Black Friday is not only for online stores. Shops, restaurants, hair salons, beauty institutes, gyms and service businesses can use it to sell gift cards, fill quiet January weeks and attract new local customers. The trick is to adapt the idea to your business instead of copying big retailers.
Offer ideas by business type
- Restaurants: gift card bonus (“buy $100, get $20 extra”), a tasting menu reserved for January, a free dessert on bookings made during the weekend.
- Hair salons and beauty: discounted packages of several sessions, gift boxes, a free treatment with gift cards.
- Shops: in-store and online offer, early opening for regular customers, gift wrapping included.
- Gyms and studios: reduced annual membership or a starter pack for January.
- Trades and services: early-booking discounts for work in January and February, maintenance contracts at a reduced price.
Gift cards with a bonus
For local businesses, gift cards are the star of Black Friday. A bonus (extra value) costs you nothing until it is used, brings cash in advance and new customers in the following months. Make them easy to buy online.
Reward your regulars first
Give your existing customers early access by email or SMS. They are your best ambassadors, and feeling privileged makes them talk about you.
Prepare your website
- An announcement bar with the offer and the dates on every page.
- A clear page explaining the offer, with prices, see how to display a price list.
- Up-to-date hours for the weekend and the holidays, see holiday opening hours.
- A one-tap call or WhatsApp button for questions and bookings.
- Reviews and photos of your work near the offer.
Local visibility
- Publish the offer as a post on your Google Business Profile.
- Share it on local social media groups and with neighbouring businesses.
- Put a poster with a QR code to your offer page in your window.
After the weekend
Thank the customers, send gift card buyers a reminder of how to use them, and plan for the January rush of gift card redemptions. See also the Christmas website checklist for local businesses and the essential plugins for a local business website.
Simple offers that protect your margin
- Gift card bonus: you receive cash now, and part of the bonus may never be used.
- Packages: three sessions for the price of two and a half, a tasting menu for two, a maintenance plan.
- Value-added extras: a free product, a free upgrade, gift wrapping.
- Off-peak incentives: better prices for appointments in quiet weeks of January.
Example for a restaurant
From Friday to Monday: gift cards with 20% extra value, available online and at the counter. A banner on the website announces the offer, a post on Google Business Profile and on social media, and a QR code on each table links to the gift card page. In January, gift card holders bring new customers to the restaurant during a usually quiet month.
Example for a hair salon
A gift box with a treatment and a product at a special price, plus 15% extra on gift cards. The offer appears on the price list page, see how to display a price list, and regular clients receive it by message a day earlier. A clear holiday schedule avoids missed appointments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Black Friday relevant for restaurants?
Yes, mainly through gift cards with a bonus and offers that fill quieter weeks in January.
Do I need an online shop for Black Friday?
No. A clear offer page, phone or WhatsApp contact and in-store purchase can be enough, though online gift cards are very convenient.
How long should a local Black Friday offer last?
A weekend or the full week. Keep the dates clear and consistent everywhere.