كيف تشارك في الجمعة البيضاء دون أن تخرج بخسارة فادحة

Sahl Sunday,22 Feb 2026

We reveal the financial and logistical strategies that guarantee real profits, how to calculate your profit margins intelligently, and how to avoid wasting your budget on expensive advertising or random discounts that could drain your store's cash flow instead of fostering growth.

1. The Break-Even Dilemma: Why is a Random Discount Gambling with Your Store's Future?

Before you put up that enticing "50% Discount" sign, you need to stop being a "passionate merchant" and become a "rigorous accountant." At "Sahil," we know that profit isn't measured by sales volume, but by what's left in your pocket after the customer leaves. You must calculate with meticulous precision: (Supply Price + Packaging Cost + Shipping Expenses + Payment Gateway Commission + Advertising Cost per Item + Expected Return Rate). If the total of these costs is 70 riyals, and you sell the product for 100 riyals, then offering a 40% discount means you're "paying out of pocket" 10 riyals with every sale! This isn't business; it's slow financial suicide. The golden rule is to set a "safe discount limit" that ensures you stay above the profit line, keeping in mind that competitors may have cheaper supply contracts than you. Don't be swayed by them and risk ruin.

2. The "Loss Leader" Strategy: Sacrificing a Pawn to Gain a King
One of the smartest tricks used by major retailers on Black Friday is to choose a single, highly popular "champion" product and offer a massive discount on it. This becomes the "magnet" that draws visitors to your store. Even if you sell this product at "cost price" or at a small loss, the strategic goal is to "capture" the customer and bring them into your sales environment. Once the customer is in, the upselling and cross-selling begin, selling them other complementary products with high profit margins that weren't included in the big discount. You sacrifice profit on "tissues" to profit on "perfume," and this maneuver is the only way to stand up to the giants with eye-catching discounts without your store's budget collapsing at the end of the day.

3. Seasonal Advertising Strategy: How to Avoid Burnout in the Platform Auctions?

During Black Friday, platforms like TikTok and Facebook become a battleground where customer reach (CPM) skyrockets. A merchant who sells by chance, launching their campaigns on Black Friday itself, finds their budget vanishing in hours with no results. The savvy merchant of 2026 starts a full month before the season, building their "direct contact lists" (WhatsApp numbers, emails, text messages). When the season arrives, you don't need to bid in the expensive ad auction; you have direct access to your customers via a "free" WhatsApp message or a professional email. This massive savings in CPM is what makes the difference between a store earning thousands of riyals and one ending up indebted to advertising platforms.

4. Clearing Out "Dead Stock": Turning Silent Shelves into Cash
Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to clear your warehouse of "dead stock." These unsold products aren't just merchandise; they're "frozen cash" preventing you from buying new models or expanding your profitable lineup. Instead of slashing prices on your best-selling items that people already want, direct your biggest discounts toward older stock. Clearing this inventory at cost or a very small profit will magically improve your store's cash flow, providing the liquidity needed to seize new business opportunities after the season ends. This will make your Black Friday exit a financially strong one, not just a display of sales figures.

5. Smart Logistics: Plugging the Black Holes in Shipping and Returns
Black Friday is a season of "emotional buying," and the subsequent regret leads to a terrifying surge in returns. Many retailers are shocked to find their profits evaporated in return shipping costs. To survive, you must increase the minimum free shipping amount during sales to incentivize customers to add a second item, thus raising the average order value (AOV) and covering the shipping costs. Return policies this season should be more specific (e.g., store credit instead of cash). Remember that every shipment that leaves your store and is returned is a double loss; therefore, ensure that product descriptions are very accurate and images are realistic to minimize the likelihood of returns due to "non-conformity."

6. Tiered Discounts: The Art of Enticing Customers to Increase Their Bill
Instead of offering a fixed, boring discount (like 20% off everything), use a "buy more, save more" strategy. This strategy protects your profit margins on small orders that require significant logistical effort, while simultaneously encouraging customers to combine orders from family and friends into a single basket to reach a 30% or 40% discount. The end result for you as a retailer is: one large shipment instead of four small ones, one carton, one shipping invoice, and higher net profit thanks to reduced operating expenses. Tiered offers are the primary driver for increasing basket value in 2026, and they're what make your budget grow with each new addition to your cart.

7. Post-Black Friday Loyalty: Turning a "Bargain Hunter" into a Permanent Goldmine
The biggest business failure on Black Friday is when a merchant treats the season like a "one-night stand." If a customer buys and disappears, you've missed the opportunity of a lifetime. The successful strategy is to use the data you gather during the season to build a long-term relationship. Send a special discount coupon with every order for your next purchase in January (the usual slowdown period).