BFCM Starts Now: How to Prep Your Entire Supply Chain (Without the Stress)

Hey there,

Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) may feel months away—but in supply chain time, it’s already ticking.

The brands that win the biggest weekend in DTC don’t scramble in October.
They start now—with a synchronized, end-to-end supply chain strategy that aligns every move from product ideation to final delivery.

This month, I’m kicking off a 4-part BFCM Prep Series to help you avoid last-minute chaos and make Q4 your strongest yet.

Here’s the game plan:
✅ Part 1 – The Big Picture: Orchestrating a full supply chain timeline using PERT
✅ Part 2 – NPD & Sourcing: Getting your hero product BFCM-ready
✅ Part 3 – Inventory Planning: Avoiding stockouts and excess inventory
✅ Part 4 – Logistics & Warehousing: Getting orders to customers on time, every time

Let’s begin with the foundation: your timeline. Because without a clear, cross-functional roadmap, everything else falls apart.

📅 Why PERT Is Your Secret Weapon for BFCM

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) isn’t just a planning tool—it’s your blueprint for launching on time, with fewer surprises and less stress.

We use it to break down every supply chain task—from product concept to warehouse delivery—so you can track dependencies, flag delays early, and keep all teams aligned on a single timeline.

In one real project we ran for a client launching a brand from scratch, here’s what the PERT timeline looked like:

• 180 days from ideation to launch (via sea)

• 150 days if shipped by air

• Over 40 linked tasks, covering everything from techpack creation and vendor approvals to PO release, inspection, freight booking, and Shopify updates

• Every task had a defined start date, duration, and dependency chain

⚠️ One missed handoff—like a delayed sample approval or shipping plan—had the potential to push everything back.

Yes, this timeline was longer than usual due to the newness of the product and extended testing phase. But even in simpler launches, PERT ensures you never skip steps—and that your timeline reflects the real work required.

💡 Why this matters for BFCM:
You can’t afford to fall behind in Q4. A 3-day delay in one area (like sampling or inspection) can snowball into weeks of lost selling time.

With a solid PERT plan, you’ll:
✔ Identify mission-critical tasks and dependencies
✔ Build buffer time where it matters most
✔ Align ops, sourcing, marketing, and fulfillment under one shared calendar
✔ Actually launch on time—with less chaos and fewer surprises

Here’s our editable PERT template.

🔁 The End-to-End Flow (and What You Should Be Doing Now)

Here’s what a BFCM-ready timeline looks like—reverse-engineered from your Black Friday go-live date:

🗓️ Phase 1: Product & Sourcing (June–July)

• Finalize BFCM product concept
  

• Get supplier quotations and finalize costing
  

• Approve samples and lock in tech packs
  

• Place initial PO with buffer for sampling or iteration delays
  

• 📌 PERT Application: Map dependencies between approvals, sampling, and material lead times
  

🗓️ Phase 2: Inventory & Production (July–August)

• Lock your demand forecast
  

• Finalize quantity and packaging
  

• Begin production with milestone checks
  

• 📌 PERT Application: Calculate earliest vs. latest finish dates to manage delays
  

🗓️ Phase 3: Logistics & Warehousing (August–September)

• Book freight or arrange consolidation
  

• Prepare fulfillment warehouse for new SKUs
  

• Re-slot warehouse layout for top sellers
  

• 📌 PERT Application: Build slack time into freight leg to anticipate customs or port delays

🗓️ Phase 4: Pre-BFCM Ops & Launch Prep (October)

• Run inbound checks on inventory
  

• Sync fulfillment teams on promos, bundles, or restock priorities
  

• Align final shipping cutoffs and return handling
  

• 📌 PERT Application: Sync go-live schedule with warehouse capacity and marketing drops

✅ Ready to Start? Here's What to Do This Week

1. Choose Your BFCM Hero Product – Whether it’s a bestseller or a new launch, you need clarity now.
   

2. Kick Off Your PERT Timeline – Build a rough draft of key milestones. (Need a template? Just reply with “PERT” and I’ll send you ours.)
   

3. Align Ops & Marketing – Make sure both teams are looking at the same calendar. No more siloed timelines.

This is the year to stop reacting and start orchestrating.

In Part 2, we’ll dive deep into the NPD and sourcing timeline—with tips to help you get products approved, sampled, and produced faster without sacrificing quality.

Until then, if you’re behind on building your plan or need help mapping it out—just hit reply. Let’s work through it together.

Here’s to a smoother, smarter BFCM,
Lara