Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is the biggest sales event of the year and a golden opportunity for Shopify merchants to boost sales and build customer loyalty. With high order volumes, limited time, and sky-high expectations, it can also be one of the most stressful weekends in ecommerce.
The key to a successful BFCM is preparation. Making sure your store, your marketing, and your systems are ready long before the rush begins will help you stay calm and in control when it matters most.
Here are practical ways to get your store ready, along with how Orderly Emails and Orderly Print can help you stay organized through it all.
Before BFCM: Prepare and Plan Ahead
Think of this phase as your foundation. The more you do before BFCM, the easier the busy weekend will be.
Start by checking your website experience. Make sure your store loads quickly, your product descriptions are clear, and your navigation is easy to follow. Shoppers move fast during BFCM, and if your site feels slow or confusing, they will move on just as quickly.
Then, plan your promotions and marketing. Whether you are offering discounts, bundles, or launches, make sure your offers are clear and easy to find. Build anticipation with email and social campaigns ahead of time so your customers know what is coming.
This is also a good time to review your customer communication. Your emails, order updates, and notifications should feel professional and on-brand. With Orderly Emails, you can customize your Shopify notification emails to match your store’s look and tone. It helps you build trust from the first thank-you message and makes every interaction feel consistent and polished.
Finally, organize your fulfillment process. Create a plan for how you will handle higher order volumes, from packaging materials to your printing workflow. Orderly Print helps you batch print invoices, packing slips, and pick lists so you can fulfill orders quickly and accurately when things get busy.
Checklist: Before BFCM
■ Review last year’s sales and campaign data
■ Optimize your website speed and navigation
■ Plan your promotions and key offers
■ Schedule your marketing emails and social posts
■ Update your Shopify notification emails with Orderly Emails
■ Get your Picking List og Fulfillment settings customized and ready to go
■ Stock up on packaging materials and shipping labels
During BFCM: Stay Focused and Flexible
Once BFCM begins, things move quickly, and flexibility is your best friend.
Keep an eye on your store analytics in real time. Which products are selling best? Are any pages underperforming? Small adjustments, like promoting trending products or updating copy, can make a big difference during peak traffic.
Your customer experience matters more than ever now. Shoppers expect fast responses, clear communication, and a smooth checkout process. Make sure your support messages and order updates are quick, friendly, and consistent. This is where Orderly Emails helps again, automatically sending branded updates that reassure customers their order is on the way.
Behind the scenes, organization keeps everything running. Use Orderly Print to manage your fulfillment efficiently and reduce packing errors. Printing all your documents in bulk helps you stay calm and in control, even when your order count doubles or triples overnight.
Keep communication open with your team throughout the sale. When things get busy, even small check-ins can make a big difference. Share updates on stock levels, priority orders, and any customer issues as they come up. Supporting each other and staying coordinated helps prevent mistakes and keeps everyone focused on what matters most, getting orders out smoothly and customers happy.
Checklist: During BFCM
■ Monitor live analytics and adjust your promotions
■ Highlight trending products in real time
■ Keep customer communication fast and friendly
■ Batch print orders using Orderly Print for efficiency
■ Double-check inventory and prevent overselling
■ Share updates with your team throughout the day
■ Keep your packaging area organized and ready
After BFCM: Reflect, Reconnect, and Refine
When the sale ends, your work is not over. This is the perfect time to turn one-time shoppers into loyal customers.
Start by sending thank-you messages that make your customers feel appreciated. A little gratitude goes a long way in turning that BFCM shopper into a repeat buyer. With Orderly Emails, you can customize your Shopify notification emails, such as order confirmations and shipping updates, to include friendly thank-you notes, discount codes, or post-sale offers. It is a simple way to keep your brand top of mind and leave a positive impression after every purchase.
Next, review your performance. Which products sold fastest? Were there bottlenecks in your workflow? Did any emails perform better than others? Use these insights to make your next campaign even stronger.
Finally, take a moment to celebrate what went well. BFCM is intense, and even small wins deserve recognition.
Checklist: After BFCM
■ Analyze sales, traffic, and campaign data
■ Identify top-performing products and offers
■ Review your fulfillment and packing flow
■ Take notes on what to improve next year
■ Celebrate your team’s hard work
Learn from BFCM Data and Insights
If you want to understand what drives BFCM success across Shopify stores globally, Shopify’s 2024 BFCM report is full of useful insights. From the top-selling product categories to changing shopper habits, it is worth a read as you plan your strategy for this year.
We borrowed the highlights straight from Shopify's blog - here’s what went down last year globally:
📈 $11.5 billion in global sales from merchants, a 24% increase in sales from 2023
🎉 76+ million consumers worldwide bought from Shopify-powered brands
1️⃣ 16,500+ entrepreneurs made their first sale on Shopify
💰 More than 67,000 merchants had their highest-selling day ever on Shopify
🛍️ Hottest product categories: Clothing Tops, Cosmetics, Fitness & Nutrition, Pants, Activewear
🛒 Average cart price: $108.56 ($109.70 on a constant currency basis)
🌎 Top selling countries: US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany
🏙️ Top selling cities: Los Angeles, New York, London, San Francisco, Miami
🕜 Peak sales per minute: 12:01 PM EST on Black Friday
🚚 Cross-border orders represented 16% of all global orders
💳 58% year-over-year increase in sales made via Shop Pay
📦 91M+ packages globally were tracked on the Shop App
Read their blog post: Explore Shopify’s BFCM Data Report
Make This Your Most Organized BFCM Yet
With thoughtful preparation and the right tools, your store can run smoothly and look great throughout the busiest shopping weekend of the year.
Orderly Emails helps you deliver consistent, on-brand communication at every step.
Orderly Print helps you fulfill orders efficiently and accurately, saving hours when it matters most.
Together, they help you stay calm, professional, and ready for whatever BFCM brings.
