With Black Friday nearing, sellers across the world are gearing up for this multi-million-dollar phenomenon, which requires all your attention as business owners. Of course, if you want to make the most of it, you’re going to have to move fast. Take Shopify merchants, for example: They alone generated $11.5 billion in sales during BFCM 2024, a 24% increase from 2023. Now is the time to finalize solutions and make decisions that will affect your sales for the rest of the year. Black Friday secrets are not voodoo! They just need you to move fast and act with precision.
Here are 21 tips for you to break the black friday online sales record in 2025!
How Shopify sellers broke Black Friday online sales record
2024 was a big year for Shopify and its merchants! According to Shopify’s official report, More than 76 million shoppers bought from stores around the world. What Caused this? Great deals, fast mobile checkouts, and engineered on-site merchandising. Clothing, Activewear, and cosmetics were the categories that led the market, and earlier campaigns were game changers!
Across peak season, bundling remains a top AOV lever, paired with tiered discounts, VIP early access, and smart free-shipping thresholds. A practical product bundling strategy helps teams frame “separate vs. bundle” value without eroding margins.
21 Black Friday tricks that make you stand out
You’ve got the ideas, you know you should do something, but you’re still not sure how. Here are 21 proven tips on how to make money off black friday:
- Turn your sale into an “event” with rotating deals
Time-sensitive offers keep people checking back (like daily or weekly ones). Example: “Morning: 25% off skincare, Afternoon: 2-for-1 candles, Evening: laptop flash sale.” This mirrors how big retailers drip-feed deals all weekend.
- Use tiered discounts to grow every cart
Appreciate higher spends with a discount: “10% over $50, 20% over $100, 30% over $200.” Black Friday shoppers are already spending more, so a visible ladder nudges them to hit the next tier.
- Add a mystery discount or prize wheel
One of the most well-known black friday secrets is the fun and games. Gamify the experience with a spin-to-win or scratch reveal. Like a pop-up with 10%, 15%, 20% or free shipping.
- Give VIPs early access before the chaos
Give access earlier to email/SMS subscribers, making them feel more involved. Look at this: “VIP Black Friday starts Thursday at 6 PM.” Business owners and sellers are already promoting “early Black Friday”; so make your list feel special.
- Let shoppers build their own bundle
Instead of fixed sets, let customers mix and match within a discounted category. Look at this: “Pick 3 candles for 25% off.” This feels personalized and helps you move more SKUs without setting individual discounts. Instead of building these offers manually, you can use a product bundle app that Shopify merchants rely on to handle all the mix-and-match logic in the background. Shoppers just see a simple, fun interface for building their own bundles, while you keep full control over pricing and margins.
- Use cross-sell blocks to “complete the look”
On PDPs and in-cart, show logical add-ons like cases, chargers, or services. For example: “Customers who bought this laptop also saved 15% on the bag.” These suggestions instantly increase AOV.
- Set a smart free-shipping threshold
One of the most overlooked Black Friday tricks is free items, including shipping. It’s always a good idea to put your free-shipping bar just above your current AOV. Meaning if AOV is $60, offer free shipping at $75. Also, provide a progress bar to show customers how much more they need to purchase to get free shipping. This minor work can quietly boost cart size.
- Run “buy a gift card, get a bonus” offers
Gift cards convert late and not-so-sure shoppers. Like if they buy a $100 gift card, they’ll get a $15 bonus card. It’s easy to fulfill, and also pulls revenue.
- Create ultra-specific gift guides, not generic lists
Curate super niche guides. Imagine “Gifts under $30” or “For skincare beginners.” Independent-style guides win because they cut decision fatigue and feel editorial, not spammy.
- Use countdown timers and “ends soon” messaging
Black Friday is urgent; amplify it with timers. Timers like “Deal ends in 21:14:12” on offers. These timers imply honesty and a small FOMO, driving revenue faster.
- Make it a whole campaign, not a single day
“Early Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday early access” are becoming important pre-BFCM. Plan warm-up, main event, and goodbye phases with different angles, becoming visible to all customer groups
- Obsess over mobile checkout
Most BFCM traffic and a big part of revenue now come from mobile. Test your site on multiple devices and make sure it works well and is smooth. Otherwise, you’ll lose sales.
- Use cart abandonment flows as your safety net
People compare prices across tabs more than you’d imagine. Recover them with reminder emails or SMS showing products left behind, social proof, and a small offer that expires fast.
- Show live social proof on key offers
Use subtle notifications like the number of people who viewed the product or “Emma in Wales just bought this.” Social proof tools can lift trust and conversion, especially on important items that sell fast.
- Double down on loyalty members and repeat buyers
Offer extra points, exclusive bundles, or members-only discounts. Like Loyalty club free items. Retailers rely heavily on repeat customers over BFCM, so it’s important to make them feel special.
- Be transparent with price history and guarantees
In many shops, “deals” have been the same price as before, so shoppers are skeptical. Highlight real before/after pricing and offer a clear history.
- Drop one limited-edition or BFCM-only product
Create a product or bundle that exists only for this time of the year. Like a “Black Friday Box” with bestsellers at a good discount. This gives both real value and exclusivity, making people want to spend money on it.
- Staff real-time support to save shaky baskets
When people hesitate about size, specs, or shipping, live chat can step in. Promote the best features of your support team so people can rely on it.
- Work with creators and affiliates on curated picks
Give influencers personal codes and curated product lists pointing to your sale pages. See brands and media campaigns from last years to get inspiration.
- Use post-purchase upsells and reorder nudges
After checkout, offer add-ons that ship with the same order or subscriptions for consumables. Example: “Add a cleaning kit for 20% off before we pack your order” or “Subscribe and save 15% on refills.”
- Promote flexible returns and extended guarantees
Shoppers are wary of “dud deals,” especially on tech and big appliances. Highlight extended holiday returns and robust warranties in banners, PDPs, and checkout to lower perceived risk and push them over the line.
How Shopify Sellers Can Have a Smoother BFCM?
First things first, you need to know what actually sells (and that might be different from what you think is trendy). Here are the 10 most sold categories in Shopify in BFCM 2024:
- Clothing (tops)
- Pants & bottoms
- Activewear/athleisure
- Cosmetics & makeup
- Fitness & nutrition products
- Health & beauty (broader personal care category)
- Fashion accessories & jewelry
- Electronics & computers
- Home & kitchen
- Toys & accessories
Make sure you’re not working on your own! Use tools and apps that help and automate your sales and shop management processes. And select the ones that fit your needs, whether it’s marketing, sales automation, bundling, or even page customization.
Finally, give your customers the right to play and choose inside your store. Making their own offer gives them the feeling of freedom and personal purchase. Apps like Fast Bundle make mix-and-match easy to set up, letting shoppers build bundles that feel personalized while boosting your AOV during Black Friday.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday 2025 can potentially be your chance to show up smarter, not louder. Build thoughtful bundles, clear messaging, and honest Black Friday offers that actually help shoppers decide. Do that, and this weekend won’t be a spike; it’ll be the start of your strongest season yet.
