Black Friday Starts Now

The busiest retail event of the year isn’t won in November. It’s won by the decisions you make today.

Black Friday has grown from a single day of discounts into one of the biggest retail events of the year. It falls on 27 November, and for many customers it is now the unofficial start of Christmas shopping. The retailers who perform best are rarely the ones making last-minute decisions.

Four things to focus on now

•          Stock planning. Review last year’s sales and secure your proven performers early. Back your winners, not your entire catalogue.

•          Price strategy. Build the campaign around a few hero products rather than discounting everything.

•          Margin protection. Bundles, accessories and premium upgrades lift transaction value while protecting margin.

•          Avoid common mistakes. Ordering too late, discounting thin-margin lines, promoting items without enough stock and forgetting Christmas follows straight after.

The Zen tip

Secure your hero products first. Customers will forgive a missed bargain, but they won’t forgive an empty shelf.

Use ZenPort to compare categories, spot products with healthy margins and bundle potential, and lock in your Black Friday stock today.