Black Friday in Venezuela: Cavececo sets 27 November date

Franchise businesses operating in Venezuela’s shopping centres have a date to plan their year-end campaigns around: Friday 27 November. The Venezuelan Chamber of Shopping Centres (Cavececo) has scheduled Black Friday for that day and announced special Christmas opening hours at its member centres, according to its president, Alfredo Cohen.

A day to shift stock

Cohen, who is also a director of Constructora Sambil, outlined the preparations in an interview with Unión Radio on 9 November, reported by El Diario on 10 November. The Cavececo representative described Black Friday as a key date for stock turnover and the formal start of the year-end shopping season.

The announcement gives retailers in member shopping centres a shared date to work towards. Brands and their franchisees can organise their preparations around a specific day, although the announcement does not, in itself, confirm discounts at individual outlets.

The distinction matters for consumers: Cavececo’s event and individual shops’ promotions are separate decisions. The information released does not specify discount rates, participating products or brand-specific terms. Shoppers will therefore need to check offers directly with each retailer once they are announced.

Special opening hours for Christmas shopping

Alongside Black Friday, Cohen announced that Cavececo’s member shopping centres would introduce special Christmas opening hours. He explained that the aim was to give people more time to shop and prevent overcrowding in walkways and shops in the days leading up to the celebrations.

These are two elements of the retail calendar: a promotional event scheduled for 27 November and changes to opening hours for the Christmas season. The announcement reported by El Diario does not specify each shopping centre’s opening and closing times or the dates on which its revised hours will apply.

For franchisees, preparations can begin by confirming these arrangements with the management of the centre where they operate. Staff rotas, stock replenishment and customer communications should reflect the agreed opening hours, rather than an assumed extension or a uniform schedule across all outlets.

What the 93% visitor figure means

To provide context for the event, Cohen cited a Datanálisis study presented at this year’s Cavececo congress. According to its findings, 93% of people entering shopping centres make some form of financial transaction.

The figure covers purchases in shops, spending on services, food courts and cinemas. It therefore describes activity beyond buying goods, including everyday services and leisure activities within shopping centres.

Franchise businesses should keep that scope in mind when interpreting the figure. It is not the conversion rate for any particular brand, nor does it mean that 93% of visitors will make a purchase on Black Friday. It is a general indicator of visitor behaviour cited by Cavececo’s president, not a forecast specifically for 27 November.

Franchises within a mixed retail offering

Cohen also highlighted the presence of established Venezuelan franchises alongside returning international businesses. As an example of domestic brands, he mentioned the growth of Gran Turismo, which has been in the market for 75 years. In his view, this combination broadens local shopping choices without the need to travel abroad.

In his assessment of 2026, Cavececo’s president estimated overall sales volume growth of between 15% and 20% compared with the previous period. This estimate reflects the broader picture he presented and should not automatically be taken as an indication of any individual franchise’s performance.

Practical takeaway: before 27 November, confirm your shopping centre’s opening hours, set the terms of your promotions and align stock and staffing with the needs of your outlet.