Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) have become shopping bonanzas, a win-win for both customers and businesses.
What started as a single day has now expanded into a week-long event, with brands offering discounts throughout the entire period.
Since 2019, Black Friday has held the title of the biggest sales day of the year. In 2023, it drove a staggering $9.8 billion in U.S. online sales, marking a 7.5% increase from the previous year.
Moreover, 76% of customers shopped online during Cyber Week, and 70% of their spending went toward holiday gifts.
You see, this is an unparalleled opportunity for eCommerce brands.
However, to turn that revenue into profit, you must be well-prepared for the sales season. You need to give the right discounts to make the most of the BFCM sale.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 10 discounting strategies to help you boost your sales using your eCommerce app.
Let’s dive right in!
Why must you have an eCommerce app for Shopify BFCM sales?
Before we jump into the BFCM app discounting strategies, let’s take a moment to understand why having an app before the BFCM sales season is so crucial.
- Capable of driving impulse purchases: Your customers can easily access your store without typing in a URL or searching. Just one tap on your app, and they’re ready to shop.
- Offers a more personalized experience: Your app allows you to provide personalized recommendations. Customers see products that match their preferences, making shopping more targeted and leading to higher sales.
- Push notifications: You can instantly notify customers about BFCM deals directly through the app. This ensures they don’t miss out on any offers, especially those time-sensitive deals, without the need to rely only on email or SMS.
- Offline access to some extent: Even without internet access, your app can display products, keeping customers engaged and reducing the chances of cart abandonment due to connectivity issues.
- Mobile-friendly design: Apps are designed to be visually appealing and easy to navigate. You can create a seamless shopping experience with customizable features like banners and pop-ups, making the BFCM shopping journey smoother.
- Get more brand recognition: Regular use of your app helps build a stronger connection with your customers, increasing brand recall and loyalty.
- Increased conversions: Mobile apps typically have a higher conversion rate than mobile websites, meaning more customers are likely to make a purchase through your app.
💡Did you know?
46% of customers who receive app push notifications spend at least 11 sessions per month. The effectiveness of these notifications only increases during BFCM sales when you’re offering discounts.
10 BFCM discounts strategies to increase your eCommerce app sales
Now that we know how beneficial it is to have your own eCommerce app, it’s time we look at some of the discounting strategies that have helped many renowned brands and marketplaces increase sales:
1. App-exclusive percentage-off coupons
A percentage-off coupon is a popular BFCM discounting strategy that offers customers a percentage off the total cost of their purchase. It’s a simple and effective way to entice shoppers to buy during the holiday season.
Here’s how it works: customers enter a unique code at checkout, and the discount is automatically applied to their order. The discounted price is then displayed, giving them instant savings.
Percentage-off coupons can be tailored to specific products, categories, or even the entire order. This flexibility allows you to target certain items or encourage larger purchases
57% of people say that deals significantly influence their purchase decisions. If a brand doesn’t offer a percentage off during BFCM, they are less likely to buy from it.
These coupons are a must for BFCM, as they make your offers more appealing and boost conversion rates by encouraging customers to take advantage of the limited-time discounts.
2. App-exclusive BFCM $ discount
Offering a fixed dollar amount off on purchases made through your app provides clear and immediate value to your customers.
Unlike percentage-off coupons, which require some mental math, dollar-off discounts are simpler and easy to understand.
For example, offering $10 off on orders over $50 is simple for customers to grasp, making it an attractive option during BFCM.
Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, wisely said,
“You can’t wait for customers to come to you. You have to figure out where they are, go there and drag them back to your store.”
Here’s a pro tip: Offering these discounts in your app isn’t enough. You must actively promote them through push notifications and other channels to drive more traffic to your app. This approach ensures that your customers are aware of the discount and are more likely to take advantage of it during the BFCM rush.
3. Free gift with every purchase during BFCM
Customers love getting something extra when they shop online. The gift doesn’t need to be expensive or large. The magic word is “free,” and that’s what excites customers.
For example, if you’re a Shopify store owner selling various types of bags, you could offer a free wallet to customers who make a bulk purchase. The size and price of the wallet aren’t what matters most—it’s the fact that it’s a free gift that makes the offer appealing.
💡Pro tip: Add a mystery element by not revealing the exact gift. This surprise factor can make the offer even more enticing, encouraging customers to complete their purchase just to see what they’ll receive. It’s a simple but effective way to increase sales during the BFCM season.
4. Give early access to BFCM deal
Your customers know BFCM is approaching, and they’re eagerly waiting for the deals. By offering early access to your BFCM deals, you can reward loyal customers and build excitement before the official sale begins.
Consider sending personalized emails or in-app messages to your most loyal customers, inviting them to a special preview of your BFCM offers.
You can also create a dedicated section on your app where these customers can browse and shop your deals before anyone else.
This early access not only makes your customers feel valued but also helps you generate buzz and early sales. It’s a win-win strategy that boosts customer loyalty and gives your BFCM campaign a strong start.
5. No shipping charges on app purchases
Let’s face it—no one likes paying for shipping, especially during BFCM, when discounts are the main attraction. If a customer saves $20 but has to pay $10 for shipping, the excitement of the discount fades quickly. The perceived value drops, and the whole point of offering a discount is defeated.
To avoid this, consider offering free shipping for orders placed through your app. You can collaborate with your logistics partner to make this happen, ensuring that your customers truly feel they’re getting a great deal.
💡 Pro tip: To maximize the impact, set a minimum purchase threshold for free shipping. Having a threshold covers your shipping costs and encourages users to add more items to their cart, increasing the AOV.
Also, don’t forget to promote this offer. Highlight the free shipping prominently within your app, use personalized alerts, and spread the word across all your marketing channels. Let your customers know they can save even more by shopping through your app.
6. BOGO coupons on app checkout
Buy One, Get One (BOGO) coupons are a favorite among shoppers. The idea of getting a second product for free is just too good to pass up. It feels like an unbeatable deal, and that’s why BOGO discounts are so effective, especially during BFCM.
Customers often see BOGO as an opportunity to maximize their savings. During the BFCM season, when many people are buying gifts, BOGO deals are even more appealing. They can buy one item for themselves and get another to gift, all for the price of one.
BOGO coupons can be used in various ways in eCommerce. They can serve as a discount, a promotional gift, or even a way to manage inventory, especially during the high-demand BFCM period.
Whether you’re looking to clear out stock or boost sales, BOGO offers are a smart and attractive option for your app users during this busy shopping season.
7. Happy hour & flash deals on mobile apps
Happy hour and flash deals are great ways to boost sales during BFCM. Happy hours allow you to offer special discounts during quieter periods, turning off-peak times into opportunities for extra revenue.
Imagine offering discounts on winter coats during a summer sale—customers who wouldn’t usually buy at that time might jump at the chance.
Flash deals create urgency, pushing customers to make quick decisions. The limited-time nature of these deals triggers FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), driving immediate purchases. These flash sales not only attract new customers but can also boost the sales of other items in your store.
To make these promotions more effective, you can target specific customer groups or locations.
With Shopify mobile app builders like Appbrew, you can use detailed customer data to segment your audience and offer flash deals to specific demographics, ensuring you hit the right audience at the right time.
8. Discount on product bundles
Offering discounts on product bundles during BFCM is a powerful way to increase the average order value and encourage product discovery. In fact, this BFCM discounting strategy can increase profits by up to 30% by attracting new customers and increasing customer loyalty.
Bundling allows you to group complementary products and offer them at a discounted price, which can be particularly enticing during the holiday shopping season.
You can create BFCM-themed bundles, such as combining a best-selling item with a holiday-themed product, making it easier for customers to find gifts.
For example, a beauty retailer could offer a skincare bundle that includes a popular face cream paired with a festive candle.
To maximize the impact, showcase these bundle deals prominently on your eCommerce app's homepage, product pages, and cart page. Make sure to show the savings customers will enjoy by choosing a bundle, helping them see the added value and encouraging them to complete their purchase.
9. Additional discounts for loyal customers
Loyal customers deserve to feel appreciated, especially during BFCM. Offering exclusive discounts to those who have made multiple purchases or have your app installed is a great way to reward their loyalty and encourage repeat business.
By creating special offers just for your loyal customers, you not only boost sales during BFCM but also strengthen customer relationships that can lead to long-term benefits. These customers are more likely to remember your brand the next time they're shopping, keeping you top of mind year-round.
💡With Appbrew, you can easily integrate these loyalty rewards into your app, using data from your existing eCommerce tech stack to dynamically offer discounts based on purchase history.
This ensures that your most loyal customers get the best deals, making them feel valued and increasing the likelihood of future purchases.
10. More discounts on higher order value purchases in the app
A tiered discount system can be a strategic way to boost sales during BFCM. Instead of offering a flat discount, you can encourage customers to spend more by offering bigger discounts on higher purchase amounts.
For example, you might offer 15% off orders over $75, 30% off over $150, and so on.
This approach encourages bulk purchases, helping you increase the average order value. For example, a customer who initially planned to spend $120 might add more items to their cart to reach the $150 threshold for a higher discount.
You can also tie this strategy into your loyalty program, allowing customers to accumulate points during BFCM that they can redeem later. This not only boosts sales during the event but also encourages repeat purchases, building long-term customer loyalty.
How can Appbrew help you 10x your sales this BFCM?
Most Shopify mobile app builders offer limited functionality when it comes to discounting options. They might restrict you to just a few types of discounts, making it difficult to fully leverage the potential of BFCM. But with Appbrew, you’re not limited by these constraints.
Whether it’s offering percentage-off coupons, BOGO deals, tiered discounts, or exclusive flash sales, Appbrew gives you the flexibility to create and manage discounts exactly the way you want.
By strategically planning your discounting approach and incorporating a mix of incentives, you can significantly boost your revenue while maintaining profitability during the BFCM season.
Appbrew provides you with all the tools and customization options to maximize your sales potential.
Need help planning your app discounts for BFCM? Book a demo today!
