Shopify online merchants ring up a record breaking $6.2 billion in total sales on Black Friday
Shopify merchants achieved a record breaking $6.2 billion in total sales on Friday, up 25% from last year (22% on a constant currency basis).
Consumer spending surged at 12:01 PM EST, when sales peaked at $5.1 million per minute. The average cart price at checkout was $117.93.
The top product categories by order volume were cosmetics, clothing tops, activewear, fitness and nutrition.
Top trending products included:
→ ALO, Accolate Crew Neck Pullover
→ Cozy Earth, Bamboo Sheet Set
→ Merit Beauty, Flush Balm
→ Goose Creek Candle, Christmas Tree 3-Wick Candle
→ Caraway Home, Cookware Set
→ ILIA Beauty, Super Serum Skin Tint
→ Brooklinen, Super Plush Robe
→ Béis, The Weekender
In a LinkedIn post, Harley Finkelstein, Shopify President, said: “The biggest weekend in commerce is off to an incredible start. Black Friday belongs to entrepreneurs. We just make it possible for the world to find them.”
Black Friday in the UK
Sensormatic Solutions has shared its initial analysis of Black Friday in-store traffic for the 2025 peak trading season in the UK.
According to its ShopperTrak Analytics insights, which captures 40 billion store visits globally each year, retail visits on Black Friday decreased -3% year-on-year, as consumer caution and constrained purchasing power curbed demand.
However, in the week leading up to Black Friday shopper traffic improved +1.1% year-on-year (22nd - 28th November 2025 vs 23rd - 29th November 2024), with high street store counts rising +2.8% compared to 2024 across the same period. Footfall also improved +54.9% week-on-week and jumped +78.5% compared to the average across the previous two Fridays.
Retail parks saw the greatest uptick in store visits, rising +0.2% year-on-year yesterday (28th November), while week-on-week, Shopping centres were the top performing retail destinations, with footfall rising +63.8% compared to the week prior.
“Consumer caution is disrupting demand patterns, shifting buying behaviours and creating spend hesitancy. This is due in part to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the autumn budget, which landed just two days before Black Friday,” says Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic Solutions EMEA Retail Consultant.
“However, despite a mixed start, retailers have cause for cautious optimism, with polling suggesting it’s a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’ consumers will buy. Retailers will be counting on shoppers hitting the high street as we head into the rest of the Black Friday weekend, hoping to capitalise on sales.”
UK spending across the entire Black Friday weekend is tipped to reach £9.5 billion, up +4.2% compared to 2024. While Sensormatic Solutions research showed 70% of UK shoppers surveyed plan to visit a store during the Black Friday period, they will be more cautious in their buying decisions. 73% will take more time searching out discounts – up +4 percentage points year-on-year.
“Even though many retailers started their BFCM promotions early as is now tradition, many shoppers are still holding out for the best deal. Retailers will need to react dynamically to drive up demand whilst balancing out the margin implications of deep discounting,” says Sumpter.
Black Friday performance is expected to improve across the rest of the weekend. Today is set to be the second busiest in-store shopping day of the entire peak trading period. Additionally, the rest of the season’s predicted busiest days are still on the horizon, with the footfall peak predicted to take place in the final few days leading up to Christmas.
Super Saturday (20th December) is likely to be the top busiest day for stores, while the last full shopping day before Christmas (Tue, 23rd December) is tipped to be the third busiest day for footfall. With Christmas falling on a Thursday for the first time in over a decade, retailers may also see more sustained store traffic in the week preceding 25th December.
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Physical stores and online retail were a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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