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<p>As Afterpay celebrates 10 years, co-founders Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen reflect on the business lessons they’ve learned over the past decade.&nbsp; </p>

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<p>It started with a conversation between two neighbours more than a decade ago. But the concept for Afterpay quickly took off and by 2014, co-founders Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen had registered the business name and were well on their way to securing their first retailers.</p><p>Since then, Afterpay has grown to encompass more than 348,000 merchants worldwide and attracted more than 24m customers*.</p><p>&nbsp;As entrepreneurs themselves, both Nick and Ant understand the hard work, heartache and thrill of building a business. Here, they share some of the hard-fought lessons they’ve learned over the past decade of Afterpay.</p><h2><strong>Embrace the pain. You need discomfort to grow.</strong></h2><p>If I could go back in time 10 years, I would say ‘embrace the pain’.</p><p>Battling to win, and the hustle of each day, has a very specific type of pain and heartache. And while you might wish it away at the time, that's actually the thing you need to hold onto, because it will propel you forward and keep you hungry.</p><p>And you’ll find you actually miss the pain. When you’re being driven by intuition and instinct, you truly feel alive. It’s not supposed to be easy.</p><p>So, I would say embrace that pain and know that even if you crave coming out the other side, you’ll always need to find that discomfort in order to grow.</p><h2><strong>Be humble.</strong></h2><p>The number one piece of advice I would give up-and-coming entrepreneurs is to be genuine, humble and honest. My parents taught me so much about how to navigate people.</p><h2><strong>Stay focused on your mission.</strong></h2><p>It may sound trite, but it’s so hard to stay focused and true to your mission, especially as you start to see some success. It’s easy to be tempted to change direction or water down the mission by trying to do too much.</p><p>Afterpay gives people control of their most important asset – their money – which enables them to pay better and ultimately live better. I wholeheartedly believed in what we were doing when we started, and I stand by the mission still today.</p><h2><strong>Honesty is the key to successful co-founder relationships.</strong></h2><p>We’ve always had honest, frequent conversations. We also talked openly about balancing the opportunities around us while also growing responsibly and in a way that allows us to continue to deliver at a high level.</p><h2><strong>Work with good people.</strong></h2><p>Be relentless about surrounding yourself with the best people. It’s always about the people. Always.</p><h2><u>Afterpay: a timeline</u></h2><p><strong>2014 </strong>	Afterpay is registered as a business.</p><p><strong>2016 </strong>	Afterpay debuts on the ASX.</p><p><strong>2017 </strong>	Afterpay reaches one million customers and more than 7200 merchants partners, and launches in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>2018 </strong>	Afterpay launches in the United States.</p><p><strong>2019 </strong>	Afterpay launches in the UK market under the name Clearpay.</p><p><strong>2020</strong>	Afterpay reaches 5 million customers in the US and launches in Canada. Afterpay also becomes the title sponsor for Australian Fashion Week.</p><p><strong>2022 </strong>	Afterpay becomes part of the Block family.**</p><p><br></p><p><sup style="vertical-align: super; font-size: smaller;"><em>*Block investor presentation, Q2 2024. *https://newsroom.afterpay.com/our-story</em></sup></p>

As Afterpay celebrates 10 years, co-founders Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen reflect on the business lessons they’ve learned over the past decade.  

As Afterpay celebrates 10 years, co-founders Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen reflect on the business lessons they've learned from embracing pain to staying focussed.

Afterpay founders share their small business advice 

"What we’ve learned about building a business after 10 years of Afterpay”

10th-birthday-lessons

<p>Discover tips, tools and insights to help you gain new customers and drive more sales this August.</p>

<p>Afterpay Day is a big deal – literally. Not only do shoppers love it, but it delivers a well-timed boost for businesses, too.</p><p>The next Afterpay Day runs from August 15-18, offering merchants an opportunity to drum up excitement and sales in between the end of the final year and Cyber Weekend.</p><p>To help you make the most of the upcoming Afterpay Day event, we’ve run the numbers on Afterpay Day March 2024 to find out how consumers shopped and spent – and what you can do to drive more sales.</p><h2>Why Afterpay Day matters.</h2><p>In March 2024, nearly one in four Afterpay customers shopped over the Afterpay Day weekend. Not only that, but they made 1.9 purchases each.</p><p>In other words, Afterpay Day is a major retail moment – and a straightforward way to capitalise on existing consumer excitement.</p><h2>What shoppers snapped up.</h2><p>Fashion and accessories were once again the top category during Afterpay Day in March 2024, followed by travel, experiences and electronics. However, categories such as beauty and cosmetics, footwear and sporting and outdoor recreation are growing fast, according to our data.</p><p>For small businesses, fashion, beauty, home and garden and health and wellness proved popular – although hardware, footwear and jewellery enjoyed a surge in sales in March 2024.</p><p>To find out exactly what consumers bought, check out the full Afterpay Unlocked report <a href="https://businessgrowth.afterpay.com/rs/424-IAB-218/images/AfterpayDay%20Lookback%20Report%20August%20%2724.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2>When consumers shopped.</h2><p>When you’ll see the most customers depends on whether you’re an in-store merchant or an ecommerce retailer.</p><p>In March 2024, 37% of shoppers purchased in-store, and 63% online.</p><p>According to our data, in-store shoppers were most active between 12-3pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3-6pm on Sunday.&nbsp;</p><p>Online, retail rush hour was 9-12pm Thursday and Friday, 9am-3pm Saturday and 6-9pm Thursday and Sunday.&nbsp;</p><h2>Mark your diaries.</h2><p>Afterpay Day begins on 15 August, but your preparation should begin well before that. For example, you should let us know as soon as possible whether you’re taking part (and <a href="https://airtable.com/appOhsSIv6K7lXFfW/shrGriP4rIEii2ON8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">submit your offer</a>) so we can feature your Afterpay Day deal on Afterpay’s Shop Directory.&nbsp;</p><p>The hype phase then begins on 5 August, and from then on, you can start amplifying your Afterpay Day promotion.&nbsp;</p><p>The hype phase is a critical one, because without promotion and marketing, your customers may not know you’re taking part in Afterpay Day. Need help creating marketing assets like social media posts and website banners? We have everything you need, from templates to tools, <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">right here</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2>A final tip? Craft a compelling offer.</h2><p>A successful Afterpay Day sale starts with an offer your customers can’t refuse. Over the years, a percentage discount (say, 20% off) has enticed the most shoppers, followed by a fixed-amount discount (say, $20 off).</p>

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Discover tips, tools and insights to help you gain new customers and drive more sales this August.

Make the most of Afterpay Day August 2024 by discovering tips, tools and insights to help you gain new customers and drive more sales.

Afterpay Day August 2024: How to drive more sales

It’s time to prep for Afterpay Day. Here’s how…

Afterpay Day Unlocked Report March 2024

<p>Christmas is coming, so it’s time to think smart when it comes to the silly season</p>

<p>The end of the year is fast approaching, but, for retailers, this is no time to slow down. November and December – known as the Golden Quarter – are a critical period for businesses hoping to end the year with a strong finish.&nbsp;</p><p>Here at Afterpay, we know how important it is to prepare for the festive season, which is why we’ve commissioned research into how Aussies shopped and spent during the same period last year. This research, Festive Findings, reveals patterns, purchasing habits and key dates to help you set yourself up for a very, merry Christmas.</p><h2>Christmas comes early</h2><p>November is the new December, and last year Australians began spending in early November when Click Frenzy hit. (This year, Click Frenzy is late October).</p><p>From there, there were three key retail moments:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Black Friday and Cyber Monday (when online sales peak).</li><li>The week before Christmas (a big moment for brick-and-mortar brands).</li><li>Boxing Day on December 26.</li></ul><p>As well as ensuring your processes are well and truly in place to handle these peaks, consider your marketing efforts: capturing shoppers’ details during BFCM sales will mean you can reach out or retarget them through advertising in the lead-up to Christmas.</p><h2>Who’s spending?</h2><p>Turns out, different generations spend at different times – and it pays to know when your demographic is primed to purchase.&nbsp;</p><p>Last year, Gen Z got in early; the period before Cyber weekend was the second biggest shopping moment for young consumers. Meanwhile, Millennials are Afterpay’s most active shoppers throughout the festive season – and also shop enthusiastically during Cyber Weekend. Gen Z and Boomers are likely to leave things until later and tend to shop right throughout December. Gen Z were the biggest bargain-hunters during the Boxing Day sales – and turned out in full (festive) force.</p><p>Consider your products: do certain items appeal to a younger generation? Then they’re the ones to promote earlier.&nbsp;</p><p>Will services like last-minute click and collect or free gift wrapping tempt an older audience? Could you curate a collection of gifts for grandchildren? Plan those for later in the season.&nbsp;</p><h2>In-store is in fashion</h2><p>Pandemic-induced lockdowns are a distant memory, and brick-and-mortar shopping is back. That’s the conclusion to be taken from our Festive Findings research, which showed that in-store sales were strong throughout the festive period.</p><p>However, there were noticeable spikes in in-store shopping following Cyber Weekend and also just before Christmas. The latter is probably driven by last-minute shoppers; with only a few days to purchase presents before Christmas Day, more shoppers are likely to head in-store rather than risk late deliveries from online retailers.&nbsp;</p><p>The upshot? If you’re not already offering Afterpay in-store, it’s time to get it sorted – turns out, 57% of customers say they will look elsewhere if a store didn’t offer Afterpay*.</p><p><em>Want more insights, including which product categories were most popular with consumers last year? Check out Afterpay’s festive findings report </em><a href="https://business.afterpay.com/rs/539-RJA-633/images/Afterpay_Festive_Findings_Report_2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>. </em></p><p>*Source: Afterpay Economic Impact, Accenture, April 2021</p>

Christmas is coming, so it’s time to think smart when it comes to the silly season

Discover insights into when, where and how shoppers spent during the Christmas holiday season in 2022. Plus tips on how to drive more festive sales.

How Christmas consumers spent and shopped in the 2022 festive season

Sleigh your holiday season with these festive findings 

Festive findings Afterpay Access article

<p>Your guide to making the most of Afterpay Day 2023. Discover tips, tools and insights to boost your bottom line.</p>

<p>Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar shop or an online business (or a mix of both), it’s time to start planning your Afterpay Day strategy.</p><p>Why? Because this year, Afterpay Day is set to be bigger than ever, according to <a href="https://business.afterpay.com/rs/539-RJA-633/images/Afterpay_Day_Unlocked_Report_August_2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a new survey</a> of more than 1000 Australians and New Zealanders*.</p><h2>Afterpay Day is a big deal – literally.</h2><p>Not only is awareness of Afterpay Day at a record high, with two-thirds of consumers aware of the event, but 81% of those are planning to shop.</p><p>And they are serious shoppers, with 72% spending up to $500 in previous years, and 36% planning to spend more than ever in 2023. In fact, Afterpay Day has the highest conversion rate of any major sale including Black Friday. The bottom line? This is a sale merchants shouldn’t miss.</p><h2>Prep starts soon.</h2><p>Planning is more important than ever this year. As consumers continue to feel the economic squeeze, more shoppers (one in two) are researching and planning their sale purchases than ever.</p><p>What does that mean for merchants? Not only is this a huge sales moment, where prices will drop but sales will soar, but retailers need to start preparing now. Start by putting the sale date – August 17 – in your calendar; we know Australia Post has. The next step is to <a href="https://form.jotform.com/231011123458341" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">submit</a> your offer (by August 2) and start planning your promotional strategy.</p><h2>What you need to know about shoppers’ plans.</h2><p>The vast majority of people will be shopping Afterpay Day to take advantage of discounts (70%) and get value for money (54%). Fewer people than in previous years will be buying treats for friends and family (16%).</p><p>Fashion, beauty and wellness continue to top shoppers’ wish lists, but electronics, tech, furniture and homewares have shot up in popularity.</p><p>About three-quarters of shoppers will shop at least partly online, but 51% will shop at least partly in-store and there was also a sizeable growth in people planning to do their shopping in person.</p><h2>How to create an offer that converts.</h2><p>Most shoppers (80%) prefer fixed discounts – ideally 20-30% off. Spend and save (66%), a free gift with purchase (64%) and buy one, get one at a discounted price (63%) are also popular, according to our survey.</p><p>Once you’ve decided on your offer, it’s time to start spreading the word – on our channels and yours. Your first step should be <a href="https://form.jotform.com/231011123458341" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">submitting your offer</a> so it appears on Afterpay’s Shop directory (after all, 67% of shoppers will be looking there).</p><p>After that, the fun really begins; from August 14 it’s time to build hype.&nbsp;</p><p>Remember that Afterpay customers are looking for great deals; make it easy for them to find yours. Ensure your Afterpay Day offer is visible on your homepage (85% of e-commerce shoppers will look there) and social media channels (29% will be looking there). And if you’re a brick-and-mortar merchant? Start stocking up on visual merchandising assets.</p><h2><strong>Consider us your sale support team.</strong></h2><p>At Afterpay, we want you to enjoy your best Afterpay Day yet.&nbsp;</p><p>To help you promote Afterpay Day, we’ve created a suite of customisable marketing templates, from social media posts to website banners and in-store print assets.</p><p>Whether you want ready-to-go assets or the option to customise your images or offers we’ve got you covered. Discover our marketing toolkits for <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-online" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">online</a> and <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-instore" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in-store</a> promotion and learn the best ways to use Afterpay Day creative assets with our <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1no1ursQQAkK_TLdToPQg8c1gWteiBxIJK-_MgZ9ZcFU/edit#slide=id.g111fc88946c_2_34" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">merchant guide</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Our support doesn’t stop there. We’ve asked merchants who have seen their sales soar during Afterpay Day for their tips for success so you can learn from their experiences. You can also read the full <a href="https://businessgrowth.afterpay.com/rs/424-IAB-218/images/Afterpay_Day_Unlocked_Report_August_2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day Unlocked</a> report for extra insights.&nbsp;</p><p>From August 14, merchants are encouraged to start promoting their offers. It’s time to get excited! We know your customers will be.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>*Source: All data has been taken from Afterpay Day Research ANZ August 2023.</p><p><br></p>

Your guide to making the most of Afterpay Day 2023. Discover tips, tools and insights to boost your bottom line.

How retailers can make more sales during Afterpay Day 

Unlock more sales this Afterpay Day.

Afterpay Day Unlocked August 2023

<p>The founder of All Things Golden shares her tips to make the most of Afterpay Day.</p>

<p>When Olivia Coleman launched her fashion label <a href="https://allthingsgolden.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All Things Golden </a>(A.T.G) in 2016, she was determined to build a brand that would be the antithesis of fast fashion. That meant long-lasting, everyday essentials that customers could wear and love for years.</p><p>In keeping with this ethos, Coleman is scrupulous about the promotions that A.T.G participates in. “We are very selective when it comes to <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/smarter-discounting/retail-discount-strategy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">discounting</a> and sales.”</p><p>However, there is one event the brand has taken part in every year for the past three years – <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day</a>, which last year drove $200,000 in revenue.</p><p>Here are A.T.G’s tips for success with <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day</a>:</p>

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<h2>Plan early</h2><p>Coleman’s hard-working team of 10 starts planning their Afterpay Day strategy two months in advance.</p><p>“We tend to go pretty hard and make sure we’re across everything," Coleman says. "We start with creating a really strong visual campaign that flows across from our site and then through all of our marketing channels. Specifically, we do a lot with both paid and organic platforms on both Meta and Instagram."</p>

<h2>Try SMS and emails to reach loyal customers</h2><p>Although Afterpay Day attracts new customers, it’s the brand’s existing customers who are most likely to purchase during the event. To reach its loyal customer base, A.T.G sends text messages and email, and carefully considers the timing.</p><p>“We don't typically like to do any lead-up campaigns for sales as I know some other brands do,” Coleman says. “We like to keep our sales limited and exclusive, so we really only let our database know the night before and explain they have exclusive early access.”</p><p>“We generally use Afterpay Day as an opportunity to provide extra value to our existing customer base."</p><p>Sending emails and text messages allows these customers to shop before everybody else, "and as we produce in limited quantities this means there's less chance they'll miss out on the things they love.”</p>

<h2>Make your offer obvious</h2><p>As for the execution of the email creative, Coleman keeps the messaging simple and straight to the point.</p><p>While she says she tries not to overthink the creative assets too much, she does have one golden rule regarding the actual placement of the discount: the email subject line and preview should hint or tease the discount but the actual offer should be revealed when subscribers open the email.</p><p>“Some businesses put their offers and discount codes in their subjects which we don't do because you want people to open the email and to click the assets within it."</p>

<h2>Try new channels</h2><p>For A.T.G's most recent Afterpay Day in August 2022, Coleman experimented with promoting the offer on TikTok – and says she is still fine-tuning her approach.</p><p>“We started by using the same kind of content that we would generally use for video reels and advertising on Instagram. We did that as a starting point and we did see success once we built hot and warm audiences. But when it comes to converting cold audiences through TikTok ads, it's a lot harder."</p>

<h2>A golden result</h2><p>The team’s hard work and months of planning paid off in a major way. All Things Golden’s participation in Afterpay Day last August saw an increase of $55,000 in sales. Across the four days of the sale, the brand saw an overall revenue of over $200,000.</p><p>And while the sales alone are a major achievement, Coleman says it’s the team camaraderie that really stands out as a personal highlight from the event.</p><p>“It creates a collaborative buzz around our office and warehouse. Working in the lead up to an event like Afterpay Day, it’s just a really fun time of year for us and customers as well! For them to be able to purchase things they've been holding out for… it’s really special."</p>

<p>In 2023, the brand has some exciting plans on the horizon, including an upcoming denim collection and expanding both local and <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/international-commerce/selling-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">international markets</a>.</p><p>“Over the past two years, we’ve been selling into the US and it’s now over 50 per cent of our revenue. We have lots of amazing opportunities at our fingertips. I want to continue to grow sustainably while maintaining the values of our business.”</p>

The founder of All Things Golden shares her tips to make the most of Afterpay Day.

The founder of All Things Golden Liv shares her tips to make the most of Afterpay Day.

How Afterpay Day helped this fashion brand drive $200k

How this fashion brand drove $200k during Afterpay Day

<p>Don’t overlook your most loyal customers this Afterpay Day. Here’s how to promote your offer.<span class="ql-cursor">﻿</span></p>

<p>There’s no doubt that <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day</a> is an excellent way to reach new customers. After all, every year Afterpay Day gets bigger and bigger – which means even more coverage from the media, retailers and Afterpay itself, and more exposure to new audiences.</p><p>&nbsp;(Last year Afterpay Day messaging was viewed an astounding<a href="https://business.afterpay.com/rs/539-RJA-633/images/Afterpay%20Day%20Unlocked%20-%20March%202022.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 19 million times</a>.)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;But while attracting new customers is always exciting, it pays to consider how you’ll promote Afterpay Day to your existing customer base. Not only are they already familiar with your brand – and therefore more likely to convert – but there are usually fewer costs involved in reaching them.</p>

<h2><strong>Get their attention with email</strong></h2><p>Email is a simple and free way to let existing customers know you’re participating in Afterpay Day.</p><p>Consider sending an email before Afterpay Day begins to announce <a href="https://afterpayteam.typeform.com/apd-march-23?utm_source=landing-page&amp;utm_medium=main-hub-page&amp;utm_campaign=submit-cta-button&amp;typeform-source=www.afterpay.com " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">your offer</a>, and then create a sense of urgency by sending another email when the event is in its final hours.</p><p>Fashion brand <a href="https://allthingsgolden.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All Things Golden</a> offers its loyal subscribers early access to Afterpay Day by sending an email on the eve of the sale.</p><p>“We generally use [Afterpay Day] as an opportunity to provide extra value to our existing customer database,” says founder Olivia Coleman.</p>

<h2>Post your promo on social media</h2><p>One sure-fire way to promote Afterpay Day is to post about it on social media. Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are all obvious ways to reach your audience. When considering your creative, ensure your offer (or discount) is clear and easy to understand.</p><p>Smaller marketing teams may find the <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-online" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day social media templates</a> supplied by Afterpay to be valuable resources.</p><h2>Use paid posts to target your customers</h2><p>&nbsp;Another option is to invest in paid amplification of your posts and to target your existing customers. You can create ads that specifically target:</p><ul><li>Your existing social media followers</li><li>Shoppers who have visited your e-commerce website recently</li><li>Your email subscribers</li></ul><p>Another option is to create “lookalike” audiences, which are new audiences that are based on the characteristics of your most engaged or loyal customers.</p>

<h2>Spread the word with SMS</h2><p>The immediacy of SMS makes it the perfect way to create a sense of excitement and anticipation – and to ensure your promotion is seen. In fact,<a href="https://www.tatango.com/blog/90-of-text-messages-are-read-within-3-minutes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 90 per cent of SMS</a> messages are read within three minutes.</p><p>&nbsp;Try to personalise your SMS marketing as much as possible, and experiment with images, emojis and videos (but remember that these extras can incur more costs).</p>

4 strategies to convert existing customers this Afterpay Day

Tips and tactics to let your loyal and long-term customers know you’re taking part in Afterpay Day.

4 strategies to convert existing customers during Afterpay Day  

<p>Discover tactics and tips to boost awareness and drive sales this Afterpay Day.</p>

<p>The countdown is on until Afterpay Day -  going live from Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd March 2025 – and it promises to be better and bigger than ever. </p><p>For retailers, Afterpay Day is the perfect opportunity to boost sales and reach new customers. But registering to participate isn’t enough; the secret to success – and driving sales – is in the way retailers promote their offer.</p><p>Keep an eye on your inbox for when offer submissions open. For now, after you've saved the date in your calendar, and to help you plan your strategy, we spoke to several retailers – from fashion brands to furniture retailers – who found success with Afterpay Day last year and uncovered their tips and tactics to making the most of this key sales event.</p>

<h2>Plan in advance</h2><p>One universal tip when it comes to Afterpay Day?&nbsp;Planning your promotion strategy well in advance.</p><p>“We work Afterpay Day into existing planned sales periods,” says Vanessa Chui of children’s nursery furniture brand, Boori, who explains that she takes Afterpay Day into account when planning her annual marketing activities.</p><p>Olivia Coleman, the founder of fashion brand <a href="https://allthingsgolden.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All Things Golden</a>, begins mapping out her organic and paid social media campaigns two months in advance.</p><p>&nbsp;“There’s no room to test and learn on the day,” adds <a href="https://www.orbitkey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OrbitKey </a>marketing manager Hans Suhartanto.&nbsp;“You have to have it all organised beforehand to get the most value out of Afterpay Day.”</p>

<h2>Promote with paid media</h2><p>Amplify your brand’s participation in Afterpay Day with organic and paid social media posts. Last year, All Things Golden posted across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.</p><p>Meanwhile <a href="https://boori.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Boori</a> found success with pay-per-click Google search advertising. “During promotional periods we put a lot more budget towards PPC Google ads,” says Chui, “which we’ve found can be really good for short-term events like sales.”</p><p>In fact, 361,000 shoppers searched for Afterpay on Google during the last Afterpay Day event.</p>

<h2>Utilise Afterpay’s marketing templates</h2><p>Overwhelmed by the prospect of creating social media assets for Afterpay Day? Don’t forget to download <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-online" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay’s social media templates</a>, which make creating social media posts simple. These templates allow retailers to add their own product imagery or brand colours and post straight to social media.</p><p>“[The templates] make it easier for us to take part,” says Chui. ‘They’re really helpful.”</p><h2>Turn to influencers</h2><p>Another tactic to boost awareness of Afterpay Day? Social media influencers. In fact, last year, UGG Express, which saw a 42 per cent lift in sales during Afterpay Day, reached out to micro-influencers to help them spread the word.</p>

<h2>Drive the message home</h2><p>Make your Afterpay Day offer unmissable with a home-page takeover that lets anyone who lands on your website aware they can spend and save.</p><p>All Things Golden, UGG Express and e.l.f cosmetics all promoted Afterpay Day across their website and home page.&nbsp;</p><h2>Don’t overlook existing customers</h2><p>&nbsp;Afterpay Day is a great way to reach new customers, but don’t forget to communicate your offer to your loyal fans, too.</p><p>All Things Golden used SMS and email to give loyal customers a sneak preview of their Afterpay Day offer. “We generally use [Afterpay Day] as an opportunity to provide extra value to our existing customer database.”</p><p>“[Sending emails and text messages] allows them to shop before everybody else,” says Coleman, “and as we produce in limited quantities this means there's less chance they'll miss out on the things they love.”</p>

Discover tactics and tips to promote Afterpay Day which boost awareness and drive sales.

Want to promote Afterpay Day? Discover tactics and tips from real retailers explaining how to advertise Afterpay Day and boost awareness and drive sales.

Real retailers reveal how to win at Afterpay Day

<p><strong>Nursery furniture brand Boori saw a 36 per cent bump in sales last Afterpay Day. This year, they’re taking part again.</strong></p>

<p>When nursery furniture brand Boori took part in Afterpay Day last year it enjoyed a 30 per cent rise in sales.</p><p>This year, the beloved Australian brand will be promoting the event even more heavily. After all, as online manager Vanessa Chui explains, participating in sale events like Afterpay Day is more important than ever in periods of economic uncertainty.</p><p>“Consumers are more price-conscious, especially with so much talk of a potential recession looming. Offering similar deals or prices to your competitors is really important right now,” she says, adding that value-added promotions and offering products across a range of price points is imperative.</p>

<p>The secret to driving sales with Afterpay Day comes down to a clear promotional plan, Chui says. Here are Boori’s tips for maximising Afterpay Day marketing…&nbsp;</p><h2>Make use of Afterpay’s marketing templates</h2><p>For Chui, one of the most appealing aspects of Afterpay Day is how easy it is to take part.&nbsp;</p><p>“Our marketing team isn’t that big,” she says, explaining that, last year, Boori made use of social media templates supplied by Afterpay to support Afterpay Day. These templates include assets – all sized to the correct dimensions for each social media platform – featuring Afterpay’s brand colours and logos. Retailers can then customise the assets with their own product imagery – reducing the need to create assets from scratch or employ a graphic designer.</p><p>“[The templates] make it easier for us to take part,” says Chui. ‘They’re really helpful.”</p><p>You can find templates and assets for this year’s Afterpay Day <a href=" https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-online" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<h2>Communicate Afterpay’s value to customers</h2><p>&nbsp;When promoting Afterpay Day, Boori chooses impactful images of products, and ensures that ads clearly communicate the savings that customers can make.</p><p>&nbsp;“The average Boori order is for around $500 usually, which for a lot of people is not a small amount,” says Chui. “So, letting customers know that they can purchase the products they want with the option of Afterpay is really important for us.”</p><p>&nbsp;Social media ads run at the start of Afterpay Day, in the middle and then during the final hours of the sale.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><h2>Incorporate Afterpay Day into your annual marketing calendar</h2><p>&nbsp;For Boori, planning for Afterpay Day starts early – when the brand plans its marketing calendar for the year.</p><p>&nbsp;“We work Afterpay Day into existing planned sales periods, which means we didn’t get bogged down with too many sales throughout the year, but are still offering a unique incentive to customers,” she says. In 2022, for example, Afterpay Day sat within a longer-running sale period, which is something Boori plans to repeat this year.</p><p><br></p>

<h1>Consider pay-per-click advertising&nbsp;</h1><p>As well as social media, Boori also found success with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.</p><p>“During promotional periods we put a lot more budget towards PPC Google ads,” says Chui, “which we’ve found can be really good for short-term events like sales.”</p><p>Combining all these tactics – from <a href=" https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants/marketing-toolkit-online" rel="noopener noreferrer">templated ads</a> to careful preparation and paid amplification of Afterpay Day offers – helped Boori reach 21 per cent more Afterpay customers in 2022.</p>

Boori’s sales soared 36 per cent during Afterpay Day. Here’s how.

“Afterpay Day is really important right now”

The secrets to driving sales during Afterpay Day with Boori

<p>UGG Express’ sales soared by 42 per cent during Afterpay Day. Here's how they did it.</p>

<p>When Australian ugg boot company <a href="https://uggexpress.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UGG Express</a> first took part in <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/afterpay-day-merchants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afterpay Day</a> four years ago, it barely promoted the event. It was only when the brand started marketing it on its own social channels that they truly saw success.</p><p>“You have to use <em>all</em> your own marketing channels,” advises UGG Express marketing manager Laura Li.</p>

<p>UGG Express started as a family business in 1970, focused on creating high-quality, reasonably priced ugg boots. Now, it’s a thriving Australian footwear, and accessories retailer, online and offline, with 30-plus brick-and-mortar stores and just under 100 staff – but their devotion to quality and comfort remains.</p><p>&nbsp;‘We use premium Australian sheepskin to craft our uggs, and Australian sheepskin lasts for years. Plus, we offer the best price in the market,’ explains Li, who adds that warehouses in Sydney and Melbourne mean the brand can offer fast delivery.</p>

<p>Last year the business’ Afterpay Day strategy resulted in a revenue increase of 42 per cent, as well as a 27 per cent increase in new customers</p><h2><strong>Set a competitive offer</strong></h2><p>“Afterpay Day is now pretty well known in Australia,” says Li. “Which is a good thing – but also means your competitors will likely be involved. Do some research to set a competitive price and diversify your product offer – that can really help to attract more customers.”</p><h2><strong>Time it right</strong></h2><p>UGG Express drives promotion across multiple channels, including email, leading in, right before and during the event but “no longer than a week before the event, with three to four days before being the best lead time to foster that sense of urgency”.</p><h2><strong>Use urgency</strong></h2><p>In fact, emphasising urgency is another key tip from Li, who explains that UGG Express’ omnichannel marketing strategy focuses on creating a sense of urgency, with a simple message: It’s Afterpay Day … 15% Off Storewide … 4 days only.</p>

<h2><strong>Take an omnichannel approach</strong></h2><p>The company’s multi-pronged approach includes Google ads, email campaigns, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and a home page takeover.</p><p>While Google and EDMs drive the most direct website traffic, the team learnt that using all digital channels delivers the best results.</p><p>UGG Express invested in Google ads in 2022, and Li advises that one tactic merchants could try is a lead generation funnel – i.e. getting customers to sign up to your email list so that you can let them know once the offer is live. Or even offer early access.</p><h2><strong>Instagram, Meta, Pinterest</strong></h2><p>UGG Express posted 3-4 paid and organic posts in the lead-up to, right before and during Afterpay Day.</p>

<h2><strong>Try influencers</strong></h2><p>UGG Express also utilised their regular micro-<a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/social-media-tips/influencer-marketing-examples" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">influencers</a> by providing them with product and a clear briefing on key messages to post just prior.</p><h2><strong>Consider customer experience</strong></h2><p>Remember it’s not <em>just</em> about the pre-event marketing.</p><p>‘This event will drive a lot of sales so businesses should use it to build a strong relationship with the customer. They need to provide outstanding customer service, especially during the after-sale service’ advises Li.</p><h2><strong>Create after-sales funnels</strong></h2><p>Communicating after the event and creating after-sale funnels are more likely to convert the new customers into regular customers – for example: thank the customer, encourage them to sign up to your newsletter or follow you on social media, or even offer them a special discount for their next purchase.</p>

Article Quote

<p>‘Afterpay Day works really well, it’s great for sales. No business should miss out.’</p><p><br></p>

<p>&nbsp;Li recommends, ‘Analyse all data sets – use everything from your own platforms, and the report that Afterpay provides. Assess and analyse customer behaviours and patterns so you can optimise and perform even better in the future.’</p>

UGG Express’ sales soared by 42 per cent during Afterpay Day. Here how they did it.

UGG Express' sales increased by 42 per cent on Afterpay Day. Here's how the Australian retailer did it.