Thriving rather than surviving Black Friday 2024: Our expectations and predictions

Black Friday is fast approaching, and if the past few years have taught us anything, it's that the demand for fast, efficient fulfilment isn’t slowing down. In fact, this year, we’re gearing up for what we expect to be the busiest season yet. We’re not ones to fearmonger and create panic, but getting your affairs in order before this period begins should take precedence over anything else.

This isn’t your usual Black Friday warning

We’re pretty confident you’ll have seen your fair share of Black Friday warnings, hints, tips, and predictions - but we’re not just here to poke at your anxiety with a big stick. We’re laying down the facts and giving you a plateful of food for thought (warmed up and with a layer of cheese on top). 

The landscape has evolved significantly since the days when Black Friday was all about the midnight stampede in stores. Now, it’s more about how fast consumers can fill their online baskets - while sipping their morning brew (or after work Baileys, whatever floats your boat. It is Christmas after all). Black Friday has become a largely online event, where consumers expect lightning-fast deliveries, seamless checkout experiences, and clear communication about stock levels and return policies. Not asking for much, huh? Retailers who can meet these expectations will come out on top, while those who can’t will risk losing valuable customers to competitors. It’s a fight to the death (okay, maybe we’re exaggerating, but STILL. It’s really really important to get it right).

This year, we’re expecting a continuation of several key trends, but here are the main ones we think will affect our clients:

Mobile shopping dominance

More shoppers are making purchases on their phones. Although Millennials still struggle with the idea of making those ‘big purchases’ on their phones, they’re leaning into mobile shopping like their Gen Z counterparts. Optimising mobile shopping, as well as social commerce, and ensuring that fulfilment systems can handle the increased volume is essential. Trends happen over night - be prepared to meet that demand.

Sustainability and ethical shopping

Consumers are increasingly aware of their carbon footprint and are opting for brands that use eco-friendly packaging and carbon-neutral delivery services. For many, the festive season is a time to put these practices into action. We’ve heard even Santa is going green (and not just in terms of the elves’ outfits).

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

Or as we like to call it ‘Try Now, Pay Never’ (trademark pending). With financial uncertainty still looming, BNPL services continue to grow, and shoppers will likely take advantage of these flexible payment options, especially around November and December. Having multiple payment options in place before Black Friday rears its ugly head can help attract consumers that might not have considered you previously.

Preparing for peak (or how to avoid a Black Friday meltdown)

Over the past months, we've been flat-out stocking up in preparation. Across our international fulfilment network, our customers’ inventories are as ready as the reindeers the night before the Big Day, and we’re anticipating a spike in orders that’ll make 2020 look like a gentle warm-up. With our smart forecasting tools – powered by the fulfilmentcrowd app – predicting another record-breaking year, we’re well-prepped to help our customers avoid a Black Friday meltdown.

Back in 2019, we saw an incredible 378% increase in parcel volume over Black Friday. And 98% of those parcels were dispatched on the very same day. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re planning for similar success – only this time, we’re aiming to break even more records (and not just the parcel-packing ones).

A major shift this year is the rise of hybrid shopping – where customers blend their in-store and online experiences. With tools like Click & Collect becoming increasingly popular, we’re expecting a surge in last-minute online orders that need lightning-fast processing.

Another change? Customers are becoming more environmentally conscious. They’re looking for eco-friendly packaging options, carbon-neutral deliveries, and sustainable brands – which is why our network of partner centres is focusing on greener initiatives to ensure every parcel that leaves our warehouse is packed with care for both customers and the planet. 

Meeting Black Friday expectations

Now that we know what’s coming, how can fulfilmentcrowd help eCommerce businesses not just survive, but thrive during Black Friday 2024?

1. Efficient, scalable fulfilment solutions

With the volume of orders expected to surge, fulfilmentcrowd’s flexible fulfilment network is designed to handle spikes in demand with ease. From receiving stock to processing orders at lightning speed, fulfilmentcrowd’s smart tech ensures that parcels are picked, packed, and dispatched efficiently. Our international network means businesses can offer fast delivery times across the globe, no matter where their customers are shopping from.

2. Real-time inventory and stock management

One of the biggest frustrations for customers is finding out that the product they want is out of stock - or worse, buying it only to find it’s unavailable. With fulfilmentcrowd’s intelligent stock management tools, retailers can monitor their inventory in real time and avoid over-selling or under-stocking popular items. This ensures customers know exactly what’s available, improving their shopping experience and increasing the likelihood of repeat business.

3. Sustainable packaging and carbon-neutral delivery options

As sustainability continues to be a priority for shoppers, fulfilmentcrowd is committed to reducing the environmental impact of logistics. Our centres offer eco-friendly packaging options and carbon-neutral shipping services, helping retailers stay competitive while appealing to ethically-minded consumers. A sustainable fulfilment process doesn’t just boost your brand image - it actually makes a difference.

4. Faster returns processing

The reality of Black Friday shopping is that returns are inevitable, especially with the rise of bracketing (when customers buy multiple sizes or colours of the same product, intending to return what doesn’t fit - not to be confused with racketeering). fulfilmentcrowd’s efficient returns handling process ensures that unwanted items are processed and restocked quickly, so retailers can keep inventory levels up while maintaining customer satisfaction. The quicker the returns process, the happier your customers will be.

5. Integration with leading ecommerce platforms

Our fulfilment solutions integrate with all major eCommerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento, so retailers can manage their fulfilment seamlessly without the need for complicated manual processes. This means that even when the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and New Year rush hits, your business can keep running smoothly.

Expansion for 2024 - and beyond

We haven’t just been busy packing parcels. Our international network has expanded yet again, with new fulfilment centres added to our network regularly - just think of it as countless baubles strategically placed on your company Christmas tree. Most notably, we’ve opened new facilities in Bocholt, Germany and Dublin, Ireland, and we’re currently working on five new partner centres across the globe. This expansion means that no matter where your customers are, we’ve got fulfilment covered (and some fun trips planned too).

The power of automation

We’ve seen first-hand how automation is transforming the world of eCommerce, and Black Friday 2024 will be no different. From real-time stock updates to automated order processing, our fulfilment tech ensures everything runs like clockwork – all while cutting down on manual labour. The result? Fewer errors, faster turnarounds, and more time for you to focus on running your business, not chasing orders.

Predictions for Black Friday 2024

So, what can we expect from Black Friday 2024? For starters, eCommerce sales are expected to hit record highs once again, with a whopping 30% growth in the UK alone. As shoppers become savvier and demand instant gratification (seriously, who wants to wait?), we’re ready to meet those expectations with our tried-and-true formula.

Customers are also embracing small, independent brands over the eCommerce giants, meaning that many of the 400+ retailers we work with are set to see their busiest Black Friday yet. Whether they’re selling home décor, beauty products, or those ever-elusive DIY tools, our clients are ready for the big day – and we’ll be there to help every step of the way.

Key Black Friday tips for 2024

Before we wrap up (geddit?!), here are some key tips to get you through this period, with minimal damage.

1. Optimise your website and mobile experience: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, has clear navigation, and is ready to handle the high volume of traffic.
2. Prepare for the last-minute shoppers: Stock up on bestsellers and be prepared for a wave of last-minute orders in the days leading up to Black Friday. Data is your best here. Don’t ignore it!
3. Offer early access to sales: Many consumers now expect early access to deals, so offering exclusive pre-Black Friday promotions can help spread out demand. It’s all about getting the timing right - too early and you risk annoying customers; too late and you’ve missed the boat.
4. Clear return policies: Ensure your returns process is as simple and fast as possible. Not only is this a deciding factor for many of your customers, it also gives you plenty of breathing room.
5. Communicate delivery timelines: Be transparent about shipping times and expected delivery dates to avoid customer frustration. There’s nothing worse than knowing grandma won’t be receiving that new foot spa for Christmas. Especially when you’re in charge of clipping granny’s toenails.
   
   

Thrive, don’t survive this Black Friday

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years, it’s that Black Friday waits for no one. But with the right fulfilment strategy in place, you can not only survive, but thrive during the busiest shopping period of the year. And if your fulfilment strategy can thrive during this period, you can rest easy knowing 2025 will start off pretty breezy.