With Black Friday just around the corner, many brands are preparing for one of the biggest sales of the year. Despite many major retailers taking part in this holiday every year, there are others who are opting out of it and taking a more sustainable approach this year.
WHEN IS BLACK FRIDAY THIS YEAR?
Black Friday falls on November 25, 2022. However, many retailers start offering sales, promotions and discounts as early as the beginning of November. Some sales and offers will stretch to Cyber Monday, which takes place on November 28.
THE IMPACT OF BLACK FRIDAY
On paper, consumers think they are getting amazing deals by shopping on Black Friday. However, when you look at it closely, Black Friday can have a detrimental impact on the environment and your finances.
The truth is Black Friday often leads to overconsumption. When presented with emails and banners declaring big sales and offers, it can trigger FOMO. FOMO, known as the “fear of missing out”, is what many retailers rely on. Even if you don’t need anything brand new, the feeling of missing out on a good deal might entice you to make more purchases. While you might believe you’re getting a great deal at the time, you could be spending money on things that you don’t really need. This won’t benefit you financially.
Another major concern with Black Friday is the waste. Think plastic packaging, unused or unwanted items, and items that get thrown away within the year. Shockingly, statistics show that Black Friday is expected to produce 429,000 greenhouse gas emissions on deliveries alone!
ALTERNATIVES TO BLACK FRIDAY
If you don’t want to participate in Black Friday this year, there are alternatives such as Green Friday. Green Friday is a movement to boycott Black Friday and consumerism. Instead, it encourages you to focus on what you have, avoid the sales, give back to the community and get outside in nature.
If you want to take advantage of the sales, take a look at your favourite sustainable brands all year round. Many of them offer a discount when signing up to their newsletter or when making your first purchase. And many eco-friendly brands have sales, offers and end of the line products, as well.
HOW TO SHOP SUSTAINABLY: BLACK FRIDAY 2022
We understand that the rise in the cost of living has made it very difficult for people financially. Many people will need a helping hand this year. While Black Friday isn’t a solution, it can be helpful to some people who need items replaced but wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise.
Here are some tips on shopping sustainably this Black Friday:
MAKE A LIST
By now, we all know how important it is to write a list before we go out shopping. It’s just as important to do it online, too. When you write a list, you prioritise the things that you need the most and nothing gets forgotten. And if you buy many of your items from the same retailer at the same time, you will cut back on packaging and the number of deliveries.
SET A BUDGET
The problem with the sales and offers is knowing when to stop. When there are so many tempting offers that you want to take advantage of them all, you could end up spending too much. That’s why we recommend that you set a budget in advance and vow to not spend even a penny more. This will help you to stay in control of your spending and finances.
INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY PIECES
One of the best ways to shop sustainably this Black Friday is to buy high quality items that are made to last. Sure, cheap fast fashion items might be tempting, but it’s not a great offer if they don’t last for years to come. Look for products made with natural and sustainable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp.
BUY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
A great way to take advantage of the Black Friday sales is to buy your Christmas gifts ahead of time. Everyone knows that the closer you get to Christmas, the harder it is to get your Christmas presents sorted. Many products increase in price or sell out in December, leaving you frustrated or out of pocket. To avoid disappointment, make a list of Christmas gift ideas and set a budget per person. When you’re browsing, this will help you to get everything you need at a reduced cost. It’s great to be prepared!
SUPPORT LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES
If possible, get out and support your local businesses, because they’re the ones giving back to the community. There’s also the bonus of less packaging, less waste, and less pollution because you won’t be travelling far. For the sustainable businesses that only sell online, their packaging is minimal and often plastic-free, so there will be less waste, and you’ll be supporting a good cause.
WHY NOVEME WON’T BE PARTICIPATING IN BLACK FRIDAY
As usual, we won’t participate in Black Friday 2022. It’s important to us that our brand reflects our commitment to sustainability and our desire to favour quality over quantity.
At Noveme, our products are made with the highest-quality materials like natural cork and natural rubber, to ensure that they will last for many years to come. Also, we produce in small batches. This way, we avoid overproduction, by keeping our stock levels at a minimum. Furthermore, our products are not seasonal; they are available all year round.
All offers we’ll have, are those currently in place, 15% off our yoga sets. Eventually, in the future, we may have discounts on pre-order items, as we did in the past year. We prefer to offer our clients pre-production offers, as it allows us to have better stock estimates and consume only the necessary resources.
