The Black Friday Frenzy retrospective helps your team review what new practices to try, what should be discontinued, and what successful habits to continue—just like shoppers hunting for the best deals.

When to use this template

Run this retrospective at the end of a major sprint, after a high-pressure release, or anytime your team needs a creative process review and energy boost.

How to facilitate

Set a fun Black Friday-style atmosphere and introduce the theme, clearly explaining each column: Hot New Deals (start), Return to Sender (stop), and Bestseller Repeats (continue)

Invite every team member to contribute ideas to all columns, using the shopping metaphor to spark creative suggestions

Allow time for everyone to read through and group similar items together, encouraging discussion on common themes

Lead a group discussion to clarify, debate, and prioritize the most valuable items in each column

Work with the team to select key actions from each column, assigning owners and timelines where appropriate

Close by reflecting briefly on the process and how these changes might impact the next 'shopping spree' (iteration)

Pro Tips

Encourage playful language and metaphors to keep energy high and make contributions more memorable

Use real-world shopping examples to kick off brainstorming if ideas stall

Make sure quieter voices are heard by inviting everyone to contribute at least one item per column

Cap the number of new deals to chase to avoid overloading the team with too many changes

FAQ

How can I keep the team engaged using the Black Friday metaphor?

Lean into the shopping theme with playful language and encourage team members to 'hunt for deals.' A light tone makes the session more enjoyable and creatively productive.

What if ideas for 'Hot New Deals' feel unrealistic?

Help the team prioritize suggestions based on impact and feasibility, and remind the group that not every new deal needs to be chased—pick just a few to try.

How do we avoid a massive list of things to stop or start?

Guide the team in grouping similar suggestions and voting to focus on the top items, ensuring action without overwhelm.

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At a glance

Duration
40–50 min
Team Size
3-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🛍️ Black Friday Frenzy

Welcome to the ultimate Black Friday retrospective! Let’s hunt for bargains in our workflow—discover what deals to chase (start), duds to drop (stop), and great finds to repeat (continue). Ready, set, shop for improvements!

Template Columns

🛒 Hot New Deals (Start)

🚫 Return to Sender (Stop)

🔁 Bestseller Repeats (Continue)

About this template