Poll suggests UK Shoppers are tired of Black Friday
With the holidays fast approaching many are looking to get the presents in, this inevitably means sales, and Black Friday is the king of the sale period. Brand partner Thought Clothing shares some great insights with us about this day.
The origins for the term Black Friday are disputed, but the phrase appears to have originated in the 50s. One possible origin is from Philadelphia, where police used the terms Black Friday and Black Saturday to describe the days around the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Since then, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon and plenty of brands both large and small now take advantage of the sales event.
Despite the popularity of the sale period, many brands have also started to move away from the marketing messaging and are focusing more on ‘sustainable’ alternatives to Black Friday.
This move could be right on the mark, with a new poll from ethical clothing retailer Thought suggesting only 28% of the UK actually likes Black Friday.
Why is Black Friday unsustainable?
Many shoppers are looking to cut back on their personal impact on the environment, and the goods we buy often feed directly into this. Black Friday encourages consumption, which feeds into so many different activities which have a negative impact on the earth.
Returns tend to be greater when purchases are made online, which leads to a larger strain on the environment through increased transportation and distribution activities. Buying a larger number of discounted items that may be used or may sit idle also leads to increased demand for goods that may be having a negative impact on the planet through their production.
How can you reduce your impact on Black Friday?
Whilst Black Friday may have a negative impact, there are actions you can take which can reduce the impact you have when shopping. Shopping with some of the ethical brands outlined in Goodfind’s guide is a great place to start and making sure you buy items that are going to last and provide you with joy and value over the long run.
When it comes to clothing, make sure you buy items that will last. This will reduce the volume of clothing you need to purchase over your lifetime and reduce the impact on the environment through lower impact on production costs and a reduction in the number of items that end up thrown away and in landfills.
Guest blog by brand partner: Thought Clothing