Retail calendarBlack Friday. Plan it backwards.
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, 27 November 2026, with Cyber Monday on Monday, 30 November 2026.
In South Africa it lands within days of the November payday (Wed, 25 November this year), so shoppers have money and a list. Most of the work happens in the eight weeks before: stock, offers, the store and the list of people you will tell first.
Here is the plan, week by week, and the checks to run before the day.
- Black Friday
- Friday, 27 November 2026
- Cyber Monday
- Monday, 30 November 2026
- November payday
- Wednesday, 25 November 2026
- Public holiday
- No, a normal working day
Week by weekEight weeks out to Cyber Monday.
- 01
Eight weeks out: stock and offers
From Fri, 02 October. Decide what goes on sale and by how much, and order the stock. Suppliers and couriers get busy in November, and a best seller that runs out on the day costs more than the discount.
- 02
Six weeks out: grow the list
From Fri, 16 October. Open an early-access sign-up on email and WhatsApp. People who opt in before the day can be reached on it without paying for every click.
- 03
Four weeks out: build the pages
From Fri, 30 October. A Black Friday landing page, sale collections by category and the banners. Build them early so search engines find them and ads have time to be approved.
- 04
Three weeks out: test the store
From Fri, 06 November. Speed on a phone, checkout from start to finish with every payment method, delivery options and costs. Fix what breaks now, not on the day.
- 05
Two weeks out: ads and creative
From Fri, 13 November. Start ads to warm audiences and your early-access list. Ad prices rise close to the day as everyone bids, so build audiences before then.
- 06
The week: early access, then go
Tease on Monday, open early access mid-week and go live on Fri, 27 November. Keep the offer plain: what is off, and until when.
- 07
Cyber Monday and after
A last chance on Mon, 30 November, then straight into festive: gift guides and delivery cut-off dates.
Before the daySeven checks.
- 01Your store loads fast on a phone over mobile data.
- 02Every payment method works: card, instant EFT and any pay-later option you offer.
- 03Delivery costs and times are clear before checkout.
- 04Stock levels are right, and sold-out items are hidden or marked.
- 05Your returns policy is easy to find. Online shoppers can cancel within seven days of delivery under the ECT Act.
- 06Tracking works: a test purchase shows up in GA4 and your ad platforms.
- 07Someone is on hand for WhatsApp and email on the day.
QuestionsAsked often.
Something else? Contact us
Friday, 27 November 2026. Black Friday is the day after the American Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November.
Monday, 30 November 2026, the Monday after Black Friday.
No. It is a normal working day, which is why so much of it happens online and on phones.
About eight weeks before: stock and offers first, then the list, the pages, testing and ads. The later you start, the more you pay for each sale on the day.
Keep goingTools and guides.
- Black Friday readiness scoreFifteen yes or no questions, a score out of 100 and a plan for the weeks left.
- Free CRO audit125 checkpoints and a speed test: what stops your store selling.
- Ad calculatorAd spend, our fees and your break-even, before you spend.
- Retail calendarEvery South African retail date for the next twelve months, with paydays and public holidays.
Stop choosing between beautiful branding and profitable growth.
You can have a brand people feel and a bank account that proves it.
The first step is an ACR Diagnostic. We find the leak. You decide if you want us to fix the pipe.