Black Friday is upon us and holds so much potential for small businesses. However, if you want to ensure a seamless and successful Black Friday for your small business, you need to start planning now! We have you covered with Black Friday marketing ideas for your small businesses PLUS another annual retail event you do not want to miss out on this year, Pink Friday!
All of these ideas can be used for Pink Friday, Shop Small Saturday, or any other holiday shopping event you are hosting for your business. Let’s get into these promotion ideas!
Black Friday Promotion Ideas for Small Businesses
1. Early Access for VIPs
Reward your loyal customers by offering early access to your Black Friday deals. Whether it’s through an exclusive email campaign or a private in-store event, give your VIP customers a head start on your promotions before the rush begins. This not only builds excitement but also makes your best customers feel valued.
Use this opportunity to offer a sneak peek at new arrivals or limited-time products that won’t be available after Black Friday.
2. Bundle & Save Deals
Create special product bundles that give customers more bang for their buck. For example, offer a “Buy 3, Get 1 Free” deal or combine related products at a discounted rate. Bundling is a great way to increase your average order value while helping customers check multiple items off their shopping list.
Curate bundles that focus on gifting, like cozy winter accessories or self-care packages, making it easier for customers to find ready-made gift sets.
3. Limited-Time Flash Sales
Offer flash sales at different times throughout the day to create urgency and excitement. Whether it’s a deep discount on a popular item or an exclusive offer only available for an hour, flash sales encourage customers to stay engaged and check back often for the next deal.
Promote your flash sales in advance through social media and email to create anticipation.
4. Gift with Purchase
Everyone loves a little something extra. Offer a free gift with purchase to encourage more spending and give your customers an added incentive to buy. Whether it’s a small accessory, branded swag, or a sample-sized product, it’s a great way to sweeten the deal without cutting into your margins. Choose a gift that complements your products, such as a pair of earrings with a clothing purchase or a candle with a home decor item.
5. Buy More, Save More
Encourage larger purchases with a tiered discount system. For example, offer 10% off when customers spend $50, 15% off when they spend $100, and 20% off when they spend $150. This approach motivates customers to add more to their carts to unlock bigger savings. Promote this offer with a countdown timer or progress bar on your website, so shoppers can see how close they are to reaching the next discount level.
6. Exclusive Online-Only Deals
If you have both a brick-and-mortar store and an online presence, offer exclusive deals for your online customers. This helps boost your eCommerce sales and allows you to capture shoppers who prefer to avoid the crowds. Promote free shipping or same-day delivery options for local shoppers to make the online experience even more appealing.
7. Social Media Contests & Giveaways
Create buzz around your Black Friday sales by hosting a contest or giveaway on social media. Encourage followers to engage with your content by tagging friends, sharing your posts, or using a specific hashtag to enter for a chance to win a prize or store credit. Announce the winner on Black Friday to boost engagement right before your big sale kicks off.
8. Extended Weekend Sale
Instead of limiting your promotion to just Black Friday, extend the sale throughout the weekend or into Cyber Monday. This gives customers more time to shop and increases your chances of capturing sales from those who may have missed out on the big day.
9. Create a Black Friday Mystery Box
Mystery boxes are a fun way to entice customers by offering a selection of products at a discounted rate. Shoppers love the excitement of not knowing exactly what they’ll get, and it’s a great way to move extra inventory. Tailor your boxes to different customer interests (e.g., accessories, self-care, or seasonal items) and market them as limited-edition deals.
Pro Tip: Offer a higher-value mystery box that includes a mix of best sellers and exclusive Black Friday items to appeal to your top customers.
10. Offer Free Gift Wrapping
With the holidays around the corner, customers appreciate anything that saves them time. Offering free gift wrapping with their purchase is a great value-added service that can help seal the deal, especially for shoppers looking to buy holiday gifts. Promote the gift-wrapping service as a stress-free solution for busy holiday shoppers. You can also offer it as an incentive for orders over a certain dollar amount.
Capitalize on Pink Friday
The best shop small event for retailers is back and better than ever … PINK FRIDAY! One HUGE day to #ShopSmallFirst–before Black Friday & before the big guys…Created by The Boutique Hub! Pink Friday is a small business spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst.
Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year, but the sales and promotions from big box stores often overshadow the experiences that small businesses are focused on providing.
The goal on November 22nd is to build hype around the best shop small event for retailers and to celebrate the businesses that are the backbone of our local communities, whether online or brick and mortar. Any small business can participate in Pink Friday.
We hope you loved our article on Black Friday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses
Get more information on growing your business by joining The Boutique Hub where we have tons of training, information, and most importantly, connection! Try out our service for a month, cancel anytime.
Follow along on Instagram @theboutiquehub!
- Back to School Marketing Ideas
Back to school season is the second busiest shopping season of the year! How are you going to capitalize this year? This time of year is going to be here before we know it, so its time to get busy prepping! Back to school time is a perfect opportunity to host an event or run a sale to attract new customers for the busy shopping season. Lets get into our top back to school marketing ideas! - What to Do When No One Buys: Pricing, Pitching & Pivoting
What if sales didn’t have to be about being pushy or intimidating, but instead about solving problems and making life better? Join us as we explore this concept with our guest, Andee Hart, who transformed her corporate sales expertise into a flourishing candle business during the pandemic. Andee’s inspiring journey is a masterclass in differentiation and tenacity, from how she successfully stood out in a crowded market to how she scaled her business to hundreds of boutiques. - Top 10 Mistakes Retailers Make (And How Retail Bootcamp Helps You Avoid Them)Running a boutique business can be one of the most rewarding—and challenging—adventures. Whether you’re just starting your boutique or you’ve been in business for years, it’s easy to fall into common traps that hold your growth back. The good news? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own either. That’s where Retail Bootcamp comes in. This proven boutique coaching program is designed to help boutique owners like you grow smarter, more profitably, and with a clear plan in place.
- Slow Sales? Ask These 5 Why’s Before You PanicIs your cash flow feeling tight but you’re still not paying yourself? In this episode of Five Minute Friday, Sara breaks down one of the most common retail traps: tying up cash in things that don’t bring you a return. From unnecessary trips to market to unused apps, pretty packaging, and impulse inventory buys, these hidden money leaks could be holding your business (and paycheck!) back.
- Why Data Clarity Is the Secret Weapon for Women-Owned Retail BrandsRunning a retail business takes vision, creativity, and a relentless work ethic—but without clarity in your numbers, you’re flying blind. You don’t need to be an accountant to grow a profitable business—but you do need a clear view of what’s really happening behind the scenes.
