This year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday online performance in the UK once again sends a clear signal: consumers are still placing orders, but their shopping behavior is undergoing a significant change.

According to data released by UK e-commerce fulfillment platform Scurri, online order volume during the 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday period in the UK increased by 15% year-on-year, with order volume on each key day of the event exceeding that of the same period last year. Specifically, Cyber Monday order volume was approximately 70% higher than on Black Friday itself, indicating that consumers are increasingly accustomed to placing orders in the latter part of the promotion.

In terms of conversion timing, the peak order volume was concentrated around 5 pm. Data from e-commerce technology service provider Visualsoft also confirms this trend: during this period, the average order value (AOV) increased by 5.8% year-on-year, reaching £121.63. This suggests that UK consumers are not making impulsive purchases, but rather are calculating and choosing more rationally.

Consumers are becoming more discerning, with significant differentiation in product categories and fulfillment methods.

Further analysis of the data reveals that this year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales in the UK were not universally booming, but rather characterized by significant structural changes.

At the product category level, pet supplies performed best, while high-priced, non-essential items saw a noticeable decline. This shift reflects that, under pressure from inflation and the cost of living, British consumers are more inclined to purchase "daily necessities" and "high-certainty consumption" rather than impulsive large-ticket items.

Consumers are also demonstrating more rational judgment in their delivery choices. Data shows that standard delivery accounted for 25% of orders, while the usage of expedited delivery declined. This indicates that more consumers are willing to forgo extra shipping costs for better value and a smoother experience, opting for more reliable logistics methods.

The industry generally believes that these changes do not reflect a decline in purchasing power, but rather that consumers are becoming more rational and discerning, placing higher demands on fulfillment experiences and after-sales guarantees.

Black Friday has just passed, but the real pressure comes in the Christmas after-sales period.

For UK e-commerce sellers, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not just sales peaks, but also the "prelude" to the Christmas shopping cycle.

On the one hand, a large number of orders are released during Black Friday and Cyber Monday; on the other hand, the peak of returns and exchanges usually arrives within 1-3 weeks after the event ends. Especially in clothing, pet supplies, home goods, and gifts, return requests increase significantly due to size discrepancies, mismatches with expectations, or last-minute gift changes.

In today's highly rational consumer environment, sellers who cannot provide a clear, convenient, and timely after-sales experience are likely to face the following risks:

Complex return processes leading to decreased customer satisfaction

Excessively long refund periods causing platform disputes or negative reviews

Accumulated overseas returns, inability to process inventory again, and restricted cash flow.

This is why more and more UK-based e-commerce and cross-border sellers are shifting their focus from "front-end conversion" to "back-end fulfillment and return capabilities."

After-sales experience is directly impacting repeat purchases and brand trust.

In the UK e-commerce market, returns are not just a cost issue, but also an integral part of user experience and brand trust.

A common consensus is that consumers are more likely to place orders when they know that returns are hassle-free. Especially during high-density shopping periods like Black Friday and Christmas, smooth after-sales service directly affects repurchase rates and long-term user value.

This is why more and more sellers are choosing localized return warehouses instead of continuing with the old method of cross-border reverse logistics. Local returns not only shorten processing times but also allow returned items to be quickly inspected, relisted, or processed, rather than remaining stuck in the shipping chain for extended periods.

U-Speed UK return warehouses Handle Peak After-Sales Needs for Sellers

In this market context, U-Speed's UK return warehouse service precisely addresses the core pain points for sellers between Black Friday and Christmas.

U-Speed focuses on providing UK e-commerce sellers with efficient, convenient, and professional return and exchange solutions, covering the entire process from front-end collection to back-end processing. Its UK returns warehouse covers approximately 17,000 square meters. During peak periods, it can process up to 30,000 returns and related orders daily, effectively handling the surge in returns after promotions.

In terms of specific services, U-Speed offers a variety of customizable options, including: return receiving and sorting, repackaging, restocking (subject to certain return volume requirements), direct destruction, and returns to Hong Kong.

Sellers can flexibly choose based on product attributes, profit margins, and operational strategies.

From "passive returns" to "proactive cost control," the after-sales process is being reshaped.

Compared to the traditional "returns equal loss" approach, U-Speed's returns warehouse model emphasizes helping sellers achieve cost control and value recovery in the after-sales stage.

Through local returns warehouses, returned goods can be quickly inspected and sorted:

Resaleable items undergo immediate quality inspection and relisting.

Items unsuitable for resale are processed according to seller requirements, avoiding additional warehousing and transportation costs.

Returns requiring centralized return to Hong Kong can also be arranged uniformly, reducing fragmented logistics costs.

This model is particularly important for sellers with surging order volumes and complex SKUs after Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Data from this year's UK Black Friday and Cyber Monday shows that consumers are still buying, but are more discerning. Price is no longer the sole deciding factor; delivery methods, after-sales experience, and ease of returns are all influencing final conversion rates and brand trust.

For sellers, the real competition has shifted from "who runs the fastest" to "who can withstand the pressure." When orders increase by 15% and Cyber Monday orders are 70% higher than Black Friday, without matching fulfillment and return capabilities, growth can become a burden.

With the Christmas shopping peak approaching, establishing a stable and professional UK returns warehouse system in advance is no longer just a bonus, but a crucial foundation for long-term operation. U-Speed's UK return warehouse is one of the solutions designed for such peak scenarios.