November 24, 2025
What Companies Are Changing the Game for Black Friday?
According to the emails flooding into the CXM press release box, this year Black Friday is all about AI. Perhaps with a smattering of scam dodging, sales channel surge-preparedness and sifting through loads of SMS messages, depending on the vendor.
While there’s a clear need for a robust customer experience, this article isn’t about those topics. Nor about finding 20% off a bunch of random stuff that CX-types might like.
Instead, we want to see and highlight the brands that are doing something different for Black Friday. If you see any, do let us know. And if you’re churning out the same old deals this year, there’s plenty of time to think about something distinctive in future.
A Pinker Shade of Black
First up is International Customer Experience Award winner Octopus Energy, making Fridays less black with a bright reimagining for Pink Friday.
The energy provider is looking to help customers save and enjoy through the Octoplus app. Offers over the week include free snacks, cinema tickets, plushies, discounts and the chance to win one of two EV SUVs. Enjoy the cheeky marketing video that accompanies the campaign.
Meet Circular Monday
Not every effort is brand-led or profit-motivated. Today happens to be Circular Monday, a grassroots effort to promote circular consumption, buying, using, and reusing in ways that create no waste. In the UK, this involves upcycling, second hand clothes boutiques, art made from recycled materials and much more, with some 40 countries taking part.
The project notes that ” the pre-loved economy is projected to grow up to three times faster than fast fashion over the next few years, reflecting a deep shift in how society defines value and innovation.” Dozens of schemes and creators are involved in the UK, with thousands more worldwide.
Energy and Shopping that Grows Trees
Portable power provider Jackery customers can buy power station and solar generator products at the brand’s official UK online shop up to the 2nd of December. And for every £100 spent, one mangrove tree will be planted in Kenya.
The effort helps support global reforestation and carbon offset efforts, all delivered through a sustainability partner Greenspark to provide some feel-good vibes to us hungry power users.
Make your Niche Product an Event
It isn’t only smaller brands that can innovate for Black Friday. Take Pepsi, launching its prebiotic cola during the big NFL game across America on Black Friday.
We have no idea what the market is for this, but making a big deal out of it is a bold move. The drink is only available online, tying into the sales frenzy. And is presumably launching to test the market, where hopefully lots of Bears and Eagles fans will be considering their prebiotic needs among the Thanksgiving leftovers.
If you see any other offers or innovations that make you sit up and think, “ohh, different!” Do let us know on LinkedIn.
