We’ve finally reached that time of year. The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisp, and everyone’s favorite shopping holiday is just around the corner. That’s right, folks. Black Friday is almost here!

The holy trinity for companies is Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and a killer marketing strategy. If you prepare well enough for this time of year, your sales will reflect your efforts.

But how do you properly prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM)? How can you go above and beyond to be better than your competition?

You’re lucky to be here, my friends. We’re here to share all of our preparation secrets on how to develop your company’s strategy for BFCM success.

The History Behind BFCM

Black Friday started in Philadelphia in the 1950s. At that time, people used the term to describe the heavy traffic and congestion that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving. Over time, the name became associated with bargain shopping and big sales.

Cyber Monday was created in 2005 by the National Retail Federation. The term encouraged people to shop online for holiday gifts. Cyber Monday has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.

How to Prepare for Black Friday

Even though Black Friday offers massive potential for apparel brands, it can also be a hectic and stressful time. But don’t worry! Our team at Scrappy Apparel is here to help.

Here are a few useful tips on how to prepare for Black Friday so you can make the most of the holiday rush:

Get Your Inventory Ready

This one is crucial. Make sure there is enough of every product available to meet customer demand. You don’t want to disappoint customers by selling out of their favorite items too quickly.

Train Your Staff

Your employees will be the face of your business on Black Friday, so it’s important to make sure they’re prepared. Train them on how to handle customer inquiries, complaints, and transactions. And if you can, bring in some extra staff to help with the increased traffic.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Promote your Black Friday deals early and often. The key to success is always starting early. Use social media, email marketing, and even good old-fashioned flyers and posters to let people know what you’ve got going on. The more people know about possible savings, the better your results will be.

Get Your Systems in Order

Make sure your point-of-sale system is up and running smoothly and that your employees know how to use it. You don’t want any hiccups on Black Friday, so take care of this ahead of time. Offer additional support to seasonal employees who might not be as experienced as your year-round staff.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Things can and will always go wrong, no matter how well you plan. It’s vital to have a backup plan for power outages, website crashes, or any other unforeseen issues that could arise. By being prepared, you can minimize the impact of any problems that may arise and keep your business running smoothly.

How to Prepare for Cyber Monday

As a business owner, you know that preparing for Cyber Monday can be a bit of a daunting task. There’s so much to do and so little time!

Here are a few of our top tips for preparing your business for Cyber Monday:

Plan Ahead

Cyber Monday is a very busy shopping day, so it’s essential to plan ahead. First, test your site’s performance to make sure it can handle the influx of visitors on Cyber Monday. If your site isn’t built to manage heavy traffic, it could crash (and that would be a disaster!) Also, double-check that your inventory is well-stocked.

Get Your Marketing Strategy Going

Have a solid marketing plan available to ensure that you’re reaching your target audience. You’ll also want to ensure you have a solid plan for promoting your deals and driving traffic to your website on Cyber Monday.

Make Sure Your Fulfillment is Ready

Cyber Monday is a big day for online retailers when it comes to shipping. If you aren’t equipped with enough staff or resources to handle the increased volume of orders, you could end up with some upset customers.

Offer Daring Discounts + Deals

People love a daring deal, so offer discounts and deals on your products and services. This will help entice people to shop with you on Cyber Monday. Just be sure that your discounts are actually good deals, or you’ll risk losing customers to your competitors.

Promote Your Business

Use social media, email marketing, and all other marketing channels to promote your business and let people know about your Cyber Monday deals. Make sure your marketing is clear. You want it to highlight the best aspects of your business.

Make Sure Your Customer Service Team is On Point

With all of the traffic and activity on your website, you’re bound to get some customer service inquiries. You’ll want to ensure your team is ready and available to help customers with any questions or concerns they may have on Cyber Monday. Be prepared with a team of people who can handle these inquiries quickly and efficiently.

Have Plan B and Plan C Ready to Go

Things happen. And sometimes, these things are beyond your control. That’s why it’s always good to have a backup plan (or two). Then, if something does go wrong, you’ll be ready to move on to the next plan.

Want More BFCM Tips?

Download our free guide to make this your best BFCM weekend yet! Learn how to:

• Set BFCM Goals
• Know the Psychology Behind BFCM Shopping
• Assess Your Inventory
• Plan Your Promotions
• Create a BFCM Marketing Plan
• Personalize Your Campaign Messaging
• Audit Your Website
• Make Sure Your BFCM Deal is Front and Center
• Optimize Your Product Pages
• Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
• Prep Your Customer Service Team

Need Inventory for BFCM?

We can help! At Scrappy Apparel, we offer lightning-quick turnaround times that never miss the mark. If you order now, your inventory will be ready to go for the BFCM rush. Let’s begin your project: