How to Use Leaflets to Promote Your Black Friday Offers in 2026

Black Friday has become an important promotional event for retailers and businesses across the UK. Every year, customers look out for special discounts, limited-time offers and opportunities to save money on products and services.

Although much of the attention surrounding Black Friday focuses on online advertising, printed marketing materials can also play a valuable role in promoting seasonal offers.

Professionally printed leaflets can help businesses reach local customers, advertise upcoming promotions and encourage people to visit their shops or websites.

With Black Friday 2026 taking place on Friday 27 November, September is a useful time to begin planning your promotional campaign.

At Affordable Leaflets, we understand the importance of preparing professional marketing materials ahead of busy promotional periods.

In this guide, we'll explore practical Black Friday leaflet printing ideas, design tips and marketing strategies to help your business prepare for the 2026 shopping season.

Why Use Printed Leaflets for Black Friday Marketing?

Black Friday is a competitive period for businesses. Customers may see numerous online advertisements, emails and social media promotions throughout November.

Printed leaflets provide another way to communicate your offers and can help support your wider marketing campaign.

For businesses with a physical location, leaflets can be particularly useful for promoting in-store discounts and encouraging local customers to visit.

Benefits of Black Friday Leaflet Marketing

  • Advertise upcoming Black Friday promotions.
  • Reach potential customers in selected local areas.
  • Promote special offers and discount codes.
  • Encourage visits to your physical shop.
  • Direct customers to your website.
  • Support online and social media advertising.
  • Provide a physical reminder of your promotion.

By combining a clear promotional message with attractive artwork, businesses can create printed materials that support their Black Friday marketing objectives.

1. Start Planning Your Black Friday Campaign Early

One of the most important parts of a successful seasonal promotion is planning ahead.

Leaving artwork, printing and distribution until the last minute can create unnecessary pressure and reduce the time available for customers to respond.

For Black Friday 2026, businesses can begin preparing their campaigns during September and October.

Suggested Black Friday Marketing Timeline

  • September: Decide on your promotional objectives, offers and target audience.
  • Early October: Prepare leaflet copy, artwork and promotional details.
  • Late October: Finalise artwork and arrange printing according to the available production schedule.
  • Early to Mid-November: Begin suitable promotional activity and arrange distribution.
  • 27 November: Black Friday 2026.
  • 30 November: Cyber Monday 2026.

This is an illustrative planning schedule. Your actual timings will depend on your campaign, print specifications and chosen distribution arrangements.

Always check current production and delivery information before setting a firm promotional schedule.

2. Decide Which Black Friday Offers to Promote

Before designing your leaflets, identify the products or services you want to feature.

Your promotion should be relevant to your customers and commercially suitable for your business.

Some businesses may offer percentage discounts, while others might promote selected products, packages or limited-time deals.

Black Friday Promotion Ideas

  • Percentage discounts on selected products.
  • Special prices on featured items.
  • Limited-time promotional packages.
  • Discount codes for online purchases.
  • Special offers for new customers.
  • In-store promotional events.
  • Early access to selected deals.

Make sure any advertised savings are genuine and that your promotional claims comply with relevant UK advertising and consumer protection requirements.

Clear terms and conditions can help customers understand what your offer includes.

3. Create an Attention-Grabbing Black Friday Headline

Your headline is one of the first things customers will notice when looking at your leaflet.

For Black Friday promotions, the headline should immediately communicate the event and the main benefit of your offer.

Short, direct headlines can work particularly well.

Black Friday Leaflet Headline Examples

  • BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ARE HERE!
  • BIG SAVINGS THIS BLACK FRIDAY
  • DON'T MISS OUR BLACK FRIDAY OFFERS
  • EXCLUSIVE BLACK FRIDAY DISCOUNTS
  • SHOP OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE
  • LIMITED-TIME BLACK FRIDAY OFFERS

If your business is advertising a specific discount, consider including it prominently in the headline.

However, make sure the offer is accurate and that customers can easily understand any relevant conditions.

4. Use Bold Colours and Clear Typography

Black Friday promotional materials often use bold colours and strong typography to attract attention.

Black, white, red and yellow are commonly associated with retail sales advertising.

However, your leaflet should also remain consistent with your business branding.

Black Friday Design Tips

  • Use a bold, readable headline.
  • Highlight your main promotional offer.
  • Choose colours with strong contrast.
  • Keep your company logo visible.
  • Use clear and readable fonts.
  • Avoid overcrowding the design.
  • Include a prominent call to action.

A visually striking leaflet doesn't need to contain excessive graphics or text.

Often, a clear headline, one strong promotional message and relevant imagery can create an effective design.

5. Make Your Discounts Easy to Understand

Customers should be able to understand your Black Friday promotion quickly.

If you're advertising a percentage discount, explain which products or services are included.

For example, instead of simply displaying 50% OFF, clarify whether the discount applies to selected items or an entire product range.

Information Worth Including

  • The promotional discount or offer.
  • Which products or services are included.
  • The promotion start date.
  • The promotion end date.
  • Any relevant exclusions.
  • How customers can claim the offer.
  • Where full terms and conditions can be found.

Transparent promotional information can help avoid confusion and create a more professional impression.

6. Choose the Right Leaflet Size

The size of your leaflet can influence how much information you can include and how your promotional message is presented.

For Black Friday advertising, popular formats such as A5 and A6 can work well for different campaign objectives.

A5 Black Friday Leaflets

A5 leaflets measure 148mm x 210mm and provide a practical amount of space for promotional offers, images and contact details.

They can be suitable for retailers advertising several products or businesses promoting a selection of seasonal deals.

For example, an A5 leaflet could feature a bold Black Friday headline, several promotional offers and a QR code linking to an online shop.

If you're planning an A5 campaign, explore our 1,000 A5 leaflets option.

A6 Black Friday Leaflets

A6 leaflets measure 105mm x 148mm and provide a compact format for shorter promotional messages.

They can work well for advertising one main discount, a promotional code or an in-store event.

Because space is limited, focus on the most important information and avoid using excessively small text.

7. Single-Sided or Double-Sided Black Friday Leaflets?

Another decision is whether to print your promotional leaflet on one side or both sides.

Single-sided leaflets can work well when you're advertising one clear offer.

For example, a local retailer could use a single-sided leaflet to promote a discount on selected products.

Double-sided leaflets provide additional space for businesses that want to advertise several offers or include more detailed information.

Single-Sided Leaflets

  • Suitable for short promotional messages.
  • Can create a simple, focused design.
  • Useful for one main discount or offer.
  • All printed information appears on one side.

Double-Sided Leaflets

  • Provide additional design space.
  • Can feature several products or offers.
  • Allow supporting information on the reverse.
  • Can include more detailed terms and contact information.

Choose the format that allows your promotional message to remain clear and easy to read.

8. Use Product Photography to Attract Attention

High-quality product photography can help make your Black Friday leaflet more engaging.

For example, an electronics retailer might feature photographs of selected products, while a furniture business could showcase items included in its seasonal promotion.

Images should support your offer and help customers understand what's being advertised.

Product Photography Tips

  • Use clear, high-quality images.
  • Choose photographs relevant to your promotion.
  • Avoid stretching or distorting images.
  • Keep important product details visible.
  • Use consistent image styles where possible.
  • Make sure images are suitable for professional printing.

For many printed materials, photographs are commonly prepared at approximately 300dpi at their final reproduction size, although exact requirements depend on the printing specifications.

9. Include a Strong Call to Action

A Black Friday leaflet should tell customers what to do next.

Whether you want people to visit your shop, browse your website or use a promotional code, your call to action should be clear.

Black Friday Call to Action Examples

  • SHOP OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE
  • VISIT US IN STORE
  • SCAN TO VIEW OUR OFFERS
  • SHOP ONLINE TODAY
  • CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT
  • DON'T MISS OUT - OFFER ENDS SOON

Place your main call to action somewhere prominent, ideally close to your website address, QR code or contact information.

If you're using a double-sided leaflet, consider including a call to action on both sides.

10. Connect Your Leaflets with Online Black Friday Offers

Printed leaflets can work alongside your website and other digital marketing activities.

For example, a retailer could advertise selected Black Friday offers on a leaflet and direct customers to a dedicated webpage featuring the complete promotion.

This allows the printed design to remain focused while giving customers access to additional information online.

Ways to Connect Print and Digital Marketing

  • Include your website address.
  • Add a QR code linking to your Black Friday offers.
  • Use a unique promotional code.
  • Direct customers to an online product category.
  • Promote relevant social media pages.
  • Link to a dedicated campaign landing page.

Make sure all online destinations are working correctly before distributing your leaflets.

11. Use QR Codes for Easy Access to Your Offers

QR codes can provide customers with a convenient way to access your Black Friday promotions.

By scanning the code with a compatible smartphone, customers can open a relevant webpage without typing a long website address.

For example, a leaflet might feature the message:

SCAN TO SHOP OUR BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

The QR code could then direct customers to a dedicated promotional page.

QR Code Design Tips

  • Make the code large enough to scan comfortably.
  • Use strong contrast between the code and background.
  • Leave sufficient clear space around the code.
  • Avoid placing the code over busy imagery.
  • Test the code before printing.
  • Make sure the destination is mobile-friendly.

It's also sensible to include your website address as an alternative for customers who prefer not to scan QR codes.

12. Target Relevant Local Customers

For businesses with physical shops or defined service areas, local leaflet distribution can help promote Black Friday offers to nearby customers.

For example, an independent retailer might distribute leaflets in surrounding neighbourhoods to advertise an upcoming in-store sale.

Before planning distribution, consider:

  • Where your target customers are located.
  • Which areas are convenient for your business.
  • The quantity of leaflets required.
  • Your available marketing budget.
  • The timing of your promotional campaign.
  • Which distribution methods are suitable.

Focusing on relevant areas can help you plan a more targeted promotional campaign.

13. Promote Black Friday Offers in Store

Printed leaflets aren't limited to door-to-door marketing.

Businesses can also use them within their premises to advertise upcoming promotions and encourage repeat visits.

For example, a retailer could include a Black Friday leaflet with customer purchases during November.

Alternatively, leaflets could be displayed near the checkout or handed to customers where appropriate.

In-Store Leaflet Ideas

  • Advertise upcoming Black Friday dates.
  • Highlight selected promotional products.
  • Encourage customers to return during the sale.
  • Include a promotional code for a future purchase.
  • Promote online offers alongside in-store discounts.

Make sure your printed information remains consistent with your website and in-store promotional materials.

14. Don't Forget Cyber Monday

Black Friday is followed by Cyber Monday, another promotional event commonly associated with online shopping.

In 2026, Cyber Monday falls on 30 November.

Businesses planning offers across the full promotional weekend may want to mention both events on their printed materials.

For example, a retailer could advertise a promotion running from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday.

However, make sure the dates and conditions are accurate.

If different discounts apply on different days, explain this clearly to customers.

15. Track the Results of Your Black Friday Leaflets

Measuring customer responses can help you understand how effectively your Black Friday campaign performed.

Although printed advertising doesn't provide the same automatic tracking as some digital channels, several methods can help you gather useful information.

Ways to Measure Leaflet Campaign Results

  • Use a unique promotional discount code.
  • Track visits to a dedicated campaign webpage.
  • Monitor QR code-related website traffic.
  • Ask customers how they heard about your offer.
  • Record enquiries and bookings.
  • Compare sales during the promotional period with relevant historical figures.

Remember that changes in sales may be influenced by several factors, including pricing, stock availability and other advertising activity.

Use your findings to help improve future promotional campaigns.

16. Prepare Your Black Friday Artwork for Printing

Once your leaflet design is complete, make sure the artwork meets the required printing specifications.

Incorrect dimensions, missing bleed and low-resolution images can affect the finished result.

Black Friday Artwork Checklist

  • Check the correct finished leaflet size.
  • Include the required bleed.
  • Keep important text inside the safe area.
  • Use suitable image resolution.
  • Follow the recommended colour settings.
  • Make sure promotional prices are accurate.
  • Check all offer dates and conditions.
  • Test QR codes and website links.
  • Proofread all contact details.
  • Export artwork in an accepted file format.

Pay particular attention to promotional deadlines and product information, as mistakes can create confusion once your leaflets have been distributed.

If your artwork is ready, visit our artwork upload page for information about submitting your design.

17. Avoid Common Black Friday Leaflet Mistakes

Black Friday promotions often involve multiple products, discounts and deadlines. As a result, careful planning is essential.

Common mistakes include:

  • Using unclear promotional headlines.
  • Including too many offers on one leaflet.
  • Making important text difficult to read.
  • Advertising incorrect prices or dates.
  • Failing to explain relevant offer conditions.
  • Using low-quality product images.
  • Forgetting to include contact information.
  • Leaving printing and distribution too late.

Reviewing your design carefully before printing can help reduce the risk of avoidable problems.

18. Use Black Friday Leaflets to Build Customer Awareness

Although Black Friday is associated with short-term promotional activity, your printed materials can also introduce new customers to your business.

For example, someone receiving your leaflet may discover your shop or website for the first time.

Even if they don't make an immediate purchase, they may remember your business when they need similar products or services in the future.

To support customer awareness, make sure your leaflets include consistent branding, clear contact details and accurate information about your business.

Using the same logo, colours and promotional messages across your printed and digital advertising can help create a recognisable campaign.

Professional Black Friday Leaflet Printing for UK Businesses

Black Friday provides opportunities for businesses to promote seasonal offers, attract customer interest and support sales activity.

Printed leaflets can form part of this marketing approach by helping businesses communicate their promotions to selected audiences.

At Affordable Leaflets, we provide professional leaflet printing options for businesses across the UK.

Whether you're advertising an in-store sale, promoting online discounts or preparing for the wider festive shopping season, choosing the right leaflet format can help you present your offers professionally.

Get Ready for Black Friday 2026

With Black Friday taking place on 27 November 2026, early planning can help businesses prepare their promotional materials in good time.

Start by deciding which offers you want to advertise. Then create a clear marketing message, choose a suitable leaflet size and plan your printing and distribution schedule.

Use attractive artwork, accurate promotional information and a strong call to action to help customers understand your offers.

Finally, combine your printed materials with relevant online marketing activity and track customer responses where possible.

Ready to prepare your Black Friday campaign? Explore the printing options available at Affordable Leaflets or contact our team to discuss your leaflet printing requirements.