What is Black Friday, and why is it important?

Black Friday, falling on the Friday after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Originating in the USA, it has now become a global retail event, and for small businesses, it’s a prime opportunity to attract more customers and boost sales. Whether you run an online store, have a side hustle, or craft unique products, Black Friday gives you a chance to increase your parcel volume, offer exclusive deals, and reach new markets - both locally and internationally.

With the busiest time of year just around the corner, it’s important to make sure your business is prepared for the surge in orders and deliveries. This guide will explain why Black Friday is a must for your sales strategy and how Evri can support you during this peak season.

A close-up of a customer's hands as they are crouched on the floor, applying a label to their parcel. They are surrounded by lots of parcels.

How does Black Friday benefit small businesses?

For small businesses, Black Friday is more than just a shopping event - it’s a chance to attract new customers, retain loyal ones, and move unsold stock. Research shows that 80% of consumers discover a new online store on Black Friday, meaning it’s an ideal opportunity to get your brand in front of more eyes and encourage repeat purchases. Many businesses also use this time to clear older stock, allowing them to free up space for new collections ahead of Christmas.

Plus, if you’ve been thinking of expanding internationally, Black Friday is the perfect time to test new markets. With more consumers shopping online from across the globe, you can attract buyers from different countries without needing to run special international marketing campaigns.

5 tips to maximise your Black Friday success

Here’s how you can make the most out of Black Friday:

How Evri can support your business this Black Friday

Whether you’re a seasoned seller or experiencing your first Black Friday rush, Evri is here to help you manage the increased parcel volume.

Prepare your shipping strategy with Evri

Black Friday is one of the busiest times of the year, and having a solid shipping strategy in place can make all the difference in keeping your business running smoothly. Here’s how you can use our tools to streamline your shipping process and handle the holiday rush with ease.

Business owner sat at a desk in their home office taking a phone call and using their laptop to book multiple parcels

Bulk Send for managing multiple orders

If you’re expecting a surge in online sales, our Bulk Send tool is your go-to solution for managing orders across multiple platforms in one place. By linking your Evri account with popular marketplaces like Not on the High Street, Amazon, eBay and Etsy, you can import all your online orders together and book deliveries at once.

  • Prepare and book your parcels to send in just a few clicks
  • Save time from needing to book each parcel individually
  • We mark your marketplace orders as ‘dispatched’ when you drop off your parcels or our Couriers collect them, keeping your customers updated
A side-view profile of a customer sitting on a sofa, with a laptop resting on their lap as they look down at the screen.

Quick Send for repeat orders

If you frequently send the same types of parcels, our Quick Send tool is a great time-saver. You can pre-save parcel details like weight, value, and contents, as well as recipient addresses for repeat purchases. The next time you send a similar item, simply select from pre-filled options, cutting down the time it takes to book your delivery which can make all the difference when you’re managing higher volumes.

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International parcels

With over 200 countries and territories to send to, Black Friday is ideal for reaching new markets and growing your business. Plus, when you use Evri, we take all the information we need during your booking, so there's no extra paperwork or admin involved for customs. You can also check out our International Shipping Guide for easy step-by-step advice on how to send parcels abroad.

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Top tip - Call ahead to ParcelShops

With Black Friday comes an influx of parcels, which means it’s a good idea to plan your drop-offs at local ParcelShops. We recommend calling ahead to check that your chosen ParcelShop has the capacity to store extra parcels, particularly if you have a lot to send. This ensures you won’t face any delay, and your parcels can get moving quickly.

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