If You’re Just Starting, You’re Already Behind
This morning, before I’d even had my first sip of coffee, I opened my inbox and got smacked in the face by two dozen Black Friday emails – each one louder than the last.
- Crate & Barrel.
- Local estheticians.
- White-label agencies.
- Tech tools.
- Random stores I’m 99% sure I never intentionally subscribed to.
It’s still a week before the actual Black Friday – the Friday after Thanksgiving, the “official” kickoff to holiday shopping – and everyone is already shouting into inboxes like the doors just opened at Best Buy and they were handing out free TVs.
Instead of rolling my eyes and hitting delete, it made me stop and think:
What does this tell us about the state of marketing – and the state of business – right now?
A lot, actually.
Businesses Are Fighting Not to Get Buried on Actual Black Friday
Let’s be honest:
If you send your Black Friday deal on Black Friday, you’re basically throwing it into the void.
Everyone is sending. Everyone is posting. Everyone is discounting.
Everyone is desperate for attention at the exact same time.
So what’s happening now?
Businesses are shifting earlier – a week or more – because:
- They don’t want to get lost in the Black Friday inbox apocalypse.
- They want to catch early shoppers before they mentally check out.
- They want to “claim the mindshare” before competitors pile in.
- They’re hoping people aren’t burned out yet.
It’s not an accident.
It’s a strategy shift.
Inbox algorithms favor early senders, and timing now matters as much as the offer itself.
Customers who plan ahead buy earlier.
Retail psychology has shifted toward spreading out purchases.
But that’s only half of the picture.
The Earlier Blast Is Also a Sign of Economic Strain
This part is less fun but very real:
Businesses are feeling the pressure of lower spending and tighter budgets.
Consumers are spreading out holiday purchases.
Families are buying differently (more caution, less impulse).
Q4 performance is carrying more weight because earlier quarters have been unpredictable.
So what do businesses do when they feel that squeeze?
They start Black Friday… earlier.
Not because they love the chaos.
Not because it’s trendy.
But because they need to secure revenue now, not later.
This early push reflects an economy where:
- people are pacing their spending
- businesses can’t wait until the “official” day
- holiday budgets are already stretched thin
- and everyone’s trying to get ahead of the slump
It’s survival strategy disguised as holiday cheer.
Black Friday Is No Longer a Day – It’s a Season
This is the big takeaway:
Black Friday isn’t a single day anymore. It’s a marketing season.
And if you’re planning your Black Friday deal in mid-November?
You’re already late.
A properly executed Black Friday strategy should have been:
- finalized in September
- designed and scheduled in October
- automated and ready to go by November 1st
By the time you’re asking, “Did I miss the Black Friday wave?”…the wave already hit, receded, and washed half the inboxes clean.
This isn’t a judgment – it’s simply how fast and crowded the marketing world has become.
It’s the reality of how fast and crowded the marketing world has become, and why intentional planning and early execution matter more than ever for visibility, engagement, and ROI.
The Good News: This Year Might Feel Chaotic, But Next Year Doesn’t Have To
If this week gave you a tiny panic spike… you’re not alone. And honestly? It makes sense.
Most businesses scramble their way through Black Friday every single year – not because they’re disorganized, but because the entire season has shifted faster than anyone could adjust.
But here’s the truth:
A stressful Black Friday isn’t inevitable. It’s preventable.
With the right marketing partner – whether that’s a strategist, coach, or agency – you can walk into November next year already:
- planned,
- scheduled,
- automated,
- and confidently ahead of the inbox chaos.
A strong advocate helps you:
- map your Black Friday offers months in advance
- spot economic and consumer shifts early
- build campaigns that warm your audience before November even hits
- automate everything so you’re not frantically designing graphics at midnight
- protect your brand from getting buried in the noise
- make your promotions feel strategic, not rushed
Imagine entering next holiday season knowing your Black Friday strategy is done – dialed in, optimized, and already working for you…rather than something you’re scrambling to pull together between client calls, staff meetings, and last-minute emergencies.
That’s the Flamingo difference:
We help you stay ahead of the season instead of drowning in it.
And if you’re looking at your inbox today thinking, “Okay… next year needs to look different”?
Let’s talk about it now, while everything is still fresh enough to fix.
No pressure. No judgment. Just clarity and a plan.
Let’s get ahead of 2026 now – so next year’s big promos (yes, including Black Friday) don’t turn into a sprint.
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