Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) have firmly established themselves as landmark dates on the retail calendar, and for good reason. In recent years, they’ve become the cornerstone of retailers’ end-of-year revenue strategies, last year alone generating more than US$31 billion in global payment volume through Stripe. 

During the 2024 BFCM period, Stripe processed a record-breaking 465 million transactions, the highest four-day period in the company’s history. Peak transaction volume reached 137,000 transactions per minute, with the platform maintaining an exceptional API uptime exceeding 99.9999 per cent. Major retailers such as Amazon, Shopify, Best Buy and Zara rely on Stripe for its industry-leading uptime. 

For retailers across Australia and New Zealand, BFCM represents a prime opportunity, not just for short-term gains, but for building lasting customer relationships and future-proofing their businesses.

As we head into BFCM 2025 (November 28 to December 1), the macroeconomic backdrop remains complex. Inflationary pressure, shifting consumer sentiment, and global uncertainties continue to shape the retail environment. However, what we’ve learned from analysing transaction trends across Stripe’s global network, including detailed, anonymised data from ANZ, is that consumers are still spending. But the how, why, and where they spend has evolved.

For ANZ retailers looking to win big this year, success will hinge on three strategic priorities:

1. Aligning with changing consumer values.

2. Removing friction from customer touchpoints.

3. Building resilience through flexible, scalable infrastructure.

1. Aligning with changing consumer values

Consumer spending is evolving fast

The retail narrative is shifting away from pure price competition toward value-driven purchasing. Consumers are no longer just seeking discounts; they’re looking for experiences, convenience, and alignment with their lifestyle.

During BFCM 2024, we saw a 44 per cent increase in spend on media, entertainment, and travel, and a 42 per cent rise in beauty and health categories. This signals a powerful trend: Consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, who made up 45 per cent of BFCM spending, are investing in wellbeing, personal development, and experiences.

But while younger generations are reshaping demand patterns, Gen X and baby boomers remain a vital and lucrative audience. Baby boomers, for instance, spent an average of over $1000 on travel during the BFCM weekend alone. For retailers, this generational spread presents an opportunity to diversify offerings and tailor messaging by demographic.

So what does this mean for retailers? Segment your customer base and align your product mix, promotional strategies, and user experience accordingly. Success in BFCM 2025 will come not from a one-size-fits-all approach, but from understanding what motivates your most valuable customer segments, and delivering precisely that.

Cross-border commerce continues to accelerate 

One of the most significant shifts in recent years is the growth in cross-border commerce. Last year, more than 10 per cent of all BFCM payments on Stripe were international, with North America and Europe seeing growth rates exceeding 45 per cent.

While local shopping remains a strong consumer preference, businesses in ANZ are also increasingly looking beyond domestic borders: 83 per cent of e-commerce companies in the region plan to expand internationally within the next one to three years, and 90 per cent are already engaged in cross-border sales. 

This is still an untapped opportunity for many ANZ retailers. As global consumers become increasingly comfortable shopping across borders, brands with the right infrastructure can expand their reach and revenue significantly.

Yet selling internationally comes with its own challenges: Local payment preferences, currency conversions, language barriers, and fulfilment logistics. That’s where having a modern, adaptable payment platform becomes a strategic differentiator.

What winning retailers are doing is that they’re using payment platforms like Stripe to enable multi-currency pricing, localised checkout flows, and support for region-specific payment methods, all without adding operational overhead. It’s about reducing friction at the point of conversion and increasing trust across markets.

2. Removing friction from customer touchpoints 

The new standard: Seamless, frictionless, and fast

Speed and simplicity are no longer “nice to have.” They’re expected. Stripe research shows that 71 per cent of shoppers will abandon their carts if checkout is too slow, and over half won’t wait longer than two minutes to complete a purchase.

In high-traffic moments like BFCM, this is make-or-break. Retailers must be able to handle peak volumes without compromising the customer experience.

Leading retailers are streamlining checkout by:

• Offering popular payment methods like Apple Pay, using adaptive pricing tools, like Stripe Adaptive Pricing, to automatically localise currency and pricing, and boosting international conversion by up to 17 per cent.
• Implementing one-click checkout solutions, such as Link, to speed up checkout for returning customers.

The goal isn’t just to reduce abandonment, it’s to create a buying experience that customers want to return to.

Delivering a unified omnichannel experience

In Australia and New Zealand, where physical retail stores remain prevalent, creating a seamless omnichannel experience is essential during BFCM. Long check-out lines and outdated payment systems in stores can frustrate customers and deter sales.

Forward-thinking retailers are investing in unified commerce: Integrating in-store and online systems to offer faster payments, centralised data, and flexible fulfilment. Stripe’s Tap to Pay feature, for example, lets store associates accept contactless payments anywhere on the floor, cutting queues and improving service during peak periods.

3. Build resilience through flexible, scalable infrastructure

Infrastructure reliability and fraud prevention

With the significant surge in payment volumes during BFCM, system reliability is paramount. Stripe’s platform demonstrated industry-leading 99.999 per cent uptime during last year’s BFCM weekend, ensuring uninterrupted payment processing even during peak traffic.

Coupled with sophisticated AI-driven fraud detection and intelligent authorisation models, Stripe minimises chargebacks and false declines, maximising legitimate transactions and protecting retailers’ revenue.

Your BFCM advantage starts now

BFCM is no longer a single sales event; it’s a test of your brand’s agility, your infrastructure’s resilience, and your customer experience strategy. The retailers that win are those who plan early, optimise continuously, and invest in tools that support long-term growth.

With Stripe’s powerful payment infrastructure, global capabilities, and actionable insights, ANZ retailers are uniquely positioned to make BFCM 2025 their most successful yet.

• Want to take the next step? Connect with Stripe today to explore tailored strategies and unlock your full potential this peak season.