13 BFCM 2026 strategies to boost holiday sales and customer loyalty

1. Set a margin floor first

Decide the lowest price you'll accept on each product before creating promotions. If a gift shop knows its candles can't drop below 20% off, it can build bundles or loyalty offers around that limit instead of trying to match every competitor's discount.

2. Open early access for members

Give loyalty members first pick 24 to 48 hours before your public sale. It rewards existing customers without requiring a bigger discount and can spread demand across more days.

If you already use a loyalty program, consider bonus points or member-only offers instead of simply lowering prices. The Moneris Loyalty Program supports earning and redeeming loyalty points.

3. Bundle products to protect margin

Bundles can increase order value without heavily discounting individual products. A skincare retailer, for example, could pair a bestselling cleanser with a slower-moving toner at one promotional price. The customer gets more value while your most popular products don't have to carry the full discount.

4. Offer bonus points instead of deeper discounts

Double or bonus points can provide customers with an additional incentive without further reducing the purchase price. More importantly, points give shoppers a reason to come back and use their reward on another visit. That makes loyalty a useful part of your BFCM strategy rather than something you think about after the sale.

5. Sell gift cards with a bonus

Gift cards can generate revenue during the holidays while encouraging future visits. Try an offer such as "Buy a $50 gift card and receive a $10 promotional card" if it works for your margins and program.

Moneris gift cards can be managed on supported Moneris devices, including Moneris Go Terminal, without requiring additional equipment.

6. Turn first-time shoppers into returning customers

BFCM gives you an opportunity to introduce new customers to your loyalty program. Make enrolment simple at checkout and clearly explain the benefit of joining. Customers who leave with points or another future benefit have a concrete reason to shop with you again.

7. Match in-store and online offers

Customers often move between channels while shopping. Keep promotions, product information and eligible offers as consistent as possible so customers aren't confused about which deal applies and where. For retailers selling across channels, that means thinking about the entire payment experience, not your website and store as separate businesses.

8. Speed up the checkout line

A great promotion can still fall apart at checkout. Before BFCM, test your payment devices, review your checkout process and make sure your staff is comfortable using the equipment.

For businesses that need flexibility around the store, Moneris’ mobile payment solutions can help you accept payments away from a traditional checkout. The Moneris Go Terminal, for example, offers wireless connectivity, a built-in receipt printer and barcode scanning capabilities.

9. Plan a tight message calendar

Customer inboxes fill quickly in late November. Instead of emailing every day, focus on a few important moments: an early-access or teaser message, your Black Friday launch and a Cyber Monday reminder.

Make the value of each message immediately clear, whether you're promoting a discount, gift card bonus or loyalty offer.

10. Feature local pickup for late shoppers

As holiday shipping deadlines approach, convenience can become a selling point. If your business offers buy online, pick up in store, make it visible on your website and in your BFCM communications.

It gives nearby customers another reason to choose your business when delivery isn't practical.

11. Review fraud prevention before sales spike

Higher transaction volumes make it especially important to keep standard fraud-prevention practices top of mind. Review your procedures with staff before BFCM and pay attention to unusual or high-risk transactions.

Moneris recommends watching for warning signs such as unusually large purchases, rush orders and other suspicious transaction patterns. See the Moneris guide to protecting against fraud.

12. Publish a clear holiday return policy

Gift buyers may hesitate if they don't know whether an item can be returned. Clearly communicate your holiday return and exchange conditions at checkout and on relevant product pages.

The easier your policy is to understand, the more confidently customers can make a purchase.

13. Plan the January follow-up now

Don't wait until January to figure out how you'll reconnect with holiday shoppers.

Prepare follow-up messages before BFCM. You could remind loyalty members about their points, encourage gift card recipients to visit or send first-time customers a reason to shop with you again.

Discounts will always have a place during BFCM. The bigger opportunity is turning that first purchase into something more.

How to choose which BFCM strategies to run first

You don't need to use all 13. Start with strategies that bring customers back, then add those that protect margins and make the shopping experience smoother.

Ask yourself:

• Do you already have a loyalty program you can build an offer around?
• Can customers buy and redeem gift cards easily?
• Which products can you bundle without hurting your margin?
• Is your checkout setup ready for higher traffic?
• Who will handle your post-holiday follow-up?

Discounts will always have a place during BFCM. The bigger opportunity is turning that first purchase into something more.

With Moneris’ commerce solutions, gift cards and loyalty programs working alongside your holiday strategy, every transaction can become an opportunity to encourage another visit.