Every year, Black Friday serves as a global shopping carnival and has become a key sales milestone for cross-border e-commerce sellers. The Black Friday frenzy of 2024 has arrived as scheduled, with sales data on various platforms reaching new highs. For sellers, Black Friday is not only a challenge but also an excellent opportunity for growth. How can you maximize sales in the remaining time and achieve a true “order explosion” peak? Here comes the Black Friday sprint guide.

2024 Black Friday Initial Battle Data

According to overall data, Adobe Analytics shows that online sales in the US on Black Friday 2023 reached $9.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, setting a new record. This growth trend suggests that the shopping frenzy for Black Friday 2024 will be even more intense. In addition, a report from Bain & Company predicts that retail sales in the US from Black Friday to Cyber Monday in 2024 will increase by 5% year-on-year, reaching $75 billion.

Unlike previous years, Black Friday 2024 is not only Amazon’s “home turf”; major retailers such as Walmart and Target have also ramped up their online promotions.

Image source: New York Post

Focus on Hot-Selling Categories, Precisely Allocate Resources

During this year’s Black Friday, categories such as electronics, home goods, fashion apparel, and beauty & personal care continue to be favored by consumers. In particular, products like smartwatches, virtual reality headsets, food processors, and hair styling tools have seen significant demand growth. In addition, home appliances, home improvement products, and health & personal care items also show strong sales momentum.

Tips for optimizing product selection:

Follow the trends: Monitor consumer demand in real time through platform hot search terms (such as Amazon or Google Trends). For example, this year, “eco-friendly” products like biodegradable tableware and reusable bottles have seen significant sales growth.

Prioritize high profit: Allocate budget and promotional resources first to products with high gross margins and sufficient inventory.

Create bundled products: Increase average order value through “Buy A, Get B Free” or “combo sets,” while clearing slow-moving inventory.

Image source: New York Post

Inventory and Logistics Management: Avoid Stockouts and Unsold Inventory

The sales peak of Black Friday is often accompanied by inventory pressure and logistics challenges. Data shows that during Black Friday 2023, the stockout rate for best-selling products reached 23%, while the proportion of unsold inventory due to overstocking was 15%. These issues directly affect sellers’ profit performance.

The key to solving inventory problems lies in scientific forecasting and real-time monitoring. Sellers who use inventory optimization tools for data analysis saw their average inventory turnover rate increase by 18%, while stocking costs decreased by 12%. In terms of logistics, consumers’ tolerance for delayed delivery drops sharply during the holiday season. The proportion of orders canceled due to logistics delays during Black Friday reached 8%, while the conversion rate for orders shipped on time increased by 32%.

Extend Black Friday Momentum, Enhance Long-Term Customer Value

The value of Black Friday is not just about explosive orders, but also about turning short-term sales into long-term brand growth. Data shows that after Black Friday, during Cyber Week 2023, the average daily sales on US e-commerce platforms remained at more than 70% of the Black Friday peak.

For consumers who missed the discounts on Black Friday, this period is a key time for them to “restock.” For these consumers, you can design some limited-time special offers, such as “Extended Black Friday Discounts” or “Cyber Week Exclusive Deals,” and reach users who browsed but didn’t place orders through email marketing. Also, don’t forget the importance of existing customers—sending a personalized coupon at this time can not only increase repurchase rates but also enhance brand loyalty.

Conclusion

Black Friday 2024 is not only a carnival of traffic and sales, but also an opportunity for brand building. The new users attracted during the peak period can be converted into long-term customers through a quality shopping experience and attentive after-sales service.

On the Black Friday battlefield, victory does not only belong to those who sell the most, but to those who retain the most customers.