BFCM 2025 Shopify Checklist: 10 Prep Steps to Boost Sales4 min read

Shopify powers millions of e-commerce stores worldwide and continues to dominate as the platform of choice for online merchants. In the last BFCM season, Shopify merchants achieved record-breaking sales, exceeding $11.5 billion, a 24% growth from the previous year, demonstrating its critical role in holiday shopping success. With millions of shoppers flocking to Shopify stores, preparing your BFCM Shopify checklist strategically is vital to capturing this surge in demand.

If your brand hasn’t yet explored live shopping and shoppable videos, now is the perfect time to start. Channelize.io is the highest-rated live shopping app on Shopify, making it easy for brands to incorporate interactive RealTime Retail™ and increase conversions during BFCM 2025.

But whether or not you use it, the following checklist highlights essential steps every Shopify merchant can implement to maximize BFCM 2025 sales.

#1. Plan for a Longer Sales Period

Don’t confine your promotions to just Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Extend your campaign to start early November and continue through early December. 

This strategy captures early deal hunters and late shoppers while easing site traffic spikes. Many brands see sustained sales and improved customer engagement by lengthening their BFCM window.

#2. Organize Your Upcoming Sales Categories

Create clear, logical product categories like “Holiday Gifts,” “Tech Deals,” or “Skincare Bundles” to guide shoppers quickly to relevant offers. Well-structured navigation reduces friction, improves user experience, and boosts conversion rates.

🎁 Bonus: Want to create shoppable video playlists that boost product discovery and sales? Get inspired here → Use Cases of Shoppable Videos for Ecommerce

#3. Double Down on Your Top Sales Channels

Use data from past BFCM seasons to identify which channels brought the highest returns—be it social media, email, SMS, or paid ads—and concentrate your marketing budget and messaging there for maximum impact.

#4. Retarget Past Visitors & Customers

Warm leads are easier to convert. Use retargeting ads and personalized email campaigns to reconnect with visitors who browsed your site without buying or customers who purchased previously. This tactic can significantly increase repeat sales during BFCM.

🔄 Curious? Uncover how live shopping can amplify retargeting efforts and reinforce customer loyalty → Why Brands Should Consistently Host Live Shopping Shows

#5. Enable Free Shipping & Hassle-Free Returns

Offering free shipping, especially above certain cart thresholds, and an easy return process helps eliminate potential purchase blockers. Studies show free shipping can raise average order value by up to 30%—a critical edge during competitive sales periods.

#6. Leverage Cross-Selling and Up-Selling

Maximize cart sizes by recommending related or premium products during checkout or promotional events. For instance, suggest complementary accessories or holiday bundles. This not only raises your average order value but also enhances shopper satisfaction.

🔥 Bonus: Master these 5 proven strategies to upsell and cross-sell more effectively → Upselling and Cross-Selling in Ecommerce: 5 Strategies to Succeed

#7. Increase Conversions with ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) Options

BNPL options give customers payment flexibility, encouraging higher-ticket purchases and accommodating budget-conscious shoppers. Uptake of BNPL surged over the past BFCM seasons, making it a valuable conversion booster.

💳 Surprise: How changing payment options complement live social selling and improve sales → Redefining e-Commerce in 2025: How to Leverage the Power of Live Social Selling

#8. Reward Loyal Customers with Exclusive Offers

Offer VIP early access, bonus discounts, or special bundles for repeat customers. Loyalty-driven promotions strengthen relationships, improve brand affinity, and increase lifetime customer value.

#9. Make Your Website Mobile-Optimized

With mobile accounting for over 60% of Shopify traffic during BFCM, ensuring a responsive, fast-loading, and intuitive mobile shopping experience is essential to reduce bounce rates and cart abandonment.

📱 Pro Tip: Explore how integrating live shopping on mobile boosts conversions → How to Win BFCM 2025: Boost Sales with Live Shopping, Shoppable Videos, and RealTime Retail™

#10. Prepare Your Store for High Traffic & Smooth Checkout

Test your website’s performance under load to avoid crashes. Streamline the checkout process for speed and simplicity. A fast, reliable shopping experience is paramount during the peak shopping rush.

Final Thoughts: BFCM Shopify checklist

This checklist covers actionable, widely applicable strategies that any Shopify brand can implement to thrive during BFCM 2025. From extending your sales window and optimizing marketing channels to offering flexible payments and mobile-first experiences, these steps help position your store for success.

If you are looking to add interactive live shopping and shoppable videos to create engaging experiences and further boost conversions, consider exploring solutions like Channelize.io’s Shopify live shopping app. Whether or not you adopt video commerce this season, these fundamentals remain key to maximizing holiday sales and customer loyalty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What are the key benefits of live shopping for Shopify brands during BFCM?
A: Live shopping increases customer engagement, session duration, and conversion rates by offering real-time demos and interactive purchases, driving higher sales during BFCM.

Q2: How can I effectively use shoppable videos to boost holiday sales?
A: Shoppable videos integrate product links directly in engaging content, enabling effortless buying experiences that increase average order values and reduce purchase friction.

 Get inspired by live shopping success stories from top brands!

Q3: What are the advantages of extending the BFCM sales period?
A: Extending your sales window captures early and late shoppers, balances server loads, and maintains customer interest, resulting in higher overall revenue.

Q4: How do I retarget past visitors and increase repeat sales during BFCM?
A: Use personalized retargeting ads, email campaigns, and exclusive invites to re-engage past visitors and loyal customers, significantly improving repeat purchase rates.