Black Friday isn’t just another day on the calendar—it’s the single most important sales period of the year for creators. This is the time when your audience is primed to shop, and with a little planning, you can see a significant boost in your merchandise sales. At Crowdmade, we’ve developed a Black Friday strategy that has proven to deliver results, but it requires planning, preparation, and daily promotion during the sale period. Let’s dive into why Black Friday matters so much and how you can make the most of it.
Why Black Friday Matters
Black Friday through Cyber Monday is a shopping frenzy. People are on the hunt for deals, limited editions, and exclusive offers. Your audience is no different.
Our experience has shown that creators who fully embrace Black Friday with well-planned promotions see a massive spike in sales. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s an essential part of a successful merchandise strategy.
Our Proven Black Friday Strategies
We’ve honed in on several strategies that consistently drive sales for our creators. Here’s how we do it:
1. "The Disney Vault"
If you’ve released limited edition products earlier in the year, Black Friday is the perfect time to bring them back for a limited run. We call this strategy “The Disney Vault.” The excitement here comes from the product’s limited availability. Fans who missed out the first time around are eager for another chance to buy.
How it works:
- Bring back previous limited-edition products that expired earlier in the year.
- Offer them only during Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
- Typically, these are sold at retail price, but adding a discount can make them even more appealing.
This strategy is highly effective, but it requires planning throughout the year. You need to have products that have already expired during their limited term to make this work.
2. "The Black Friday Special"
Another winning approach is to launch a brand new, limited product on Black Friday. The key here is to offer the product at a special discount during Black Friday through Cyber Monday even if the product will exist thereafter. The urgency is built-in—this hot new product is discounted now, but it’s going to get more expensive after the sale.
How it works:
- Release a brand-new, limited-edition product.
- Offer it at a special discount during Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
- Promote the urgency: “Get it now before the price goes up!”
This strategy not only drives sales but also adds a fresh, exciting product to your store just when your audience is most eager to buy. Your buyers will continue to buy through Christmas, but the price sensitive ones will pick it up during Black Friday. This is a sale volume maximization strategy that matches the season frenzy.
3. "The Black Friday Discount"
If you don’t have a vault of past products or a new launch ready, don’t worry. A straightforward discount can still be effective. We suggest offering a 10% - 20% discount on your entire store or select products during Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
How it works:
- Offer a simple 10% - 20% discount on your merchandise.
- Promote it consistently during the sale period to maximize visibility.
While this approach is simpler, it’s still a powerful way to boost sales, especially if you promote it every single day of the sale period.
The Key to Success: Planning Ahead
No matter which strategy you choose, the key to a successful Black Friday is planning. These strategies don’t work if you start thinking about them in November. To really capitalize on Black Friday, you need to have your plans set by September or early October at the latest.
What to do:
- Map out your Black Friday strategy well in advance.
- Decide which products to bring back, launch, or discount.
- Create a promotion schedule that includes daily reminders to your audience during the sale period.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday is your biggest opportunity of the year to drive sales and connect with your audience through your merchandise. By planning ahead and using proven strategies like “The Disney Vault,” “The Black Friday Special,” or even a simple discount, you can make this sales period a huge success.
And remember, we’re here to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need advice on your Black Friday strategy, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re excited to support you in making this Black Friday your best sales period yet!