Mick McCarthy on strategic discounts and brand identity

The Discount Dilemma: Rethinking BFCM for Long-Term Growth As brands gear up for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise — but are deep discounts really driving long-term value? Our latest blog breaks down the culture, psychology, and real cost of discount-driven marketing — and how to build a strategy rooted in brand, not bargains. 💡 Learn how to: • Lead with storytelling instead of slashing prices • Reward loyalty over volume • Turn short-term sales into lasting relationships 👉 Read the full post: https://lnkd.in/eseUr8Rb #BFCM #eCommerceStrategy #Shopify #BrandGrowth #BlackFriday #ShopifyAgency

Thanksgiving shopping days represent one of the most profitable periods of the year for retailers. Spanning events such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, these days drive massive consumer spending across both online and offline channels. However, competition has grown fierce as more businesses fight for attention. Therefore, retailers must apply proven tactics that differentiate them, attract customers, and maximize revenue. #Cyber_Monday #Black_Friday #Retail #Retail_Tactics #Retail_Strategies #Holiday_Shopping #Retail_Marketing #Illumination_Consulting https://lnkd.in/g48-dGMA

Retail Tactics for Thanksgiving Shopping Days to Increase Sales Thanksgiving shopping days represent one of the most profitable periods of the year for retailers. Spanning events such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, these days drive massive consumer spending across both online and offline channels. However, competition has grown fierce as more businesses fight for attention. Therefore, retailers must apply proven tactics that differentiate them, attract customers, and maximize revenue. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eXsCeeAc Call: (800) 619-3734 #thanksgivingretail #blackfridaystrategy #holidaymarketing #retailsuccess #salesgrowth #IlluminationConsulting

We're not going to bore you with Black Friday this, Cyber Monday that, you already know how important BFCM can be for your business! That's why we've put together a compilation of strategies & quick tips that you might want to consider heading into this year's busiest sales period 🛍️ What you’ll learn: 🎯 How to set category & SKU‑level profit targets before you cut a single discount. 👕 How to align inventory forecasts with ad budgets and promotions, avoiding stockouts and costly overstock. 📊 Why measuring quality traffic > volume traffic, and what metrics actually matter during peak. 💰 How your post‑peak strategy affects long‑term retention, not just weekend revenue. Get stuck in and we hope there are a few nuggets of wisdom that help you achieve a record-breaking Black Friday! 👉 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dihWcnMz #ecommerce #BlackFriday #BFCM #profitability #analytics

People in E-Com market, Stop planning your Black Friday offers based on discounts only. Irrational discounts can devalue your brand. 10-15% OFF or Free Shipping is OKAY but more? STOP. If your logic for ceiling-breaking discounts are "because its Black Friday", its reputational suicide. People will see you cheap or stop buying from you until it's next Black Friday. But But But, what else to plan for Black Friday or Cyber Monday or even Christmas and new year other than discounts?? Think out of the box because discounts are meant for loyal audience, not for one-time stealing or looting customers. Establish a balance between value and savings. If you can't think of best suitable strategy for your brand, let's talk it out. #emailmarketing #ecommerce

If you're waiting for Black Friday, you're already losing the race 👀 The BFCM window is no longer a single day—it's a 30-day engagement marathon. Relying solely on paid ads during Cyber Week is financially unsustainable due to rising Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC). You need a cheat code: Gamified Streaks. Tap directly into the psychology of Loss Aversion and Habit Formation and turn passive browsers into active, daily planners. When a customer starts a streak, they become psychologically invested in your brand before the first discount even drops. This isn't just theory: Companies using gamified loyalty programs see a measurable increase in customer retention and engagement. We're building valuable habits, not just fleeting transactions. Read our full playbook on how Streaks can transform your Black Friday! Find the link in the comments👇 #BFCM #BlackFriday #Gamification #eCommerce #CustomerLoyalty #Gameball

Your customers don't care about your product during BFCM. They care about the next shiny thing. Top DTC brands know this. That's why their BFCM strategy looks like this: - New offer for every single event - Stack offers to escalate urgency - Repackage the same deal using direct response frameworks Black Friday isn't just one day anymore. It's: → Early access (Nov 15-25) → Black Friday (Nov 26-30) → Small Business Saturday (Nov 29) → Cyber Monday (Dec 1-5) Each event gets a fresh angle. Same product. Different wrapper. Because attention spans are short. And novelty sells. If you're running the same offer for 10 days straight? You're leaving money on the table. Your customers need a reason to buy TODAY. Not tomorrow. Not next week. The brands winning this year understand one thing: People don't buy because they need something. They buy because something feels NEW. Are you giving them enough reasons to click buy?

Is Black Friday / Cyber Monday only about hefty discounts? Not quite. For growth-focused brands, Black Friday is more than a race to the bottom – it’s an opportunity to acquire new customers while buyer intent is at its peak. Slashing prices at the last minute isn’t a strategy. But planning ahead with an awareness campaign could be your biggest advantage, helping you drive customer acquisition at a lower cost. Read Conor’s thoughts on how to approach Black Friday / Cyber Monday strategically and turn the season into a smart acquisition moment: https://hubs.li/Q03Q-9jd0 #BlackFridayCyberMonday #RetailMarketing #AcquisitionStrategy #BFCM

Black Friday isn’t a campaign. It’s a stress test. For DTC brands, BFCM isn’t just a weekend, it’s the moment that reveals how ready your store really is to grow. The brands that win every year don’t rely on luck or discounts. They rely on structure, preparation, and calm execution. We gathered everything we’ve learned into one guide: The Brancoy Black Friday & Cyber Monday Playbook It covers how to: ▫️Build a BFCM strategy that supports year-round growth ▫️Optimize your store and data before the traffic spike ▫️Automate marketing and drive conversions under pressure ▫️Keep momentum after the campaign ends This isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset. Move once. Optimize continuously. Download the playbook throug the link in the comments!

Black Friday may look different these days, but one thing hasn’t changed: consumers still set the pace. In our latest blog, Kelli Anstine, President of Bernstein-Rein, explores how the holiday shopping season has evolved from a single day to “Cyber Ten,” and what’s next as technology continues to shape how we buy, browse, and budget. Read about the history and future of Black Friday: https://lnkd.in/gmcCn7sn #BlackFriday #CyberTen #ConsumerInsights #Retailigent #GrowBetter #AdvertisingAgency #BernsteinRein #BR