Black Friday. Those two little words that mean big business—but only if you’re ready for it. If you’re a small food brand, this season can make or break your year. It’s a chance to introduce your products to new fans, boost sales, and, yes, make all that careful prep worth it. But here’s the catch: none of that matters if you can’t deliver.
So, what can small food brands do to keep their Black Friday promise and keep customers sweet? Here’s the inside scoop on making sure your fulfilment game is strong enough to handle the rush.
- Expect the Unexpected (and Multiply It)
Black Friday often brings sales spikes that put a “normal” busy day to shame. Double, triple, even quadruple your usual daily order expectations. Look at last year’s numbers, then imagine what a successful ad or feature might do to this year’s traffic. Now’s the time to over-prepare. - Stock Smarter, Not Just Bigger
What are your bestsellers? If 70% of orders come from just a few products, make sure you’re topped up. Avoid letting slow-movers fill valuable storage space—reserve room for what people actually buy on impulse when they’re scrolling those Black Friday deals. - Get Your Pick and Pack Team in Place
The best fulfilment plan doesn’t mean a thing without the people to make it happen. Make sure you have enough hands on deck to pick, pack, and dispatch. Diamond can lend a hand here—whether it’s in bringing on extra help or fine-tuning your fulfilment processes to handle the surge. - Optimise Your Packing Process
Every second counts in Black Friday fulfilment. Have a clear system that makes packing as efficient as possible: think pre-packed kits for hot products, and a solid plan for where and how you’re storing different items. An organised packing space is worth its weight in sales! - Communicate Expectations to Your Customers
Here’s a tip to keep customers on side: let them know if deliveries might take a bit longer than usual. Set clear delivery expectations right on your website—most customers understand a little wait if they’ve scored a great deal. - Use Tracking to Keep Anxiety Low
Nobody likes wondering where their order is. With an integrated fulfilment partner like Diamond, you can offer tracking to take the mystery out of waiting. Customers get peace of mind, and you get fewer “Where’s my order?” emails clogging up your inbox. - Have a Plan for Returns
Black Friday isn’t only about shipping out orders; it’s about managing returns too. A customer-friendly returns process can help keep shoppers coming back for more. Whether you’re offering returns or exchanges, keep it simple and make sure it’s clear. - Review, Refine, and Repeat
After the dust settles, don’t just pack up and move on. Look back, figure out what went smoothly and where things jammed up, and adjust. Every Black Friday offers a lesson to make next year even better.With a bit of smart planning and the right partner in your corner, Black Friday doesn’t have to be a dreaded logistics nightmare. Instead, it can be the start of new opportunities for growth, repeat customers, and a bigger brand presence. And if you need a team that knows how to roll with the punches, that’s what we’re here for at Diamond Logistics. Let’s make this Black Friday a success you won’t forget!
