Table of contents
Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday on 30 November 2026. For most Shopify stores this is the biggest sales weekend of the year, and the stores that win it are the ones that prepared early. Here is the checklist I run through with clients.
4 to 6 weeks out: fix the foundations
- Speed. Extra traffic exposes slow pages. Compress images, remove unused apps and check Core Web Vitals on mobile. (See how to speed up a Shopify theme.)
- Stock. Order enough of your bestsellers and set low-stock alerts. (See inventory management.)
- Plan your offers. Decide what you will discount and by how much, with your margins in front of you. (See discounts that don't kill margins.)
- Shipping cut-offs. Confirm carrier deadlines and plan your messaging around them.
2 to 4 weeks out: build the campaign
- Set up discounts (automatic discounts, codes, free-shipping thresholds, bundles) and test each one.
- Build email and SMS flows: early-access sign-ups, launch announcement, reminder, last chance, and abandoned checkout. (See email marketing.)
- Create landing pages or collections for your BFCM offers so traffic lands somewhere focused.
- Prepare gift cards as a last-minute option. (See gift cards.)
1 to 2 weeks out: test everything
- Place real test orders with every discount, payment method and shipping option.
- Check on mobile, since most BFCM shoppers buy on their phones.
- Check the cart and checkout for surprise costs or friction. (See checkout optimisation.)
- Confirm tracking and analytics are recording correctly so you can measure results.
The final week: freeze the store
- No new apps, no theme changes, no big edits. Changes made the week before are the ones that break on the busiest day.
- Brief your team on support, fulfilment and how to handle common questions.
- Prepare support replies for shipping times, returns and discount questions.
During BFCM
- Watch the store, especially checkout, stock levels and site speed.
- Reply to customers fast. Quick answers save sales.
- Hold risky orders for review if fraud volume rises. (See security and fraud prevention.)
After BFCM
- Recover abandoned carts while intent is still warm. (See abandoned cart recovery.)
- Turn new buyers into repeat customers with a good post-purchase flow. (See loyalty and retention.)
- Review the numbers: conversion rate, average order value, top products and what to change next year.
The takeaway
BFCM success comes from preparation: fix speed and stock early, build discounts and email flows weeks ahead, test every order path on mobile, then freeze the store before the rush. Do that and your store is ready when the traffic arrives.
Need your Shopify store ready for Black Friday? Get in touch soon, since the best time to fix things is well before the traffic arrives.
Want this done on your store?
I build and optimise Shopify and WordPress stores that load fast and convert. Tell me what you are working on and I'll give you an honest plan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday Cyber Monday 2026?
Black Friday is Friday 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday is Monday 30 November 2026. Many stores run offers across the whole weekend, and often start earlier in November.
When should I start preparing my Shopify store for BFCM?
Ideally 4 to 6 weeks before. That leaves time to fix speed issues, order stock, set up discounts, build email flows and test checkout before traffic peaks.
Should I change my theme before Black Friday?
Avoid big theme changes or new app installs in the final weeks before BFCM. Make changes early, test them, then freeze the store so nothing breaks during your busiest days.
What is the most important thing to check before BFCM?
Your checkout and site speed on mobile. Place real test orders with each discount and payment method, and make sure pages load fast under the extra traffic.