Square is assisting UK retailers and hospitality businesses in preparing for the busy Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend by sharing insights from last year’s significant transaction growth and announcing a hardware promotion.
Data compiled by Square in 2024 revealed that UK sellers utilising its technology experienced a 31% year-over-year increase in in-store retail transactions between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Concurrently, restaurant transactions rose by 28% during the same period. These figures suggest that consumers are combining retail activity with dining, underscoring the importance of engaging in-person experiences for all sellers during the festive season.
Fi Sellick, Head of UK Strategy at Square, commented on this trend, stating, “The Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is no longer just about shopping, it’s about the joined-up experience. Last year, we saw retail and hospitality businesses thrive together as consumers combined shopping with dining. This year, we’re helping business owners prepare for the rush with tools that streamline operations, connect online and in-store sales, and deliver memorable customer experiences as businesses navigate the Golden Quarter.”
Square’s data also indicated a 26% year-over-year increase in omnichannel sellers—those integrating online and in-person sales—during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. This highlights that success for businesses relies on seamless operations across all customer touchpoints, as consumers frequently blend online and physical shopping experiences. Businesses must ensure their systems, staff, and inventory are synchronised across both in-person and online channels.
Stephen Anderson, Co-founder at homeware store Papillon Living, emphasized the value of Square’s solutions: “We’ve valued being more in control of the behind the scenes process by working with Square on our point-of-sale and ecommerce solutions. Not only are the products easy and simple to use, they enable us to monitor both in-store and online activity so we can constantly adjust our offerings to suit our customers. Black Friday generates a lot more footfall in-store and online, so it’s key for us to spend time preparing in advance for this uplift in visitors and spend. We see the benefit of having a strong ecommerce offering to support us during busy periods, such as Black Friday and the festive period, and this helps us to ensure we can continue providing our customers with a consistent experience no matter how busy we are.”
To support UK sellers, Square is offering up to 50% off select hardware for a five-week period, enabling new and existing businesses to equip themselves for the busy retail and dining season. The promotion commences on October 31, 2025, at 00:00 UK time and concludes on December 5, 2025, at 23:59 UK time, or while supplies last. Specific discounts include 50% off Square Stand, 47% off Square Reader, 45% off Square Register, 44% off Square Terminal, and 25% off Square Handheld (all excluding VAT).
Square, established in 2009 with its initial mobile card reader, offers a global business platform that provides tools for point-of-sale, payments, online commerce, staff management, banking, and more, consolidating essential services onto one intelligent platform for businesses of all sizes.
Key recommendations for a successful Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend include optimizing in-store experiences with fast, reliable checkouts and personalized service; uniting online and in-person channels through omnichannel tools for stock, sales, and promotions management; and utilizing data insights from the Square platform to adjust operations and tailor offers based on customer behavior. The hardware offer is valid for Square customers in the UK only and cannot be combined with other coupons or redeemed for cash. Square reserves the right to modify, revoke, or cancel the offer at any time.
