25 Black Friday promotion ideas

Black Friday isn’t just a sales holiday – it’s the Super Bowl of ecommerce. In 2024, U.S. Black Friday online sales hit a record $10.8 billion, with over half of those purchases made on mobile. But in 2025, the rules of the game have shifted.

Shoppers are sharper than ever. With AI tools doing the deal-hunting and personalized feeds setting the bar, expectations are high. Sitewide coupons and BOGO deals still have their place – but they’re not enough on their own. To win this year, you need smarter offers, better timing, and incentives that actually land.

Here are 25 Black Friday promotion ideas built for 2025 – designed to boost engagement, drive revenue, and keep your brand from getting lost in the noise.

What is Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the retail equivalent of game day. Two key dates – November 28 and December 1, 2025 – that anchor the busiest shopping week of the year. What started as a post-Thanksgiving sales push in the U.S. has become a global, omnichannel event stretching across channels, markets, and expectations.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• $11.5 billion in global sales from Shopify merchants over BFCM 2024, a 24% increase over 2023.
• Peak sales velocity reached $4.6 million per minute at 12:01 PM EST on Black Friday.
• Over 76 million shoppers made purchases from Shopify stores during the BFCM weekend.
• 75% of global consumers plan to shop BFCM – but nearly 1 in 5 feel the hype is losing steam

So yes – Black Friday and Cyber Monday still matter. But competing in 2025 means going beyond the obvious. You need promotions that are relevant, real-time, and well-tested – not just recycled from last year’s playbook.

25 promotion ideas for your best Black Friday yet

Black Friday isn’t slowing down, so now’s the time to bring your A-game. Below are 25 tried-and-tested ideas to help you turn browsers into buyers and make this BFCM your most profitable yet:

1. Classic discounts (but with a twist)

Straight-up discounts still work – because they’re exactly what shoppers are hunting for. On Black Friday, no one’s offended by a bold 30% off. But that doesn’t mean your discounting has to be boring.

Go beyond a generic BLACKFRIDAY25 code. Try:

• Cart-based discounts that reward higher spend (e.g. "Spend $150, get $30 off").
• Segment-specific codes sent to VIPs, dormant users, or newsletter subscribers.

Exclusive drops for early access or mobile-only shoppers.

Not sure whether to use a percentage or fixed amount? Follow the Rule of 100:

• Use percentage discounts for items under $100 (e.g. 20% off a $60 item sounds better than $12 off).
• Use dollar discounts for items over $100 (e.g. $50 off a $250 item feels bigger than 20%).

Want to spice things up even more? Add gamification:

• Create a spin-the-wheel widget where customers can win discount tiers.
• Use a countdown timer to add urgency – FOMO still converts.
• For physical stores, try scratch cards with hidden deals at the POS.
• Share unique codes through influencers to reach casual scrollers, not just active deal hunters.
  

2. Tiered discounts to boost cart value

Black Friday isn’t just about volume – it’s about value. Tiered discounts are a smart way to increase average order value (AOV) while giving shoppers a reason to keep adding to their cart.

The logic is simple: the more they spend, the more they save. Examples:

• Spend $50 → get 10% off
• Spend $100 → get 20% off
• Spend $200 → get 30% off

It’s a win-win: customers feel rewarded, and you offset operational costs with fewer – but bigger – orders. You can also layer in complexity with segmentation rules: offer better tiers to VIPs, apply different thresholds to different product categories, or personalize tiers based on past behavior.

Tiered promos are especially effective when paired with urgency (like limited-time tiers) or bundles that push customers toward that next discount level.

3. Free gifts, samples, and shipping perks

Not every brand wants to slash prices. If your positioning leans premium – or you simply want to avoid margin erosion – free gifts and perks are a powerful alternative.

You can offer:

• A free product or sample set with orders over a certain amount.
• Free shipping, especially for international orders.
• Extras like gift wrapping or priority handling for holiday orders.

This strategy works particularly well in beauty, luxury, or wellness, where discounting can dilute brand value. Case in point: L'Occitane en Provence offered a $35 gift set ("Nature’s Present") on purchases over $85 during BFCM – a curated bundle of sample-size products designed to drive future full-size purchases.

Even though this kind of promotion isn’t hyper-personalized, it still drives perceived value and lets customers try before they buy again. And for smaller brands, it’s an easy way to stand out without joining the discount war.

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4. Product bundles that actually make sense

Bundling is a classic Black Friday move – but execution matters. The best bundles don’t just move old stock – they increase AOV and help shoppers discover new products they wouldn’t have bought on their own.

Use bundles to:

• Clear out low-performing or seasonal SKUs.
• Increase order value with pre-set combinations (e.g. “buy 2, get 1 free”).
• Create curated gift sets perfect for holiday shopping.

To make your bundles work:

• Pair products of similar value – bundling a $10 item with a $100 one feels unbalanced.
• Make the value obvious – clearly show what the customer saves.
• Avoid friction – auto-apply the bundle discount, no coupon needed.
• Keep it flexible – allow individual purchases alongside the bundle.‍
• Use cart prompts – suggest the missing items needed to complete a bundle.

Learn more: Qualification API for Smart Discount Recommendations

Example: Orangewood Guitars ran a Black Friday bundle promo where customers who added a guitar, an accessory kit, and Ernie Ball strings to their cart could use the code BUNDLEUP20. The add-ons were made completely free when all items were included – smart, simple, and high perceived value.

Pro tip: If you’re bundling products that include a freebie, consider restricting returns on individual items to avoid promo abuse.

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5. Gift cards for purchases made on Black Friday

You don’t have to hand out all your value on Black Friday. Instead, turn a one-time buyer into a repeat customer with store credit for future use.

For example, offer a 10% cashback in the form of a digital gift card for every Black Friday order. The catch? It can’t be used on the same day – and it expires in 30 days. That way, you extend the shopping momentum into December and increase customer lifetime value.

Gift cards also feel more personal and premium than discounts. Thanks to the endowment effect, customers are more likely to return and use credit they already “own.”

How to do it with Voucherify: You can set up an automatic post-purchase campaign that issues unique gift card codes after a qualifying order. Attach metadata like value, expiration, and usage rules (e.g. "not valid on Black Friday"). Deliver via email, webhook, or in-app message – fully automated, no manual work.

6. Double loyalty program points on Black Friday only

Not every customer wants a discount – some want to feel rewarded. A great way to do that? Offer double loyalty points for all Black Friday or Cyber Monday purchases. It’s a high-perceived-value, low-cost way to encourage repeat buying – without cutting into margins.

You can keep it simple:

• Double points for all purchases on November 28 and December 1
• Or go exclusive: only for loyalty program members, or only after hitting a cart threshold

Brands like Estée Lauder have used this strategy effectively – offering double points plus exclusive limited-edition products, like a lip gloss set at a promotional fixed price.

Pro tip with Voucherify: You can now automate double points with precision using our new earning rules, including:

• Pending points, which are held until the return window closes – reducing fraud
• Custom metadata logic to apply bonuses only to specific segments, SKUs, or channels
• Time-limited multipliers for earning rates (e.g. 2x points from midnight to 2 p.m.)
• Reward caps to prevent abuse or excessive accumulation

You can also combine double points with other perks like early access, free expedited shipping, or exclusive drops – giving your loyalty members a true VIP Black Friday experience.

7. Geotargeted campaigns for in-store traffic

Geofencing isn’t just for retail giants anymore. With modern APIs and mobile integrations, even mid-sized or boutique retailers can run location-based promos without blowing the budget.

On Black Friday, send time-sensitive offers to customers who are physically near your store – perfect for last-minute traffic or driving urgency. Want to get cheeky? Try geoconquesting: target users near your competitor’s location with a better offer and a same-day expiration.

Ideas:

• “Show this message in-store today and get 15% off”
• “You're 500m away from our store – come in and pick a free gift”

Voucherify makes this easy with custom metadata filters, so you can launch location-based coupon campaigns without reinventing your app or POS setup.

8. Early-bird discounts before Black Friday

Black Friday is no longer just a day – it’s a season. Shoppers start hunting for deals as early as October, and brands that show up first often win.

Offer early access promo codes to loyal customers or newsletter subscribers before the main rush hits. You can also run a “deal-a-day” countdown campaign leading up to Black Friday, teasing different product categories each day.

Other ideas:

• Give loyalty members access to Black Friday codes 48 hours early
• Launch earlybird offers for low-stock items to lock in early conversions
• Use Voucherify to set expiration timers or segment codes by customer group (e.g. “members-only” access rules)

The earlier you engage, the better chance you have of being top of mind when wallets open.

9. Live shopping, social drops & agent-aware commerce

Black Friday isn’t just a race for the lowest price – it’s a competition for attention. In 2025, that attention is increasingly won through live, interactive, and social-first experiences.

If you already have an audience on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, now’s the time to experiment with live shopping events. Think QVC meets Twitch: real-time demos, influencer hosts, limited drops, and exclusive codes announced live.

But live commerce is evolving. Here’s what’s trending this year:

• Agent-aware offers: Shoppers using AI agents? Build agent-detectable discount structures or include embedded metadata so your offers show up in their recommendations.
• Short-form promo drops: Use TikTok or Instagram Reels to tease flash codes or product bundles – snackable, shoppable, and timed to disappear fast.
• Interactive referral moments: Let influencers or customers share unique referral codes mid-stream – double win with reach + retention.

Social-only exclusives: Release product bundles or limited variants that are only accessible via live or social links.

10. The good old BOGO on Black Friday

BOGO isn’t new, but it still hits. When done right, Buy One, Get One deals are a powerhouse for driving AOV and unit sales during Black Friday. They feel generous, create urgency, and push shoppers to buy more than they planned.

It’s not just “Buy One, Get One Free” anymore – variations like Buy One, Get One 50% Off often outperform flat discounts and help protect your margins.

You can run:

• Site-wide BOGO promotions for maximum reach
• Category-specific BOGO (e.g. buy any jeans, get the second half-off)
• BOGO bundles to move seasonal or overstocked items

If you were planning a 40–50% discount anyway, a BOGO structure may drive more volume and higher cart sizes – especially if you can layer in personalized offers or customer-specific eligibility.

Example: Jewelry brand Victoria Emerson launched a BOGO sale exclusively for VIP customers during Black Friday, turning a classic tactic into a loyalty play.

Don’t sleep on the classics. The good old BOGO still delivers – especially when combined with smart segmentation and time-limited urgency.

11. Partnership & co-marketing campaigns with a twist

You don’t have to go it alone on BFCM. Partnering with complementary brands or affiliates lets you unlock new audiences, share costs, and amplify reach.

But let’s take it up a notch for 2025:

Modern spins on partnership promos

• Cross‑discounts: You offer a discount on partner’s services or products; they reciprocate for yours. Think: “Buy X, get Y from our partner at 20% off.”
• Bundle collaborations: Co-create a product bundle with another brand – each one boosts their exposure and shares the value.
• Affiliate / influencer networks with shared codes: Give each partner a unique code tied to your campaign so you can attribute revenue and reward top performers.
• Channel swaps: Swap email or SMS access – feature their products to your customers and vice versa in your Black Friday newsletters.
• “Powered by” tie-ins: For example, “Buy from us and get 3 months of [partner’s software or service] included.” Great for SaaS/retail crossovers.
• Cause-aligned collaborations: Partner with a non-profit and donate a portion per co‑sale. Good optics and reach benefits for both sides.

For their Black Friday lineup, IKEA partnered with Afterpay to let customers use the pay-in-4 BNPL option both in-store and online. It wasn’t a “discount per se,” but a value-add that lowered friction, especially for younger shoppers.

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12. A deal-a-day campaigns starting ahead of Black Friday

Why limit your promotion to just one day when you can build hype all week – or all month? A deal-a-day campaign keeps customers checking in, builds anticipation, and gives you multiple chances to convert without flooding your site with a single mega-sale.

Each day, roll out something new:

• Monday: 20% off new arrivals
• Tuesday: BOGO on bestsellers
• Wednesday: Free gift with purchase
• Thursday: Loyalty members get early access
• Friday: Site-wide blowout
• Weekend: Surprise flash codes, bundles, or gift card offers

Want to go even bigger? Add hourly flash sales to the mix. For example:

• A new product goes on sale every hour
• Alternate between discount types (e.g., 15% off → $20 off → free shipping)
• Run a “fading discount” – starting at 30% off and dropping hourly until it hits zero

Bonus: With Voucherify, you can automate these campaigns ahead of time –setting exact start/stop times, applying different discounts by product or segment, and even layering in promo limits or referral bonuses, so it runs smoothly even during peak traffic.

13. Cart abandonment promos to recover lost sales

Even the best Black Friday deals don’t guarantee a conversion. On average, 67% of ecommerce carts are abandoned – and during Black Friday, that number spikes to over 73%.

That’s a lot of money left on the table.

To win back those shoppers, use cart abandonment promotions triggered in real time. Offer an extra incentive – like a discount, free shipping, or a bonus product – to nudge them back before the sale ends.

Smart tactics include:

• Offering “complete your bundle” deals in the cart (e.g. “Add X to save 15% on the full set”)
• Triggering exit-intent popups with a time-limited coupon
  
  
• Sending an abandonment email or SMS with a personalized offer linked to their cart contents

With Voucherify, you can power this through the Qualification API to dynamically evaluate the cart in real time and trigger personalized promos based on value, items, or shopper behavior.

Pro tip: For more inspiration, check out 8 Cart Abandonment Promotions That Work

14. Charity-driven campaigns

Not every Black Friday campaign has to scream discounts. More brands are opting out of the discount race in favor of charity-focused initiatives that build long-term goodwill.

One standout example: Allbirds raised their prices by $1 on Black Friday and matched each increase with a $1 donation – turning every purchase into a $2 contribution to environmental causes. No deep discounts. Just smart, values-led marketing.

Why it works:

• It appeals to ethically-minded consumers who might otherwise sit BFCM out
• It creates brand differentiation in a sea of markdowns
• It gives customers a reason to feel good about spending

You don’t have to go all-in on the “Buy Nothing” movement. Even a percentage of profits donated, round-up-at-checkout, or free gift with donation model can tie your campaign to a bigger story – and still drive conversions.

15. Combine discount with a donation

Why choose between driving conversions and making an impact when you can do both?

Pairing a traditional discount with a charitable give-back adds meaning to the transaction – and makes your brand more memorable in the Black Friday chaos.

Take Timberland as an example: during one of their BFCM campaigns, they offered 30% off select products and pledged a $1 donation for every ground shipping order, supporting tree planting initiatives. It's a smart fusion of savings and sustainability – and it resonates with eco-conscious shoppers.

This approach works well when:

• The cause aligns with your brand values (e.g. outdoors + environment, fashion + ethics)
• You clearly communicate how the customer contributes
• You keep the math transparent (“$1 per order” or “5% of profits donated”)

Pro tip: Use Voucherify to auto-apply discounts while tagging eligible orders for donation reporting – great for clean accounting and clear messaging in post-campaign reporting.

16. Limited edition drops available on Black Friday only

Want to create serious urgency without relying on deep discounts? Launch a limited-edition drop – something exclusive, available only during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

These can be:

• Special colorways of bestsellers
• Early access to unreleased items
• Collabs with influencers or artists
• Limited-run bundles or SKUs that won’t be restocked

It’s a strategy that pairs perfectly with premium or lifestyle brands looking to drive FOMO without cheapening their image.

Example: Activewear brand Oceans Apart dropped a Black Friday Limited Edition collection featuring new colorways and fresh arrivals. They tied it to up to 50% off using the code BLACK – a smart mix of exclusivity and savings.

Pro tip: Use Voucherify to tie your discount to a specific SKU range, campaign window, or customer segment (e.g. loyalty members get early access). You can even cap redemptions to keep the drop truly limited.

17. Giveaways, sweepstakes & gamified promos

If you want to generate buzz before the big day – or ride the wave during it – giveaways and sweepstakes are a fun, low-barrier way to engage your audience and build reach.

Try one of these mechanics:

• Classic giveaway: Randomly pick winners from orders placed on Black Friday
• Instant win: Every 50th (or 500th) customer gets a free gift or bonus code
• Scratch-and-reveal: Let users "scratch" a virtual card to unlock a mystery prize – discount, gift, or nothing at all
• Spin-to-win wheel: A gamified widget that offers randomized incentives at checkout

These add excitement and keep engagement high, especially when tied to urgency ("only valid for the next 2 hours") or exclusivity ("only 100 prizes available").

Example: Retail giant Kohl’s ran a social media-driven Black Friday sweepstakes, offering gift cards in exchange for replies or retweets using a branded hashtag. It was a clever way to drive engagement and participation – turning social attention into traffic and conversions.

Learn more: Loyalty Gamification: 10 Examples of Gamified Loyalty Programs

18. Cashback campaigns

Cashback is one of the most effective incentives out there – easy to understand, low-friction, and great for repeat purchases. It rewards customers without devaluing your products and creates less liability than traditional loyalty programs.

Here’s how to use it on Black Friday:

• Offer a 2–5% cashback on all qualifying orders (e.g. $75+)
• Let customers redeem it only after Black Friday, encouraging future purchases
• Promote it as “Black Friday rewards you back” to make it stand out from standard discounts

Already offering cashback year-round? Bump it up:

• Double or triple the rate for a 24-hour window
• Combine with segmentation (e.g. VIPs get 5%, new customers get 3%)
• Or, tie cashback to specific categories or product types

19. Free balance to spend for Black Friday shopping spree

Want to spark instant engagement on Black Friday? Give customers something they’ll be afraid to waste: free store credit.

This taps into loss aversion psychology – people are far more motivated to avoid losing something they already have than to chase a new gain. Offering a small balance (e.g. $5–$15) to spend during Black Friday nudges customers to act fast or risk missing out.

Ways to deploy it:

• Gift free balance to all email subscribers or loyalty members on Black Friday morning
• Vary the gifted amount based on past purchases, VIP status, or lifetime value
• Use "Use it or lose it today" messaging to create urgency
• Pair it with an upsell (“Spend $50, get $10 extra to use instantly”)

This tactic works great in ecommerce, but also fits SaaS and subscriptions. For example:

• Offer a complimentary 14-day trial during BFCM
• Add bonus credit or usage tier upgrades to trial users who sign up that weekend
• Lock in longer-term value with an exclusive BFCM pricing plan tied to the trial

20. Bonus services & perks for BFCM (not just discounts)

If you’re not built for heavy discounting – or you’re guarding your margins – there’s still plenty you can do to win on Black Friday. Bonus services are a great way to add value without slashing prices.

Ideas for physical retail:

• Offer complimentary gift wrapping, product engraving, or trial services (like a mini facial or make-up session)
• Extend returns or exchanges to make purchases feel lower-risk
• Provide in-store concierge shopping or bookable 1:1 product consultations

For digital brands:

• Unlock free digital services (e.g. onboarding calls, setup help, bonus support hours)
• Offer early access to high-tier features or complimentary upgrades for subscription plans
• Provide downloadable bonus content, tutorials, or a free course add-on with every purchase

Example: Cartier opted out of traditional BFCM discounts and instead offered extended return windows – keeping the luxury vibe intact while still giving shoppers more peace of mind.

Pro tip: Use Voucherify to issue perks as custom rewards – not just coupons. Tie eligibility to cart value, loyalty tier, or customer segment and automate the whole thing.

21. Plot twist – Black Friday in July (or whenever your data says so)

Who says Black Friday has to happen in November? Brands like PMD Beauty have flipped the script with bold off-season sales like Black Friday in July, offering flash deals (e.g. 30% off with code JULY30) that capture attention precisely because they break the expected pattern.

It’s not just about being edgy – it’s about using your data to run promotions when your audience is actually most likely to buy.

Another great example: Pomelo Fashion started its Mega Fashion Sale on November 11 (11.11) – getting a head start before the Black Friday chaos kicked in. 

How to do it:

• Run a “Black Friday–style” campaign during a sales lull to re-activate customers
• Use past sales data to identify peak periods unique to your audience
• Test offers with a smaller segment before scaling the off-season campaign

Pro tip: With Voucherify, you can run quick A/B tests, trigger promos by behavioral data (not dates), and deploy flash campaigns at speed – whether it’s July, April, or next Tuesday.

22. Mystery deals on Black Friday to build anticipation

Everyone loves a good mystery – especially when there’s a deal at the end of it.

Mystery deals are a clever way to grab attention and build suspense during Black Friday. Instead of revealing the full offer upfront, tease the unknown: a secret discount, a hidden reward, or a surprise freebie unlocked at checkout.

Why it works:

• It creates anticipation, increasing engagement and click-through
• It leverages the “curiosity gap” – people can’t resist finding out what they’ll get
• It adds an emotional layer to promotions, making the experience more memorable

Example: Sears ran a Black Friday campaign centered around Mystery Deals. Among them was a standout offer – 100% cashback in loyalty points on select products. Customers essentially got the product “free,” but were also incentivized to return and redeem those points – turning one-time buyers into repeat shoppers.

You can build similar excitement by:

• Revealing different “mystery deals” throughout the day
• Gamifying it (e.g. “scratch to reveal” or “shake to unlock”)
• Delivering mystery codes via SMS or email to segmented audiences
• Personalizing mystery rewards based on past purchases or loyalty tiers

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23. Fixed price on the flagship product (Black Friday exclusive)

Offering a fixed price on your flagship product – especially one with a healthy margin – is a smart way to drive high-volume interest without blanket discounting. It creates a clear value hook and brings more eyes (and wallets) to the rest of your catalog.

Why it works:

• It’s easy to message (“Our best-seller – now $95, this weekend only”)
• It reduces decision friction for first-time buyers
• It triggers add-on purchases as customers explore your full lineup

Example: Footwear brand Birdies ran a Black Friday promotion featuring their signature Starling flats at a fixed $95 (down from $140). That single offer pulled in significant traffic, and many customers didn’t stop at just one pair. 

Fixed price is perfect if you want to:

• Push volume on a top-performing SKU
• Introduce new customers to your product ecosystem
• Maintain brand value while still offering a compelling deal

Pro tip: With Voucherify, you can limit fixed-price offers by SKU, segment, channel, or usage count – so you can keep control even during high-volume days.

24. Personalized loyalty challenges

Black Friday is the perfect time to go beyond static rewards and launch personalized loyalty challenges – mini campaigns within your loyalty program that encourage specific actions in exchange for extra points or perks.

Think:

• “Spend $100 between Friday and Sunday → earn 500 bonus points”
• “Refer 2 friends this weekend → get a free $20 reward”
• “Complete 3 purchases in November → unlock VIP tier through January”

This kind of targeted, gamified structure boosts retention, fuels repeat visits post-BFCM, and turns holiday shoppers into long-term loyalists.

Voucherify’s loyalty engine now supports:

• Custom earning rules based on any action (not just spend)
• Pending points to prevent fraud or premature redemptions
• Reward capping to control high-volume redemptions
• Real-time segmentation for challenge targeting

Example: Sephora is well-known for launching seasonal point multiplier events tied to spend thresholds and member tiers – turning loyalty into a holiday game with real value and status incentives.

24. Hyper-segmented smart promo campaigns (for power-users)

If you want to flex your promotion muscle and give power users the white-glove treatment, try running segment-based smart campaigns that adjust in real time.

For example:

• VIPs see better discounts or early access offers
• New customers receive “first-time” bundles + future-use codes
• Customers who haven’t purchased in 6+ months get free shipping + bonus credit
• High returners only see non-refundable digital perks (hello, risk control!)

You don’t need a giant personalization engine to get this right. With Voucherify, you can tailor offers based on real customer behavior – like who’s been inactive, who’s a VIP, or who just made their first purchase. Set up different rewards for each group, run them in parallel, and let the data decide what works.

Amazon personalizes Black Friday and Cyber Monday banners, promo widgets, and homepage deals per user. While it’s fully custom in-house, the same strategy can be pulled off with the right tech stack – and Voucherify’s APIs are built for this level of control.