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- Black Friday is the biggest in-store shopping day of the year, so capitalise on it by offering in-store exclusives, like product bundles and immersive experiences.<\/li>\n
- Retailers can get ready for Black Friday by ordering more packaging and labels, marketing Black Friday exclusives on social media and developing crowd-control plans.<\/li>\n
- Tips for maximising sales during Black Friday include building hype in the run up, creating immersive in-store experiences and offering exclusive items and bundles.<\/li>\n
- Boost Black Friday sales by embracing omnichannel sales strategies, like e-commerce giveaways, teasing product drops on social media and offering the option to buy online and pick up in-store.<\/li>\n
- An enjoyable Black Friday shopping experience can cement your brand in buyers\u2019 minds. Take this opportunity to increase brand loyalty and brand awareness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
What is Black Friday?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is widely regarded as the biggest shopping day of the year. In the United States in 2024, 81.7 million people<\/a> shopped at brick-and-mortar shops on Black Friday and 87.3 million shopped online, spending a total of $74.4 billion, marking a 5% increase compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_768,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990057\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/paper-shopping-bag\/paper-shopping-bag.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe origins of Black Friday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is considered the first official day of the Christmas shopping season, which accounts for an average of 20% or more of many retailers\u2019 yearly revenue. Although Black Friday now happens globally, its roots are in the US, as it\u2019s the day after American Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The phrase \u2018Black Friday\u2019 was first used in a 1951 edition of Factory Management and Maintenance journal to describe the common practice of workers calling in sick on the Friday after Thanksgiving to have a four-day weekend. The first instance of the term \u2018Black Friday\u2019 referring to that same Friday as a busy shopping day appeared in the following years, and by the 1980s, it had stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When is Black Friday 2025?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, Black Friday will be on Friday 28th November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is the first day of Cyber Week: a week of seasonal online deals that includes Cyber Monday. Black Friday predates Cyber Monday by decades and is the busiest shopping day<\/a> in Cyber Week. Like Cyber Monday, Black Friday is now a global event, with retailers offering steep discounts and deals to bring in the festive season.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Stack](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_1024,c_fill,g_auto\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990067\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/shopping-season\/shopping-season.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBlack Friday is the first official day of the Christmas shopping season<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday occurs before Cyber Monday. And while Cyber Monday is on the Monday that follows Thanksgiving, some shoppers and retailers begin Black Friday festivities on Thursday evening (Thanksgiving Day for Americans).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is <\/strong>where <\/strong>the sales take place. As its name implies, Cyber Monday is the biggest e-commerce<\/strong> shopping day of the year. If you run an Etsy shop<\/a> or another type of e-commerce website, Cyber Monday is a big day for business. Whereas Black Friday traditionally takes place at brick-and-mortar retailers. <\/strong>Although shoppers can find plenty of Black Friday deals online, the day has its roots in the in-store shopping experience, with many retailers offering in-store-only discounts and making Black Friday shopping an immersive in-store event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How retail businesses can get ready for Black Friday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Order more packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Order more packaging well in advance for Black Friday. If you\u2019re anticipating higher-than-average sales numbers, make sure every one of those purchases goes home in branded packaging. Order custom bags<\/a>, product boxes<\/a>, packing paper, labels and any other types of packaging your shop uses.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Packaging](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_925,h_1024,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990045\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/packaging-box_378514b0cb\/packaging-box_378514b0cb.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nProduct boxes with <\/em>custom labels<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make your Black Friday event more special and memorable for customers with limited-edition packaging, even if it\u2019s as simple as packing purchases inside a custom paper bag instead of your usual one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n\n Ready to order Black Friday packaging? <\/div>\n\n\n Prepare your business for Black Friday and the upcoming festive season! <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n\n Explore custom packaging<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\nDevelop a crowd control plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Crowd control is crucial for Black Friday. If your shop can normally accommodate 50 people at a time and 200 show up on Black Friday, you need a plan. Determine a realistic projection for the number of people you expect to visit your shop using previous years\u2019 data and other useful information, like data from your shop\u2019s location.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Customers](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_575,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990077\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/a-frame-sign_378502682b\/a-frame-sign_378502682b.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\u2018Holiday Sale\u2019 A-frame sign<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, develop a strategy for managing a larger-than-average crowd, like creating a queue outside the shop\u2019s front door, adding additional checkout lanes and making it possible for in-store shoppers to check out via your app so you can increase the number of salespeople on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Market your Black Friday plans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ordering more packaging and creating a crowd control plan will be for nothing if people don\u2019t make your shop a Black Friday stop. Start marketing your Black Friday sales early, such as just after Halloween. Make them known on your website, in-store, on social media and via your emails. Tell existing and potential customers early and often, through traditional marketing<\/a> methods and modern strategies like push notifications and social media exclusives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n Tip <\/div>\n\nFind some great cyber campaign inspiration<\/a> for Black Friday this year!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
5 Black Friday tips to maximise sales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Create an immersive shopping experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No website can recreate the feeling of being in an actual shop. Although there are plenty of online Black Friday sales to be found (and if they make sense for your brand, absolutely lean into them!), Black Friday is traditionally an in-store shopping day. Think of the well-known images of Black Friday in America: long lines of shoppers camping out in car parks in the early hours of the morning as they wait for shops to open their doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n Tip <\/div>\n\nDeck the halls for Black Friday with custom signs or banners<\/a> and in-store signage.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
Make it worth shoppers\u2019 while to visit your shop instead of shopping online (or going somewhere else). If you attract early-morning shoppers, offer refreshments to fuel them for a day of deals. If you sell consumables, offer in-store sampling. Take this a step further with demonstrations and fun activities, like suggested pairings.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Spice](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_1024,c_fill,g_auto\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990085\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/spice-packets\/spice-packets.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOther ideas include in-store entertainment, such as a DJ or tarot card reader. Whichever unique in-store experience you choose, the goal is to make it worthwhile for shoppers to travel to your location and deal with the stresses of Black Friday, like traffic and parking challenges, and spend time and money in your shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Offer exclusive items and bundles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is a great day to unveil new products. If new product drops are part of your Black Friday sales strategy this year, tease at the reveals in the weeks leading up to it on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_768,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990095\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/beauty-product\/beauty-product.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou can also offer Black Friday-exclusive product bundles and gifts for specific purchases. For example, if you sell cookware, offer a Black Friday bundle, like a free spatula with every set purchased. Offer a gift with each minimum purchase, like a free garlic press with every purchase over \u00a3100. No matter what Black Friday deals you offer, make your brand enticing and turn Black Friday into an event, rather than just another shopping day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Offer deals on more than products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Who said Black Friday deals can only be for physical products? If you offer memberships, subscriptions or any other type of service, make them part of your Black Friday strategy. For example, a yearly membership for 50% off or 2-for-1 deals on the services you provide. A customer who gets a great deal on a membership or service is likely to continue buying from your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Embrace omnichannel shopping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Limited quantities of steeply discounted big-ticket items are a hallmark of Black Friday. In the past, this meant hordes of shoppers crowding these items and fighting it out to get one of these few prizes. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_768,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1751990036\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/die-cut-bag\/die-cut-bag.jpg?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShopper with a branded die-cut bag<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there\u2019s a better way to handle hot-ticket items: letting buyers stake their claims on your website or app. <\/strong>By offering the opportunity for buyers to make Black Friday-exclusive purchases online and then pick them up in-store, you can build hype in the days leading up to Black Friday <\/strong>and get more people in the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Build hype<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is always on the fourth Friday of November. Your brand can build on this anticipation with countdown clocks, product and deal reveals throughout the month and user-generated and influencer content to get people hyped for the big day. Current marketing trends<\/a> and strategies like these keep your brand at the forefront of buyers\u2019 minds, increasing sales on Black Friday and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n Tip <\/div>\n\nMake social media your main channel for building hype. Organic posts to advertise sales and unveil exclusive items are free and can draw in plenty of engagement!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
Get the most out of Black Friday this year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Black Friday is just the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Ride the retail wave through the end of the calendar year by building your best marketing strategy now. To help you out with that, we\u2019re offering Black Friday deals on all your print needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n\n Ready to start the Christmas sale season? <\/div>\n\n\n Dazzle customers with impressive branding this Black Friday. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n