The 2025 Black Friday through Cyber Monday weekend shattered sales records in both Canada and the U.S., with Canadian spending climbing 6% over last year, and U.S. sales surprising many by beating forecasts by an extra $16 million. 
That kind of surge sends a clear message that customers in 2025 aren’t just shopping, they’re watching for value and seeking good deals.
Retailers who were the true winners that weekend are the ones who hooked customers with appealing promotions and then rung up sales and moved products smoothly, without checkout chaos.
They understand that to make a profit they must stay in control with accurate pricing and discount rules straight to give customers the experience they expect.
Read on to discover five of the most effective types of retail promotions, and to see how a POS with built-in promo tools turns them into smooth, dependable drivers of sales.
1. Percentage Discounts
Straightforward markdowns like “20% off” give shoppers an immediate price break.
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2. BOGO & Multi-Buy Deals
A BOGO or multi-buy offer gives customers a second item free or discounted when they purchase the first, tapping into a natural shopper instinct.
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3. Spend-and-Save Promotions
Spend-and-save deals (like “Spend $50, get $10 off”) drive sales by encouraging customers to stretch their purchase a little further.
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4. Flash Sales & Timed Promotions
Flash sales are short, time-limited offers that push customers to act quickly, often choosing your store over other options simply because they don’t want to miss out.
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5. Bundles & Product Packages
A bundle groups complementary items together so customers can buy a ready-made set at a better value, offering convenience and value.
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Retail Promotions that Work Without the Trouble
Each of these retail promotion types has the power to bring in traffic, increase basket size, and move inventory when you need it most. The challenge isn’t whether they work; it’s managing all the moving parts behind the scenes. For many small retailers, the real pain comes from the manual work: updating prices one by one, keeping track of which items qualify, reminding staff of the rules, and stepping in when something doesn’t ring in correctly. That’s where the right POS turns a good retail promotion into an effective one. Instead of spending hours setting up discounts or troubleshooting at the counter, everything runs accurately, consistently, and on schedule in the background. You stay focused on your customers while the system handles the details. |  |
Why POS-Driven Retail Promotions Save Time, Stress, and Money
A strong POS takes the guesswork out of running retail promotions and gives you the control and clarity you need to make them truly effective:
- Run Promotions with Ease
Instead of patching together spreadsheets, notes, and complicated price changes, set your promotion once and then the system handles the rest. Clear steps guide you through setup so you can launch a sale in minutes (not hours). - Offer the Right Deal at the Right Time
Every retail promotion has a job to do. Whether you’re trying to bring in more foot traffic, sell through aging stock, or reward loyal customers, flexible POS rules help you tailor the deal to your goal. Avoid broad discounts that cut into margins and focus on targeted offers that truly move the needle. - Keep Checkout Smooth and Accurate
When discounts apply automatically at the register, checkout becomes stress-free. No overrides, no double-checking, no slowing down the line. Your team stays confident, and customers get the experience (and the price) they expect. - Insights That Boost Results
A POS helps you see what’s working. You can track which promotions lifted sales, which didn’t add much, and where your margin went. Over time, you make more informed decisions, fine-tune your strategy, and run promotions that consistently support your bottom line.
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Turning Customer Expectations into Wins
This year’s record-breaking Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend made it clear that shoppers are paying close attention to value. 57% of Canadians say getting a strong discount matters far more than brand loyalty. For small retailers, that creates both an opportunity and a challenge.
The hard part has never been the promotions themselves. Percentage discounts, BOGO offers, spend-and-save deals, flash sales, and bundles all work for different reasons. But managing the mechanics by hand can turn a simple idea into a stressful, time-consuming project.
That’s why the right POS matters. When your system handles the setup, timing, and accuracy behind the scenes, you get the best of both worlds: promotions that customers love, and operations that stay smooth for your team. Instead of worrying about whether a discount will ring in properly, you stay focused on serving customers, growing sales, and making confident decisions based on real data.
If you’re looking for a POS that makes promotions easy to set up, accurate at checkout, and effortless for your team, ClearTEQ is built for exactly that. Let us help you turn every retail promotion into a smoother, more profitable part of your day.
