Black Friday hasn’t even started — so why talk about after the sale? Because what happens once the rush is over can make or break your Q4 results.
Many brands pour all their energy into BFCM discounts, ads, and traffic spikes — but forget what comes next. The truth is, your post-sale strategy matters just as much as your pre-sale one. Retention is where the real profit lies.
By planning your holiday marketing holistically — from acquisition to post-purchase engagement — you’ll not only drive sales during BFCM but also keep those new customers coming back long after the discounts end.
Why Retention Matters More Than Ever After BFCM Every holiday season, brands invest heavily in ads, discounts, and promotions to drive record-breaking sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). But here’s the problem: most of those hard-earned customers vanish after their first purchase.
If you’ve noticed a steep drop-off in December or January, you’re not alone. Research shows that up to 70% of BFCM customers never return unless brands actively nurture them. The holiday season is no longer just about one-time sales—it’s about transforming first-time shoppers into lifelong customers.
The Hidden Cost of Post-BFCM Churn The biggest mistake merchants make is treating BFCM as an end goal rather than a starting point. Heavy discounts attract bargain hunters, but if there’s no retention strategy, those customers walk away as soon as the sale ends.
The consequences?
Rising customer acquisition costs (CAC) eat into margins. Repeat purchase rates stagnate. Growth slows despite high seasonal revenue. The brands that win aren’t just selling during BFCM—they’re building systems to keep those customers engaged long after the holidays.
Step 1: Personalize Beyond Discounts Discounts get customers in the door, but personalized experiences make them stay. Instead of sending the same generic email to everyone:
Segment customers based on holiday purchase behavior. Recommend complementary products that feel tailored. Send thank-you notes that acknowledge the holiday rush and offer exclusive perks. According to McKinsey , brands that personalize effectively can generate 40% more revenue from those efforts compared to competitors who don’t.
Step 2: Create a Loyalty Loop The best way to combat post-BFCM churn is by making customers feel like members of an exclusive club. Loyalty programs are proven to:
Increase customer lifetime value. Encourage repeat purchases by rewarding small actions. Transform one-time shoppers into brand advocates. Imagine this: a BFCM shopper signs up for your store, earns points on their first purchase, and then returns in January to redeem them. Instead of being a seasonal buyer, they’ve entered your loyalty loop.
Step 3: Use Cross-Sell & Upsell Strategies Wisely This is where Upsell & Cross Sell by SSC help. Smart upsell and cross-sell campaigns:
Introduce customers to related products that enhance their purchase. Drive higher average order value (AOV) . Strengthen the connection between customers and your brand. For example, if a shopper buys headphones on BFCM, follow up with protective cases, charging accessories, or a subscription. The goal isn’t to push more products randomly—it’s to solve their next problem before they even ask.
Cross Sell app in action: showcasing product page recommendations, cart-based cross-sells, and upsell pop-ups to boost average order value.
Step 4: Automate Smart Retention Campaigns Retention requires timely, consistent communication—something that’s nearly impossible to do manually. That’s where Akohub’s AI Marketing Too l can help
With Akohub, Shopify merchants can:
Trigger post-purchase flows tailored to BFCM buyers. Send personalized retargeting campaigns on Instagram and Facebook. Offer point-based incentives for reviews, referrals, and birthdays. Instead of chasing customers with blanket discounts, you’re building relationships with precision. By leveraging AI-driven product recommendations and CRM insights, Akohub reduces churn and turns one-time shoppers into long-term subscribers.
Weekly Insights: Akohub analyzes your Shopify store data (orders, customers, products, traffic, and ads) and generates dashboards with insights every Monday.Retention Strategy: Insights reveal which customers are most loyal and which are slipping away, with suggested retention actions.Loyalty Rewards Program: Akohub lets merchants launch customizable VIP tiers, points, discounts, and store credits to reward repeat buyers.Retargeting Campaigns: Akohub connects insights to Meta/Google ads or Instagram DMs, creating personalized campaigns to win back or reward customers.
Akohub AI Marketing store insights highlighting abandoned cart issues and suggested actions to reduce checkout drop-off and recover lost sales.
How Akohub + CSell Help You Win After BFCM When Akohub and Csell work together, retention becomes part of your holiday marketing strategy:
CSell Upsell & Cross-Sell ensures customers discover more value with every purchase. Akohub’s Loyalty & CRM keeps customers engaged, rewarded, and motivated to return. This combination means your BFCM customers won’t just disappear after Cyber Monday, they’ll stick around, spend more, and become your most loyal advocates.
Final Thoughts BFCM is your biggest opportunity to attract new customers, but it’s also your biggest risk for churn. By focusing on personalization, loyalty, cross-sell strategies, and automated retention campaigns , you turn seasonal spikes into sustainable growth.
With CSSELL’s cross-sell power and Akohub’s retention engine , Shopify stores can stop losing customers after BFCM—and start building long-term relationships that last all year.
Your holiday marketing plan shouldn’t end with a sale—it should begin a journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. Why do most Shopify stores lose customers after BFCM?
Because they focus only on discounts and ignore retention strategies like loyalty programs, upsells, and post-purchase engagement.
2. How can I adapt retention strategies for global markets?
Use localized personalization. Offer product recommendations relevant to the region (e.g., climate, culture) and adapt loyalty perks or communications to the local language and shopping habits.
3. How does Akohub help with retention?
Akohub uses AI-driven insights, loyalty rewards, and retargeting campaigns to reduce churn. It helps merchants worldwide engage customers with precision—whether they’re in New York, London, or Tokyo.
4. How does CSell increase sales after BFCM?
CSell allows Shopify merchants to handpick cross-sell and upsell offers on product and cart pages, as well as via pop-ups. This increases average order value and helps customers discover more relevant products.
5. Can small and mid-sized Shopify stores use these tools?
Absolutely. Both Akohub and CSell are designed to scale with your business—whether you’re a small boutique or a global brand.
