For customers, Black Friday means a synonym for huge discounts, deals, and great shopping opportunities.
For e-shop owners, however, it’s the busiest time of the year – a marathon that tests how well their processes, logistics, and patience are set up.
Within just a few days, the number of orders can multiply several times. Although Black Friday happens only once a year, its effects can linger long after – especially if the e-shop wasn’t prepared for the rush.
“This year I’ll handle Black Friday better” – The resolution of most e-shop owners
Have you heard this one before, or do you make it every year too? The secret to getting through successfully is a clear plan – without it, even the best effort can quickly fail.
The good news is that stress can be significantly reduced – just prepare in advance and focus on the key areas that matter most during the event.
So if you want this year’s Black Friday to be more about satisfaction and less about panic, the following tips are for you. They’ll help you handle the rush of orders calmly, keep your team in good shape, and give your customers what they expect – speed, reliability, and fairness.
Fortune favors the prepared
A “test run” with trial orders can be a great helper, helping you uncover weak points without hurting your shop’s reputation.
Inventory under control
Nothing adds more stress than seeing your best-selling product sell out within minutes after the event begins. Open your statistics and identify which products are most popular among customers – those are the ones most likely to sell out quickly.
Prepare for these products and increase your stock more than usual. Also, focus on products where you plan to offer the highest discounts. During the rush of orders, there won’t be time to manage stock issues – prepare in advance.
Simplify your processes
During Black Friday, everything needs to run fast and smoothly. Create clear procedures – who will pack orders, who will handle complaints, and who will take care of customer support. In short – the fewer uncertainties, the less stress. If you have a team, divide the tasks based on strengths – someone might excel in communication, while another person is great at organizing and packing.
Automate
Manually entering data into courier systems is always a sign of trouble – especially during Black Friday. If you use tools that automatically generate labels, verify products, or pair orders with carriers, you’ll save dozens of hours of work that are precious during high order volume.
If you haven’t automated yet, try the Chameleoon app – it can help you with shipping, save time and money, and give you a competitive edge in logistics all year round.
Communicate with your customers in advance
Customers know that Black Friday and Christmas are busy times, but they’ll appreciate your transparency. Add information about possible delays, delivery times, and stock availability on your website, checkout, and in your emails.
This step also reduces the load on your customer service team – giving you more time to process orders.
Take care of yourself and your team
It may sound like a small thing, but during Black Friday, even little details matter. Keep water, snacks, and good vibes close by – or play your favorite music in the warehouse. A team that feels good can handle even the biggest rush with a smile.
Do a recap
After sending out the last order and celebrating your success, take a moment to write down what worked and what caused problems.
Focus on questions like:
- When was the biggest rush?
- Which products sold out the fastest?
- Where did delays occur?
The data and lessons from this year will be your best guide for making next year even better.
Think long-term
Black Friday lasts only a few days, but good processes last all year. If something caught you off guard – complex shipping, product mix-ups, or a messy warehouse – fix it now while it’s still fresh in your mind. The improvements you make today will pay off in every future season.
Black Friday doesn’t have to be a nightmare – quite the opposite! It can create memories you’ll actually enjoy looking back on.
To get through it successfully, all it takes is a few extra steps – simple but effective automation, a solid plan, and a calm, cheerful team.
The more you simplify your work, the more time and energy you’ll have left for what truly matters.
We wish you a successful Black Friday – with minimal stress and record-breaking results.
The Chameleoon Team.