Discover the power of skyrocketing your eCommerce sales – Talk to an expert

Flash Sale

What is a Flash Sale?

A flash sale is a time-limited promotion where products or services are offered at significantly discounted prices for a short duration to create urgency and drive immediate sales. It is a discount or promotion offered by an ecommerce store for a short period of time. The quantity is limited, which often means the discounts are higher or more significant than run-of-the-mill promotions. The time limit and limited availability entice consumers to buy on the spot, resulting in impulsive buying.

Significance of Flash Sale

Flash sales leverage scarcity and exclusivity to generate excitement and drive impulse purchases among customers, often using limited inventory or time-bound offers to create urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). By orchestrating well-planned flash sale events, organizations can boost sales revenue, liquidate excess inventory, and attract new customers while strengthening brand loyalty and engagement.

Flash Sale in Academia

In academia, flash sales are studied within the fields of marketing promotions, consumer behavior, and sales psychology. Researchers investigate flash sale strategies, including timing, duration, and discount levels, to understand their impact on consumer purchasing decisions and sales performance. Academic studies on flash sales also explore their effects on brand perception, customer satisfaction, and long-term profitability, as well as ethical considerations and consumer protection measures in promotional pricing and sales tactics in retail and e-commerce environments.

Learn more about fulfillment. Fulfillment is the process of getting orders to customers. It can involve the related tasks of receiving inventory, storing and packing products, shipping orders, handling returns, and maintaining communication with the customer.

Explore other related terms only on Rubick.ai.

Frequently Asked Questions on Flash Sale

What is the purpose of a flash sale?

The main goals of a flash sale strategy are to get online shoppers to impulse buy, to increase short-term sales, or to sell their surplus stock. Flash sales are different from regular online sales in 3 specific ways: Discounts and promotions are notably better than what your business usually offers.

How long can a flash sale last?

A flash sale is a short-term discount or promotion that usually lasts anywhere between 24 to 72 hours. And they’re great for bringing in some quick revenue.

What are the risks of flash sales?

Poorly executed flash sales can lead to upset customers losing confidence in your brand. Lower and lost sales from an inability to process orders and deliver items on time. 

Related Glossary

Request A Demo