How to Make Black Friday Shopping an Event

Considering people wait all year for Black Friday deals, the importance of your Black Friday marketing campaign can’t be overstated.

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The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. While consumers are getting their arms ready for all the bags they’ll be carrying, brands are polishing their Black Friday marketing strategy that’ll keep loyal customers at the edge of their seats and bring in a wave of new customers as well.

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Instead of simply offering a few Black Friday promotions and discounts, why not turn shopping into an experiential event? This shopping frenzy is the perfect opportunity to provide an unforgettable experience that’ll solidify your brand as splurge-worthy.

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Take some cues from these four experiential ideas that’ll inspire consumers to go all out on swiping their cards at your Black Friday sale event.

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1. Interactive Product Demos

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The goal of an interactive product demo is to walk customers through a product and show them its key functionalities while highlighting how it can solve their problems.This is your chance to dive deep into the story behind your product, show target audiences exactly why it stands out from the rest, and amplify that it really works. It’s a classic case of showing rather than telling.Making product demos a part of your Black Friday campaign couldn’t be more timely as consumers are ready to make a purchase—you just need to show them why it should be your brand that they choose. Elevate the attendee experience and connect with them on a whole new level by answering their questions as well.

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Offer Free Samples

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Take your product demos a step further by offering free samples. This shows you have confidence in your product while nudging customers down the sales funnel.As far as Black Friday marketing ideas go, this one is especially effective for beauty brands looking to click with customers. The best way to win over skeptical customers is to let them try the products you’re selling and make sure it works for their skin.

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2. Pop-Up Store

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A pop-up store—also known as flash retailing—involves opening short-term sales spaces. They often coincide with a product launch or scheduled event to offer a whole new way to experience your brand compared to the usual brick-and-mortar setups.

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Much like how people are more motivated to pay attention when the “window of opportunity is closing,” pop-up shops stir up a similar “Fear of missing out (FOMO)” response. With the research showing that 80% of retailers considered their pop-up a success, it might just be the missing piece of your Black Friday marketing strategy.

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Sell Limited Edition Items

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To make audiences feel like they’ll actually miss out on great finds and deals if they don’t drop by, consider featuring limited edition items at your pop-up store.

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Give Early Access to New Products

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Another perk of visiting your pop-up store could be early access to your newest products or even a discounted price for these items.

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Create Eye-Catching Installations

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The benefits of making your pop-up an Instagrammable event are twofold: you’ll capture attention, but also generate more social media interactions.

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3. Host an In-Store Party

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Another way to boost Black Friday sales is by turning shopping into an unmissable in-store party. The best way to get people into your in-person store is to make the experience different from an online store. Here’s how you can do it:

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Food and Drinks

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People will be shopping till they drop—having great food and drinks in your store will draw them and energize them to do even more shopping.

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Offer Free Gifts with Purchase

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The free stuff doesn’t have to stop at food. Offer customers a free gift with every purchase to generate some goodwill—this is holiday-themed experiential marketing done right. They won’t get free stuff online shopping, that’s for sure!

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Fun Games

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Another idea is to incorporate more experiential elements like fun games that lead to extra discounts and prizes. From the spin-the-wheel games to claw machines and mini-breakout rooms, don’t hesitate to gamify the shopping experience.

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Photo Booth

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Black Friday only happens once a year, so encourage customers to embrace it as a moment that deserves to be documented. Having a photo booth at your in-store party will make your brand all the more memorable.

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4. Celebrity or Influencer Meet and Greet

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When your Black Friday marketing strategy involves a celebrity or influencer marketing strategy, you’re set up for success. Collaborating with well-loved public figures instantly makes your brand known to their loyal audiences.Leverage this by hosting autograph signings or photo ops in-store. It’s a fantastic way of showing audiences that you’re a brand that knows how to come up with memorable experiences and incredible Black Friday deals.

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The key is knowing your target audience. Who would excite them? Consider browsing social media platforms to see who’s trending and therefore will attract customers.

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Getting the right person is sure to boost sales.

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Have a Golden Black Friday With the Concierge Club

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There’s no doubt about it: you need next-level experiential marketing strategies to win over the attention of busy shoppers during Black Friday. Online sales are great, but memorable experiences create lifelong customers.

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Work with The Concierge Club’s experts to turn this event into an unforgettable experience that’ll keep consumers coming back for more. Based in Toronto, we’ve helped some of North America’s biggest brands execute stand-out campaigns.

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‍Connect with us today to level up your Black Friday marketing strategy!