When Is Black Friday 2023 and How to Prepare Your eCommerce Store
Black Friday is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year.
With epic sales and deals in both online and brick-and-mortar stores, it’s your chance to use this peak in online spending to raise sales, store traffic, and brand awareness.
In this article, we’ll brief you on all things important – what and when are Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and how to prepare your online store for the start of the 2023 holiday shopping season.
When Is Black Friday 2023?
We’ve got a tip for those who spend all Thanksgiving Day wondering when Black Friday starts – you’re running out of time. Save the date and bookmark a countdown, online retailers and shopping enthusiasts:
Black Friday 2023 – November 24
It’s your chance to use the busiest shopping day of the year to your advantage with big discounts and special promotions for Black Friday 2023.
When Is Black Friday Over?
Black Friday is officially the day after Thanksgiving Day, but your chance to offer special promotions doesn’t start and end on November 24.
To avoid overcrowding and fulfillment delays, many stores, and even major retailers like Amazon, start early Black Friday promotions in late October and the first weeks of November.
These deals continue through Thanksgiving weekend and end right before Cyber Monday on November 27.
A Brief History of Black Friday
While in recent years it’s known as the biggest shopping day of the year, the term “Black Friday” originated in the 1960’s on a slightly less positive note.
It was a way for police officers in Philadelphia to describe the traffic, accidents, shoplifting, and general chaos caused by suburban tourists who had arrived in town to begin their holiday shopping.
That all changed in the late 1980s when most retailers and shopping malls, seeing increased profits and many consumers in long lines to get the best deals, gave Black Friday a more positive spin.
What to Expect From Black Friday and What Is Cyber Week?
Let’s look at some useful facts from last year’s Thanksgiving weekend, or Black Friday weekend, which leads up to Cyber Monday – a five-day period known as Cyber Week, or Cyber Five, in the eCommerce industry.
Look at the Numbers
Black Friday sales reached a record $9.1 billion in 2022, overshadowed by the staggering $11 billion achieved on Cyber Monday.
The entire Cyber Week brought in $35.3 billion in sales.
Sales Start Early
Late November holiday sales start from a few days to a month in advance.
What started as a way to avoid shipping and supply chain issues has turned into a common business practice.
Shoppers Want Gifts
The holiday season sales were dominated by toys and games, followed closely by electronics, with Airpods at the top of the list.
Although this might not initially mean much for your eCommerce business if you’re selling customizable products, it’s important to recognize an opportunity to sell products that accompany hot-selling goods.
Cyber Monday Is the New Black Friday
Although Black Friday is still the biggest shopping day of the year, Cyber Monday has taken the lead in eCommerce sales, in part due to its growing popularity in other countries.
If recent history serves as any indication, it’s also set for further growth in the years ahead.
Make It Happen Today!
When Is Cyber Monday 2023?
The term “Cyber Monday” refers to the Monday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday week in the United States.
It was created by online retailers to promote online shopping through exceptional bargains.
Move from long lines at shopping malls and prepare your online store for Monday shoppers:
Cyber Monday 2023 – November 27
How Can Online Retailers Prepare for Cyber Monday and Black Friday?
To set your store up for Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2023, you need to know what sells best and how to promote it.
With November right around the corner, we’ve prepared a short list of things that will turn your eCommerce store into the go-to place for holiday season goods.
- Start Early. It bears repeating that retailers start offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals many weeks in advance. Don't give your competitors the upper hand, and prepare your shop.
- Use Email Marketing. Create a mailing list to use one of the most effective digital marketing tools to let your regular customers know about the Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals in your shop.
- Promote Discounts. The average discount for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales is 25%. Set the right discounts to stand out during the online shopping boom.
- Use SEO. Optimize your product listings by using the right keywords. To make this easier, find a keyword tool that's created for the specific sales channel you use.
- Use Social Media. From Black Friday promotions to early Cyber Monday sales to excellent product advertising, use the power of social media to attract shoppers.
Quick tip
Create a reliable sales strategy by following our guide on the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday marketing ideas.
Cyber Monday vs Black Friday
| Black Friday | Cyber Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A shopping event for both in-store and online shopping. | A shopping event for online eCommerce sales. |
| When is it? | Black Friday officially starts the day after Thanksgiving, but online sales are carried out from October through the Thanksgiving weekend. | Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving and technically lasts for 24 hours, but some online retailers run a Cyber Monday week. |
| What to sell? | Latest generation tech, furniture, and other home and garden products. | Smart phones, TVs and appliances, apparel and accessories. |
| Black Friday | |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A shopping event for both in-store and online shopping. |
| When is it? | Black Friday officially starts the day after Thanksgiving, but online sales are carried out from October through the Thanksgiving weekend. |
| What to sell? | Latest generation tech, furniture, and other home and garden products. |
| Cyber Monday | |
| What is it? | A shopping event for online eCommerce sales. |
| When is it? | Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving and technically lasts for 24 hours, but some online retailers run a Cyber Monday week. |
| What to sell? | Smart phones, TVs and appliances, apparel and accessories. |
Prepare for the Christmas Shopping Season
Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2023 mark the start of the holiday sales season, but these are not the only days that can bring online stores a spike in sales.
Keep in mind that some people do their Christmas shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, while others set up their Holiday trees the night after.
This presents you with an opportunity to offer relevant deals during these dates, as well as start your Christmas marketing campaigns early.
Mark your calendar with all major holidays to be ready for the shopping boom.
Other Annual Events to Keep On Your Radar
- Christmas
- New Year
- Valentine's Day
- St. Patrick's Day
- Easter
- Mother's Day
- Pride Month
- Groundhog Day
- Father's Day
- 4th of July
- Labor Day
- Back-to-School
- Halloween
Get your store ready by preparing epic deals, promotions, discounts, and offers that shoppers won’t be able to pass up.
It’s your chance to become the go-to seller for seasonal goods, gifts, and merchandise for special events year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Black Friday shopping start?
Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, but online sales start as early as late October.
When is Thanksgiving?
In the United States, it’s celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November, while Canada celebrates Thanksgiving earlier.
Don’t get your dates mixed up:
United States – November 24 in 2023.
Canada – October 9 in 2023.
Is Black Friday the same date every year?
No! It’s not on the same date every year, but it does always happen on the same day.
Black Friday falls on the fourth Friday of November, following Thanksgiving in the United States – November 24 in 2023.
Is Cyber Monday as good as Black Friday?
While Cyber Monday doesn’t offer the same in-store doorbuster experience as Black Friday, it can be just as good, and even better, for eCommerce retailers and online shoppers.
Key Takeaways
Stay alert for November 24 through November 27 to skyrocket your store traffic, brand awareness, and profits with unmatched deals for Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2023.
Be prepared for both of these sales events and stay on top of your competitors by offering click-worthy promotions, optimized listings, and bargains that no online shopper can ignore.
Enhance your customer experience by adding customized products to your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals with Printify.
Make It Happen Today!
Written by
Vita Stevens
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