Mailchimp to Klaviyo migration, without losing your list
I move Australian Shopify stores off Mailchimp and onto Klaviyo — contacts, segments, templates and automations rebuilt properly, with deliverability protected throughout.
What moves across
Everything that matters — and nothing that shouldn't come with you
A migration is the one chance to leave behind dead contacts, broken automations and templates nobody liked. I use it.
- Subscribed contacts with consent status and subscribe dates.
- Audiences, tags and groups mapped to Klaviyo lists and segments.
- Branded email templates rebuilt in Klaviyo's editor.
- Every automation rebuilt as a flow, using Shopify order and browsing data.
- Sending domain authentication — DKIM, SPF and DMARC.
- Sign-up forms and pop-ups recreated with proper Klaviyo triggers.
Shopify data you never had on Mailchimp
Klaviyo reads orders, products, browsing and lifetime value natively. Segments like "bought twice, hasn't ordered in 90 days" become one click instead of a manual export.
Deliverability protected during the switch
Domain authentication first, engaged segments first, volume ramped over two weeks. Your inbox placement shouldn't notice the change.
Set up for Australian sending
Send windows, shipping-cutoff logic and Spam Act compliance configured for Australian customers from day one.
The process
Four steps from Mailchimp to a Klaviyo account that earns
Audit & export
I review your Mailchimp account, audiences, tags and automations, then export a clean subscriber file with consent data intact.
Import & integrate
Klaviyo is connected to Shopify, the list is imported with engagement-based suppression, and your sending domain is authenticated.
Rebuild flows
Every automation is rebuilt as a Klaviyo flow using real Shopify triggers — plus the flows Mailchimp couldn't run at all.
Test & switch
Flows are tested end to end, sending is ramped from your most engaged segments, and Mailchimp is retired once volume is stable.
Case study
Real results from a real Australian store
Here's what a properly built Klaviyo account looks like once the migration is done and the flows are live.
Saltwater Aquarium & Reef Keeping · Shopify · Australia
Figures pulled directly from The Coral Shop's live Klaviyo account on July 24, 2026 — not curated screenshots.
- Audited the existing Klaviyo setup and found broken automations quietly costing sales.
- Rebuilt a misfiring Abandoned Cart flow that was generating virtually nothing — now converting with 25%+ opens.
- Reworked the Welcome Series with proper calls-to-action — opens climbed from the high-20s into the high-30s.
- Restructured segmentation and introduced a monthly calendar of eight educational and product campaigns.
Transparency note: The Coral Shop is also a business I run day-to-day operations for — it's where I build and stress-test every flow before bringing it to clients.
FAQ
Mailchimp to Klaviyo migration questions
Will I lose subscribers when migrating from Mailchimp to Klaviyo?
No. Your subscribed contacts, consent status and subscribe dates transfer intact. What you should lose is the dead weight — I exclude never-openers and hard bounces from the import so you start on Klaviyo with a clean, engaged list rather than paying for contacts that damage deliverability.
How long does a Mailchimp to Klaviyo migration take?
Usually one to two weeks for a typical Shopify store. Week one covers the Shopify integration, list import, segments and domain authentication. Week two is rebuilding flows and templates, testing, then switching sending over.
Do my automations transfer automatically?
No — and they shouldn't. Mailchimp automations can't be exported into Klaviyo, and a straight copy would waste the Shopify data Klaviyo gives you. I rebuild each automation as a proper Klaviyo flow with product, order and browsing triggers Mailchimp never had access to.
Will my email deliverability be affected?
There's a short warm-up period on any platform change. I authenticate your sending domain (DKIM, SPF, DMARC), start with your most engaged segments and ramp volume over the first two weeks so inbox placement stays stable.
Can I run both platforms during the switch?
Yes, briefly. Keeping Mailchimp active for a short overlap means nothing goes dark while flows are tested in Klaviyo. Once sending is stable I'll tell you exactly when to cancel Mailchimp so you're not paying twice.
Is Klaviyo worth the higher cost?
For a Shopify store, usually yes. Klaviyo's native Shopify data lets you segment and trigger on real purchase behaviour, which is where the revenue lift comes from. If your store is very small or you don't sell on Shopify, I'll say so rather than sell you a migration you don't need.
Still deciding?
- Klaviyo vs Mailchimp for Shopify — the full comparison before you commit.
- Free Klaviyo audit — already on Klaviyo? Start here instead.
- Klaviyo agency in Australia — ongoing management after the migration.
Plan your migration
Get a migration plan for your store
Send your details and I'll reply within 24 hours with a migration plan — what moves, what gets rebuilt, and how long it takes for your store.