BFCM is the short form for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Traditionally, Black Friday annually falls on the first Friday after Thanksgiving, and the next Monday after that is considered Cyber Monday (This year 2025, BFCM is on 28th November and 1st December).
BFCM has become a phenomenon since the 1960s as a result of a crowd rushing to kick off their Christmas and New Year’s shopping. BFCM is one of the most anticipated sales periods for every merchant- online and in-store, including dropshipping stores. Last year, Shopify merchants collectively made over $1.5 billion USD in sales during BFCM.
Planning and Strategies for Dropshipping BFCM
Set Clear Goals
SMART framework can be a model for you to refer to. SMART is an acronym that outlines a process for effective goal setting. The SMART goal system focuses on making goals realistic, clear, and logical. Each letter in the SMART acronym stands for a step in the process that makes these goals achievable:
Source: Diard, A. (2025, May 14). Why Your Company Needs SMART HR Goals - PeopleSpheres.
Example: instead of “increase sales,” aim for “+30% vs last year.” Or break down daily targets too (like “$30k on Black Friday, $20k on Cyber Monday”) so you can track progress in real time.
Market Research for BFCM
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Check Google Trends for hot categories.
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Subscribe to competitors’ emails and ads to see how they run promos.
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Analyze your own customer data - what products and price points worked last BFCM.
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Tools like product finders or winning-product apps can help spot trends early.
Marketing Tips for BFCM
To maximize your dropshipping store’s success during BFCM, enhancing your marketing strategy is essential.
Crafting Compelling Offers
Dropshipping depends on fast supplier coordination, so source early.
Try creating discounts hard to say no to like:
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Tiered discounts (e.g. buy more, save more)
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Flash deals or bundles to boost AOV
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Limited-time urgency - countdown timers work well here
Email Marketing Strategy
Prioritizing your email campaigns
Email is key for BFCM. Start early with teaser emails, early-bird deals, and VIP access for loyal customers.
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Optimize for signups: Make it easy to subscribe with visible forms and pop-ups.
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Personalize content: Use names, past purchases, and tailored offers to boost open and click rates.
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Send warm-up emails: Tease discounts, exclusive products, or free shipping before launch.
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Follow up post-sale: Send a thank-you email 5–7 days after BFCM to maintain relationships.
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Recover abandoned carts: Automate reminders to win back the 77% who don’t complete checkout.
Build and segment your email list early
A strong list matters more than a big one.
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Use lead magnets: Offer discounts, free shipping, or guides to drive sign-ups.
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Promote everywhere: Highlight offers through banners, pop-ups, and social media.
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Run targeted ads: Drive traffic to dedicated opt-in pages with strong CTAs like “Get BFCM early access.”
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Add checkout opt-ins: Let customers subscribe during checkout for future deals.
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Encourage referrals: Reward subscribers who invite friends to join your list.
Segmenting your email list to tailor your campaigns
Send targeted messages for better results.
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Purchase history: Offer complementary or related products.
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New vs. returning customers: Welcome new buyers, reward loyal ones.
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Behavior-based: Target cart abandoners or frequent product viewers.
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Demographics: Customize promotions by location, age, or interest group.
Social Media Engagement
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Use short videos, polls, and countdowns to build hype.
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Update your store visuals and profile banners with BFCM themes for consistency.
Store Optimization
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Website Performance: Test load speed with tools like PageSpeed Insights. Even a 0.1s improvement can raise conversions.
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Mobile Optimization: Check mobile view - most BFCM shoppers buy on phones. Simplify checkout with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal.
Customer Experience
Customer Support
BFCM can be hectic, especially for dropshippers managing support themselves. Fast, professional responses are key to keeping customers happy.
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Train your team on clear communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
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Prepare response templates for common issues like late shipments or damaged items.
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Emphasize listening and empathy to handle concerns effectively and build trust during peak periods.
Reward loyal customers
Your loyal buyers are your most valuable audience - make them feel special.
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Offer early access, tiered discounts, or referral bonuses.
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Give loyalty points or exclusive deals to returning customers and subscribers.
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Loyal shoppers tend to repurchase and promote your brand, so rewarding them strengthens retention and word-of-mouth.
Convenient and easy return policy
A smooth return process boosts confidence and conversion.
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87% of shoppers check return policies before buying - make yours visible and simple.
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Keep it clear, fair, and easy to find on product pages, FAQs, and emails.
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As dropshippers rely on suppliers for quality, a hassle-free return policy helps offset uncertainty and builds long-term trust.
App Suggestions for Enhancing BFCM Preparation
- Finding trending products and automation fulfillment: ZOPI - US Dropshipping & POD
Zopi simplifies dropshipping journey: discover and import winning products from AliExpress, Temu and eBay, Amazon to Shopify with one click. Set pricing rules, automate large orders and fulfillment, stay updated on inventory and prices. Let Zopi do the rest.
- Optimize and translate your store into all languages for maximize reach to global customers: Transcy: AI Language Translate
Translate your entire store into multiple languages and auto-convert currencies to reach global buyers. Works seamlessly with Shopify Markets for international expansion.
- Loyal and rewards program for shoppers: OneLoyalty: Loyalty & Rewards
Create loyalty programs, VIP tiers, and referral incentives. Reward points for purchases, profile completion, or social engagement, redeemable for discounts, gifts, or free shipping.
- Track and analyze your profit: TrueProfit: Profit Analytics
Monitor true net profit automatically. View order data, ad spend, and product costs in one dashboard for better financial insights and decision-making.
- Review Management: Ali Reviews: Kudosi Reviews
Import photo and video reviews from AliExpress or Amazon to build trust. Automate review requests via email and collect authentic customer feedback with pre-built templates.
Planning timeline
Having a clear BFCM timeline keeps your marketing, operations, and sales running smoothly. It helps you prepare early, avoid last-minute stress, and stay focused on results. Here’s a shorter breakdown:
Pre-BFCM: (8-10 weeks before BFCM)
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Choose Products & Check Inventory: Pick winning items and confirm supplier stock. Have backups ready.
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Set SMART Goals: Define specific, measurable targets for sales and engagement.
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Test Your Store: Check site speed, mobile view, and checkout flow.
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Plan Campaigns: Finalize ads, email, and social content calendars.
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Build Email List: Segment by purchase history or engagement and start sending teasers.
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Create Hype: Use teaser posts and VIP early-access promos.
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Train Support Team: Prepare for order, shipping, and refund questions.
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Run Final Push: Send countdown emails and review paid ads for accuracy and conversion.
During BFCM: Monitor sales, adjust strategies as needed, and maintain customer support.
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Monitor Performance: Track sales, site load, and inventory in real time.
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Stay Active on Socials: Engage with comments and questions quickly.
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Run Flash Sales: Add urgency with limited-time offers.
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Adjust Campaigns: Tweak ads or budgets based on results.
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Keep Communicating: Send updates on stock, deals, and shipping.
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Support Promptly: Respond fast to customer issues to maintain trust.
Post-BFCM: Analyze performance, gather customer feedback, and plan for future improvements.
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Analyze Results: Review sales data, bestsellers, and peak hours.
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Collect Feedback: Use post-purchase surveys to learn what worked.
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Handle Returns Smoothly: Process exchanges fast and clearly.
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Retarget Buyers: Offer follow-up promos or loyalty rewards.
Review & Improve: Summarize lessons for better planning next year.
This timeline will help you stay organized and maximize the potential of your dropshipping store throughout the entire BFCM period.