news: none of this requires a rebuild. These are targeted fixes to a site that already has good bones. Below are five areas, ranked by expected impact on conversion.

Trust & Reviews — Critical Email Capture — High Priority Product Pages — High Priority Storefront & Navigation — Medium Brand & Content — Medium
Trust & Social Proof
Critical

This is almost certainly the single biggest reason visitors aren't converting. A $90 niche fitness product from a brand most people haven't heard of — with zero reviews — asks for a massive leap of faith. Most people won't take it.


Product Reviews

Install a review app (Judge.me or Loox) and display star ratings on every product card and product detail page. Even 5–10 honest reviews transforms credibility. Reviews with photos are especially powerful for physical products.

Setup · 2–3 hours + outreach
  • Install and configure review app (Judge.me free tier works)
  • Email past customers personally asking for reviews
  • Enable photo reviews — seeing the product in someone's hands is gold
  • Display aggregate star rating on collection/grid pages
  • Add review count next to product titles
$0–$15/mo (Judge.me free or premium)

Social Proof & Credibility

Beyond reviews, show that real people use and trust your products. If athletes, trainers, or gym owners use the grippers or rings, feature them. User-generated content from Instagram is free and authentic.

Setup + ongoing curation
  • Add a "Featured In" or "Trusted By" section if applicable
  • Pull Instagram UGC into a homepage gallery (tagboard or manual)
  • Add a brief testimonial carousel on the homepage
  • Include a "Made in the USA" trust badge prominently on product pages
  • Add shipping and return policy badges near the Add to Cart button
$0–$200 (depending on app choice)

Guarantee & Returns

You sell premium, durable products — stand behind them visibly. A clear guarantee or return policy displayed on product pages reduces purchase anxiety, especially for first-time buyers spending $90+.

One-time · 1–2 hours
  • Create a clear satisfaction guarantee or return window
  • Display it on every product page near the price/CTA
  • Add a dedicated FAQ/Shipping/Returns page linked in the nav
  • Consider a "Lifetime Durability" promise — fits the "One & Done" brand
No cost

Waitlist for Out-of-Stock Products

Three of seven hand-strength products show "Sold Out" with no way to get notified. That's traffic you paid for — walking away with zero capture. A "Notify Me" button converts dead ends into future sales.

Setup · 1 hour
  • Install a back-in-stock notification app (e.g., Klaviyo, Back in Stock)
  • Replace dead "Sold Out" buttons with "Notify Me When Available"
  • Collect emails and auto-notify when inventory is restocked
  • These emails also feed your marketing list
$0–$20/mo
Product Page Optimization
High Priority

Your product photography is genuinely strong — the Pinch Gripper has 9 images and a demo video. But the pages are missing the detail-level information that closes a sale on a specialty product.


Product Specs & Details

Someone considering an $89 Pinch Gripper wants to know: what barbell diameters does it fit? What are the exact dimensions? How much does it weigh? "Quick clamp and release" is vague — quantify it. Specs build confidence.

One-time per product · 2–4 hours total
  • Add a specs table: dimensions, weight, material, load capacity
  • Specify barbell diameter compatibility for grippers
  • Add ring diameter, strap length, and weight rating for gymnastics rings
  • Include material sourcing details (hard maple type, origin)
No cost (content update only)

FAQ on Product Pages

Every unanswered question is friction. Add a collapsible FAQ section directly on each product page addressing the questions a first-time buyer would have — not on a separate page they have to hunt for.

One-time per product · 1–2 hours total
  • Grippers: "What barbells does this fit?" "Is this for beginners?"
  • Rings: "What's the weight limit?" "Are straps included?"
  • Apparel: Sizing guide, material/fit details
  • General: Shipping time, return policy, warranty
No cost (content update only)

Cross-Sells & Bundles

Zero related products are shown on any product page. Someone buying a Pinch Gripper might also want Fat Rings. Someone grabbing a hoodie might add a hat. You're leaving average order value on the table.

Setup · 2–3 hours
  • Add "You might also like" related products on every product page
  • Create product bundles (Gripper + Rings at a discount)
  • Add an apparel starter pack (hoodie + tee + hat)
  • Consider "Complete your grip setup" curated collections
  • Add upsell prompts in the cart drawer
$0–$30/mo (Shopify native or app)

Shipping & Returns Visibility

Shipping info and return policies are buried in footer links. For a $90+ purchase, customers need to see this right on the product page — next to the Add to Cart button, not three clicks away.

One-time · 1 hour
  • Add shipping estimate and free-shipping threshold near CTA
  • Display return window clearly (e.g., "30-day hassle-free returns")
  • Add trust icons: free shipping, easy returns, Made in USA
  • Create a dedicated Shipping & Returns page linked in footer and nav
No cost
Email Capture & Retention
High Priority

Right now there's no newsletter signup, no popup, no lead magnet anywhere on the site. Every visitor who isn't ready to buy today leaves and never comes back. You're paying for that traffic once and getting zero long-term value from it.


Email List Foundation

Set up a proper email capture system. This is the most reliable channel you own — no algorithm changes, no ad costs, direct access to people who already showed interest.

Setup · 3–4 hours
  • Add email signup in the footer (always visible)
  • Add a timed popup (trigger after 30s or 50% scroll)
  • Offer an incentive: 10% off first order or free shipping
  • Consider a lead magnet: grip training PDF guide, workout plan
  • Set up a welcome email sequence (3–5 emails introducing the brand)
$0–$20/mo (Klaviyo free tier for small lists)

Automated Email Flows

Beyond the signup, set up automated flows that recover revenue without any ongoing effort. Abandoned cart emails alone typically recover 5–15% of lost sales.

Setup · 4–6 hours
  • Abandoned cart recovery (3-email sequence)
  • Post-purchase follow-up requesting a review
  • Win-back emails for customers who haven't purchased in 60+ days
  • New product announcements and restocks
Included in email platform tier
Storefront & Navigation
Medium Priority

The site has 27 products across a mixed catalog — specialty fitness tools, apparel, leather goods, and stickers. The current navigation doesn't help visitors find what they're looking for based on what they want to do.


Navigation Restructure

The Equipment dropdown only has one subcategory. The mix of grippers, rings, hoodies, hats, and leather wallets can confuse first-time visitors about what the brand actually is. Reorganize around intent.

One-time · 2–3 hours
  • Split into clear paths: Train (grippers, rings) · Wear (apparel) · Carry (leather)
  • Add a "Best Sellers" or "Start Here" collection for new visitors
  • Consider "Shop by Goal" — "Build Grip Strength" as a curated collection
  • Remove single-subcategory dropdowns (they add clicks without value)
No cost

Homepage Flow Redesign

The current flow is: hero → featured products → spotlight → brand philosophy → trending. It's functional but doesn't guide a visitor through a decision journey. The homepage should sell, not just display.

One-time · 4–6 hours
  • Lead with the problem: "Mass-produced gear fails. Yours shouldn't."
  • Add a "Why Proper Savage" section with benefit icons (Made in USA, Lifetime durability, Handcrafted)
  • Insert a testimonial/review carousel mid-page
  • Add lifestyle imagery — products in real gyms, in real hands
  • End with email capture CTA, not just a footer
$500–$1,500 (design + implementation)

Urgency & Incentive Mechanisms

The free shipping at $90+ is a good start, but it's the only incentive on the site. For premium products with limited inventory, there are natural scarcity and bundling opportunities being left unused.

Setup · 2–3 hours
  • Show low stock indicators when inventory is genuinely low
  • Create product bundles at a small discount (Gripper + Rings)
  • Consider a tiered discount: "Spend $150, save 15%"
  • Make the sale pricing more prominent ($139.95 → $89.95 is compelling — show it)
No cost (Shopify native features)
Nice-to-Have

Footer Enhancement

The footer currently has just policy links, payment icons, and one Instagram link. It should reinforce the brand and give visitors more ways to stay connected or find answers.

One-time · 1–2 hours
  • Add email signup form
  • Add a brief brand mission statement
  • Link to About, FAQ, and Shipping & Returns pages
  • Add TikTok and YouTube social links (strong channels for this niche)
No cost
Brand Story & Content
Medium Priority

The "What is a Proper Savage?" content is the kind of brand story that builds community and repeat customers. Right now it's buried mid-homepage with a "Read More" link. It deserves more real estate and more channels.


Dedicated About / Story Page

The masculinity-redefinition angle — "combining proper and savage, real masculinity that is powerful, empathetic, and life-giving" — is genuinely differentiating. Give it a full page, linked in the main nav. This is the kind of content people share.

One-time · 3–4 hours
  • Create a dedicated About page with the full brand story
  • Include the craftsmanship process — how products are made
  • Add founder/team photos and background
  • Link it prominently in the main navigation
$300–$800 (copywriting + design)

Content Channels

The site only links to Instagram. For grip training and fitness equipment, short-form video (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels) is the highest-ROI content channel. Tutorial content ("how to train pinch grip") builds authority and drives organic traffic.

Ongoing · 2–4 hours/week
  • Create TikTok/YouTube Shorts with grip training demos
  • Post product-in-use content regularly on Instagram
  • Consider a simple blog: training guides, grip strength 101
  • User-generated content reshares (free and authentic)
$0 (organic) or $200–$500/mo (if outsourced)
My Recommendation

Fix the Trust Gap First — Then Build the Funnel

You have great products and strong branding. The site isn't broken — it's just not closing. Here's the order I'd tackle things to get the highest conversion lift fastest.

1
Week 1 — Trust Foundation: Install a review app and email every past customer asking for a review. Add a clear return policy and guarantee badge to product pages. Set up "Notify Me" for out-of-stock products. These are the highest-impact, lowest-effort changes.
2
Week 2 — Product Pages: Add specs tables, FAQs, and shipping info to every product page. Set up cross-sells and "You might also like" sections. Create at least one product bundle. These changes reduce friction for visitors who are already interested.
3
Week 3 — Email Capture: Set up Klaviyo (or similar), add a footer signup and timed popup with a first-order discount. Build an abandoned cart email sequence. From this point forward, every visitor who doesn't buy still has a chance of converting later.
4
Weeks 4–6 — Storefront & Brand: Restructure navigation, redesign the homepage flow, build the About page, and set up additional content channels. These are higher-effort changes that compound on the trust and email foundation you've already built.

The key insight: Phase 1 and 2 cost almost nothing and can be done in days. Most of the changes in the first two weeks are free Shopify configuration, content updates, and app installs. The expensive, design-heavy work comes later — after the fundamentals are in place and you can measure the impact.

Estimated Investment Summary
Phase Timeline Cost Range Impact
Trust Foundation Week 1 $0–$35/mo Highest — directly addresses why visitors leave
Product Pages Week 2 $0–$30/mo High — reduces friction for interested buyers
Email Capture Week 3 $0–$20/mo High — recovers lost traffic and carts
Storefront & Brand Weeks 4–6 $800–$2,800 Medium — compounds on earlier work
Total ~6 weeks $800–$2,800 upfront + $0–$85/mo Full conversion optimization

Next Steps

This proposal is a starting point for conversation. Here's what I'd suggest:

1
Review the priorities. Not everything needs to happen at once. Let's align on which opportunities feel most urgent for where the business is right now.
2
Let's schedule a call. We'll walk through the recommendations, discuss what's already been tried, and put together a concrete action plan with timelines.
3
Quick wins can start immediately. The review app, guarantee badge, and email signup are changes that can ship this week with minimal effort. No commitment needed to get started.

Ready to turn more visitors into customers?
Reach out to Sean to schedule a walkthrough.

214-799-7708 · sean.davis@vortex.llc

Prepared April 2026 · E-Commerce Conversion Proposal Based on site audit of propersavage.com — April 2026