Strength in Numbers: Holiday Rush Sets Record Sales

If you're looking for the busiest shopping days of the year, look no further than the weekend after Thanksgiving.

From Black Friday, to Small Business Saturday, to Cyber Monday, Big Cartel was bustling during the holiday rush. All together, Big Cartel shops sold over $11 million USD from November 24 through November 28, as shop owners were busy sharing their goods and packing orders like their lives depended on it. Consider this a well-earned round of applause from us.

Each year, more people embrace the idea of Shop Indie, and make an effort to visit small businesses. Want proof? More Big Cartel shops had orders this year than ever before. On Black Friday alone, the number of stores that received orders was up 10% from last year, and a whopping 325% more than just five years ago. We're proud to see this community of artists and independent entrepreneurs growing and becoming a real force in the retail world.

Our support team worked through the holiday weekend to make sure store owners had the information they needed to kick off the holiday shopping season in style. They answered about 1,000 support inquiries over just four days! So, go ahead and give 'em a little extra thanks the next time you talk to them.

We know that you're working hard to get those holiday orders out the door, so now is the perfect time to review our packaging suggestions to make sure you're taking full advantage of presenting your goods. If you're catching a little breather today, take some time to automate your workflow to keep things stress-free during the busier hours. The holiday season isn't over yet, so be sure to read up on the Holiday Rush Calendar to stay on track.