Preparing Your Business for Boxing Day 2025: A Practical Guide for Canadian Small Business Owners

Boxing Day is one of the biggest shopping events in Canada, second only to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2025 it falls on Friday, December 26. With consumers eager for post-holiday deals and businesses aiming to clear year-end inventory, Boxing Day represents a major revenue opportunity.

Success requires preparation and intention. The businesses that win this weekend are the ones that plan early and execute with discipline.

Whether you operate a retail storefront, an e-commerce shop, or a service-based business looking to benefit from the surge in consumer spending, here is how to get ready for Boxing Day 2025.

Review Last Year's Performance

Before planning, ground your strategy in real data.

Ask yourself:

• What sold well last Boxing Day, and what did not?
• Which channels drove the most traffic and conversions? For example, Google Shopping, email, or Instagram.
• Where did operational bottlenecks occur? This might include shipping delays, inventory outages, or staffing gaps.
• Did you meet your margin targets, or did discounts go too deep?

Use POS reports, website analytics, and customer feedback to shape your 2025 plan. If this is your first Boxing Day promotion, analyze trends from other holiday campaigns.

Build a Clear Promotions Strategy

Consumers expect deals on Boxing Day, but that does not mean everything needs to be 50 percent off.

Consider:

• Tiered discounts. For example, spend $150 and get 20 percent off, spend $250 and get 30 percent off.
• Bundle pricing. This is useful for moving slower inventory.
• Buy-one-get-one offers.
• Exclusive early access for VIP customers.
• Door crashers with strict quantity limits.

Be intentional about profit margins. Do the math now, not on December 20.

Forecast and Secure Inventory Early

Supply chains remain unpredictable during holiday peaks.
If Boxing Day is important to your Q4 revenue, make sure your inventory is:

• Ordered early, ideally in late Q3 or early Q4.
• Balanced across bestsellers and seasonal items.
• Supported by backup suppliers whenever possible.

If you are a service provider, think about capacity. This includes staffing, scheduling systems, and preparation requirements.

Optimize Your Website for Performance

For e-commerce merchants, website performance can make or break Boxing Day sales.

Complete a digital check-up:

• Run load tests to ensure your site can handle traffic spikes.
• Simplify the checkout process, and avoid forced account creation.
• Add clear shipping timelines and return policies.
• Confirm that mobile pages load quickly, since over 70 percent of Boxing Day browsing in Canada happens on mobile devices.
• Set up abandoned cart emails and back in stock alerts.

Do not forget accessibility. Use readable font sizes, proper alt text, and clear colour contrast.

Strengthen Your Marketing and Customer Communication

Start planting seeds in early December, then ramp up messaging the week before Christmas.

Consider using:

• Email campaigns, including VIP previews, countdowns, and extended-hours notices.
• Paid ads targeted at bargain seekers.
• Organic social media, such as teasers, behind-the-scenes prep, and staff picks.
• Updates to your Google Business Profile, including holiday hours.

Keep your messaging simple and visual. Consumers deal with information overload during the holidays, so clarity is essential.

Prepare Your Team

Even small teams need structure heading into Boxing Day weekend.

Share with your staff:

• Full promotion details and exclusions.
• Updated return and exchange processes.
• Customer service scripts for common questions.
• Expected traffic and sales goals.
• Roles, break schedules, and staffing rotations.

If you are hiring seasonal staff, start early. In most Canadian markets, late November is too late.

Streamline In-Store Operations

For brick-and-mortar retailers, a smooth in-store experience can significantly improve conversion.

Prepare by:

• Posting clear sale signage.
• Setting up express checkout stations.
• Ensuring merchandising is intuitive and well stocked.
• Offering click and collect pickup lines separate from general checkout.
• Reviewing security procedures related to crowds and loss prevention.

A tidy store is a profitable store.

Finalize Your Boxing Day Weekend Schedule

Boxing Day does not have to be a one day event. Many Canadian retailers extend promotions from December 26 to 29, and some run full Boxing Week campaigns.

Think about:

• When discounts start. For example, midnight online or at store opening.
• Whether you will extend the sale past the 26th.
• How to communicate last chance urgency.

Consistency across channels prevents confusion.

Put Your Post Sale Plan in Place

After the dust settles, you will want to:

• Review sales performance compared with targets.
• Update inventory levels and plan transfers or liquidation.
• Respond to customer inquiries quickly.
• Capture new email subscribers and start retention sequences.
• Ask for reviews while customer excitement is still high.

Boxing Day is not just an event. It is an opportunity to build long term loyalty.

The Bottom Line

Boxing Day 2025 can be a major revenue driver for Canadian small businesses, but only if you prepare early. By reviewing data, securing inventory, clarifying promotions, and preparing your team and systems, you will be positioned to finish the year strong.