Black Friday 2025 Strategies

Black Friday 2025 is poised to offer some amazing opportunities to both thrift shoppers and clothing resellers. For the first time in history, Americans are expected to spend over $1 trillion during the holiday season (source). That money is not going to regular retail stores though; between elevated economic concerns from inflation and tariffs, more consumers will be hitting the secondhand market for their Black Friday shopping. Major thrift chains like Goodwill are responding to the surging demand with big discounts, and online resale platforms like eBay and Poshmark are running sales of their own to attract secondhand buyers.

In this article, I’ll explore some of the strategies you can use as both a buyer and seller to get the most out of Black Friday. From likely sales events and shopping tips to resale strategy, this post will help you prepare for the biggest shopping period of the year.

When is Black Friday 2025?

Black Friday falls on November 28 this year, with Small Business Saturday on November 29 and Cyber Monday following on December 1. At the time this article was posted, that’s only a week away! This year’s Friday will be a lot different from previous years, with 62% of American consumers saying tariffs are encouraging them to buy secondhand (source). Mobile shopping will dominate, contributing to over half of online sales; that number is even higher on Cyber Monday.

Many retailers are extending the Black Friday sales period to be longer than ever. Some have already started offering discounts, or “pre-Black Friday” sales, over a week before Black Friday. And some will extend Cyber Monday into a “Cyber Week”, which can certainly lead to sales fatigue for shoppers. The best deals, of course, will be offered from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Thrift Store Deals

While not all stores have yet announced sales events (make sure you sign up for mailing lists and follow your favorite stores so you don’t miss any!), we can use what brick & mortar stores offered last year as a general guide.

Goodwill thrift store discounts vary by location, with most offering deals in the 25% to 50% off range. Salvation Army stores typically offer 50% off clothing on Black Friday, but regional variations are still likely.

Chains like Savers/Value Village and Arc Thrift Stores generally do not offer specific Black Friday promotions. Others like AMVETS offer very specific deals, like all clothes for $2 only at participating locations.

Most thrift stores start Black Friday sales at 10:00 a.m. on November 28, 2025, with some offering extended weekend sales and hours. Deals are first-come, first-served, so expect big lines and plan to arrive early.

Resale Platform Promotions

Generally speaking, resale platforms do not run site-wide Black Friday sales. Instead, platforms like eBay and Etsy allow sellers to set their own discounts and participate in Black Friday events, but seller inclusion is generally optional and sellers aren’t required to discount their products. Of course, sellers will likely want to participate to get extra visibility and traction during the promotion.

If you are a seller, make sure to check what options your platforms offer for Black Friday promotions. On Etsy, for example, sellers will see a “Cyber Week Sales Event” in their Marketing settings, allowing timed promotions at larger discounts during the event they run from November 24 to December 2. Some events are planned well in advance, and with Etsy, sellers needed to opt in before October 27, 2025.

Thrift Store Strategy

If you plan to shop Black Friday deals from thrift stores, whether for yourself or for sourcing for your resale business, here are a few tips to improve your Black Friday results:

1. Sign up for newsletters and follow thrift stores on social media now. Locations will start sending promotional offers and sale details in mid-November.
2. Plan to be at your favorite stores when they open in the morning during Black Friday sales. Check store hours in advance and get there before they open.
3. Prioritize high-value materials and designer items.
4. Leverage whatever specific promotions are being offered. If certain item categories aren’t on sale, you can shop for them on a different visit.

For more tips, make sure to check out our strategy guides for last year’s Black Friday sales here and here.

Black Friday Prep for Resellers

If you plan to resell clothing during Black Friday sales, there’s a lot that you need to do immediately and during the sales.

1. Increase inventory across multiple sourcing channels. The period leading up to Black Friday is when you should have the highest available inventory for your business so that you can maximize sales and complete more transactions.
2. If you sell on a platform that holds your inventory and fulfills orders on your behalf, get inventory to them ASAP. It needs to be ready and available for sale before Black Friday sales start.
3. Prioritize NWT (New With Tags) inventory for Black Friday sales, as it’s the most giftable and holiday-appropriate. Seasonal items, trending products, and luxury items are likely to sell best.
4. Use trending holiday keywords in your listings, like “gift”, “stocking stuffer”, “holiday outfit”, etc. Use tags like #BlackFriday on listings that will most likely see high demand during the sale.
5. Get supplies you need in advance so you can ship quickly and fulfill orders as they come in. Plan to work a few extra hours during the sale so you can properly support customers.
6. Use targeted discounts rather than discounting everything. Maintain prices on unique items, recent listings of luxury items, and low-margin items.
7. Don’t forget to de-list sold items that you cross-listed. During such a busy time it’s easy to forget or delay this important step, but you don’t want the chaos of the holiday to result in unhappy customers and lower store ratings.
8. Try to answer questions within 15 minutes on Black Friday. Buyers will be making decisions quickly and doing a lot of browsing, so often the seller who is the fastest to respond will get the sale.
9. Don’t relax after Black Friday. Cyber Monday is typically even more busy and successful for resellers.

Conclusion

To get the most out of Black Friday 2025, plan ahead and execute strategically. Thrift shoppers who join loyalty programs now, arrive early on sale dates, and have a clear shopping plan in place are most likely to be rewarded with the best deals on thrifted treasures. Resellers who prepare inventory in advance, optimize selling and pricing strategies, and stay hyper-responsive from Black Friday through Cyber Monday will get the most sales. It’s going to be a big year for thrifting, so make sure to follow our tips to maximize your thrifting and resale opportunities!