Black Friday & Cyber Monday Preparation Guide

Summarize with AI

ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

12-week countdown playbook for BFCM success with performance testing, inventory planning, and retention tactics.

BFCM by the Numbers

BFCM 2025 saw Shopify merchants collectively generate $9.3B in sales over the weekend, up 24% from 2024. The average discount was 28%, and mobile accounted for 73% of traffic and 66% of orders.

For individual stores, BFCM typically represents 20-40% of Q4 revenue. Proper preparation starting 12 weeks out can increase your BFCM revenue by 30-50% compared to unprepared stores.

12-8 Weeks Out: Planning

Early planning sets the foundation for BFCM success.

• •
  Analyze last year's BFCM performance data
• •
  Set revenue and traffic targets for this year
• •
  Plan your discount strategy and offer structure
• •
  Brief your creative team on campaign assets needed
• •
  Plan email and SMS campaign calendar
• •
  Confirm inventory levels for hero products
• •
  Identify and fix site performance issues

8-4 Weeks Out: Preparation

Execute your preparation plan and test everything.

• •
  Build and test all landing pages
• •
  Create email/SMS sequences and schedule them
• •
  Set up abandoned cart recovery flows
• •
  Configure discount codes and automatic discounts
• •
  Load test your store for 3-5x normal traffic
• •
  Set up real-time monitoring dashboards
• •
  Brief customer service team on offers and FAQs
• •
  Test checkout flow on all devices

4-1 Weeks Out: Final Checks

Final optimizations and contingency planning.

• •
  Run final site speed audit (target sub-2s on mobile)
• •
  Verify all discount codes work correctly
• •
  Test email deliverability and rendering
• •
  Confirm shipping carrier capacity and cutoff dates
• •
  Set up war room communication channels
• •
  Prepare backup plans for high-traffic scenarios
• •
  Final inventory count and allocation

BFCM Week & Post-BFCM

During BFCM, monitor performance in real-time and be ready to adjust. Post-BFCM, focus on retention and turning one-time buyers into repeat customers.

Post-BFCM priorities: send thank-you emails within 24 hours, provide proactive shipping updates, launch a post-holiday retention campaign targeting new customers, analyze BFCM performance data for next year's planning, and run a 'missed the sale?' campaign for engaged non-buyers. About Creative Labs Creative Labs is a global eCommerce agency specializing in Shopify development, SEO, conversion optimization, and digital growth strategies. We help brands build online stores that convert and scale.

Get in Touch

What to read next?