The Ultimate Guide to Making the Most of National Free Shipping Day

National Free Shipping Day is a highly anticipated occasion that poses significance for shoppers and sellers in the eCommerce sector. As the name suggests, this is a golden opportunity for both parties to either maximize sales or shop till one drops. Let’s dig deeper into what this holiday has to offer, alongside the most appropriate practices for sellers to employ and shine the brightest.

What is National Free Shipping Day?

Keep National Free Shipping Day marked on your calendar to maximize this holiday’s potential and skyrocket your online business to new heights.

National Free Shipping Day is a shopping event that takes place in mid-December where online retailers offer free shipping to their customers. This is a relatively new holiday, created in 2008 to cater to eCommerce stores that want to appeal to last-minute shoppers who seek affordable options. Over the years, multi-sized online businesses across different industries have gradually begun participating in this event. If you haven’t already, this year is your chance.

Fun Facts about National Free Shipping Day

• This year, National Free Shipping Day takes place on December 14th.
• National Free Shipping Day originated in the USA in 2008.
• It’s perfect for last-minute shoppers who want to squeeze in the last purchase before Christmas.
• In 2023, over 1,200 online retailers participated in National Free Shipping Day, including large chains like Target and Walmart.
• Hashtags are a prominent part of National Free Shipping Day, with #FreeShippingDay and #NationalFreeShippingDay trending every year.

Why is National Free Shipping Day Important?

National Free Shipping Day has proven to be a fan favorite, thanks to its evident cost-effective benefits for online shoppers. That said, what advantages does it impart to merchants who are looking to magnify their stores’ potential? Let’s explore below.

Boosted Conversion Rates

Conversion rates stand at the forefront when it comes to maintaining a prosperous business.

National Free Shipping Day is nothing shy of effective when the light is on conversion rates - an undeniably integrated component of running an online business. Unlike a typical shopping journey where buyers have to wait until the checkout screen to figure out their shipping fee, a free shipping spree alleviates this worry and enables them to shop to their hearts’ contents. This way, the probability of customers reaching the end of the sales funnel is significantly higher, leading to boosted conversion rates and reduced cart abandonment.

Learn more from GemPages: 15+ eCommerce Conversion Rate Optimization Best Practices

Higher Average Order Value (AOV)

An ideal practice of National Free Shipping Day is to implement a minimum order threshold that is qualified for free shipping. Thus, the average order value (AOV) is consequently increased as a result. Customers will feel more inclined to diversify their orders, boost the number of items, and opt for product bundle options. By employing strategic tactics that promote sales, sellers can achieve monumental financial goals during this holiday.

New Influx of Customers

National Free Shipping Day is an ideal time to recruit a new clientele and increase brand visibility.

Free shipping is the deciding factor for many virtual shoppers that determine whether this specific store is worth a visit. Even if your products are not normally appealing to the masses, you can still sell them like hotcakes with the right marketing strategy. Once your campaigns are successfully advertised, a new influx of customers is to be expected. That said, with great power comes great responsibilities - you are now tasked with creating an astonishing first impression that keeps these prospects on the site until the end of the shopping journey. If nicely executed, these first-time visitors will convert into repeat customers as time goes on.

How to Prepare Your Store for National Free Shipping Day

National Free Shipping Day calls for imperative planning, from the glaring tasks like checking the stocks beforehand to the most minute details such as the placement of the CTA buttons on your website. The more you lay the groundwork, the smoother the operation will be during this holiday. Follow the points below to get a headstart.

Update Your Website

GemPages has a sleuth of templates to fit your every need in preparation for this National Free Shipping Day.

Your website is the face of your brand, and it entails meticulous attention during the National Free Shipping Day. Elements you will not want to leave out are promotional banners, countdown timers, dedicated landing pages, and non-intrusive pop-ups. Informing customers of your participation in this event loud and clear on your site weeks beforehand is the key to ensuring their visit on the day of.

If you are seeking a template that offers the elements above, look no further than GemPages. We are equipped with over 200 CRO templates that are all Shopify-compatible, just like the one pictured above. Check them out and get started with GemPages here: GemPages Template Library.

Double Check with Your Suppliers

Supplies are what makes movement in your website, so it is crucial to ensure the availability of your products with your suppliers before jumping the gun with a free shipping campaign. With the foreseeable surge in orders, make sure to have information such as stock levels, special item availability, shipping time, and the like locked in to prevent inventory issues and out-of-stock situations. As National Free Shipping Day falls just a mere ten days before Christmas Eve, this step is even more momentous for merchants to establish control over this busy month.

Utilize Email Promotional Campaigns

Email marketing is a robust yet simple practice that plays a pivotal role in prepping you for National Free Shipping Day. Before the event, send out teasers, exclusive offers for members, reminders, and previews of the actual day. On the day of, an official promotional email should seal the deal by getting your customers to pay a visit and purchase. Any details that they should be mindful of like the minimum order threshold or qualified regions for free shipping should also be made clear in these emails.

Spread the Word on Social Media

Social media is a brilliant medium for merchants to spread the word about their upcoming marketing campaigns for National Free Shipping Day.

The majority of eCommerce business owners are well-versed in the power of social media marketing, and it proves to be a versatile tool when it comes to spreading the word about this national holiday as well. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X are your best friends to boost engagement with your customers. This encompasses social posts, targeted ads, and paid partnerships. Additionally, organizing giveaways to garner more attention on your brand before the main day is a good call to get all eyes on you.

Tips to Leverage National Free Shipping Day

To get an edge over the competitors in such a multicolored field like eCommerce, we can all do a little tips. Let’s see how you can leverage them successfully.

Promote Your Campaigns Early

You know what they said: the early bird catches the worm. By promoting your National Free Shipping Day campaigns early, you can get a leg up over your competition. But, how early?

To be preemptive, merchants are advised to start around one month in advance, where the sweet spot is 3 weeks beforehand. During this period, your campaigns should be divided into three phases: first teaser (3-week mark), promotional details and previews (2-week mark), and reminders and a countdown timer (1-week mark). By inching closer and closer, you will be able to instill your campaigns in your customers successfully over the others.

Introduce Product Bundles 

Chippin’ employed a seasonal product bundle option to encourage upselling.

Product bundling is a clever sales tactic to upsell and cross-sell your goods naturally, especially during a highly sought-after holiday like the National Free Shipping Day. Spending time and effort to put together tailor-made product bundles just in time for the seasonal holidays is a brilliant approach that is adopted by a plethora of sellers. As pictured above, the team over at Chippin’ - a top-tier pet food company, has created a special product bundle for Halloween. This seasonal treat empowers the store’s signature items and does exceptionally well during this annual holiday.

Similarly, National Free Shipping Day is a perfect match for the art of product bundling. For an in-depth blog post on this approach, check out GemPages: How To Create Bundles on Shopify: 2 Simple Ways

Don’t Neglect Mobile Optimization

Virtual shopping has been normalized as time goes by, with mobile shopping being on the rise. More and more consumers prefer making quick purchases on their smartphones, so mobile optimization is a must. Criteria that you should have covered are intuitive navigation, fast loading speed, smooth checkout process, and thumb-friendly design. Keep in mind: the more seamless it is to place an order, the more sales you can maximize during this hectic but rewarding holiday.

More from us: Mobile Conversion Optimization: 10+ Proven Tactics (2023)

The Bottom Line

If there is any niche holiday that online merchants should capitalize on, National Free Shipping Day takes the cake. Whether you are a seasoned business owner or a newcomer to the eCommerce scene, you will not want to miss what this occasion has to offer, especially when your brand is at a critical crossroads regarding its long-term growth. With the insights from our blog post, you are guaranteed to be set to take full advantage of this holiday. Alongside attentive preparation and cost-optimized strategies, it is time for you to own this upcoming National Free Shipping Day to the fullest.

FAQ about National Free Shipping Day