Why we don't do Black Friday

Once upon a time, there was no Black Friday. There were no discount offers during November and December, and sales didn’t begin to the New Year. That’s right, no email notifications pinging in at 6am on Christmas Eve letting you fill your basket with stuff you didn’t know you needed (spoiler, you didn’t need it). That said, in those days gone by, there wasn’t really email either (showing my age).

I hate Black Friday. That isn’t to say I’ve not bought stuff during it (mostly electrical), but I hate the idea of it. I loathe the notion that just as retailers big, small and middle sized, head into their busiest time of year, people have come to expect a discount. Urgh.

There has been - without question - a huge change in the our retail habits. Even a few years ago, a day out trying on clothes was an actual bone fide activity. It still is, to a degree, but in a covid (and soon, hopefully a post-ish-covid) world, things have changed a lot. More recently I think we’re all appreciating and supporting local a lot more - I know I am. From my food shopping, through to my gifts, where I can, I’ve bought local.

I know that money is tight at this time of year, and I know that we all love a bargain (I LOVE a bargain), but I’m going to ask you to understand when people and businesses say no to Black Friday, and no to discounting.

Small businesses exist for a very simple reason: we saw a gap! Giving up months and years to refine our business because we want to fill that gap, and create a niche. Whether that niche is botanical jams, or chilli infused chutneys (Gorse and Lily and The Chilli Kitchen); whether they go out at low tide and gather Jersey clay to create beautiful pots (Haithwaite Ceramics, and the recipe is a secret!). Whether they’ve spent two decades honing their craft before finally opening their first shop this year (Lisa Le Brocq) ; we all saw something that they wanted to do, and carved out our niche. When you buy from a small business, you aren’t just paying for a piece of jewellery, or a pot, or a candle, or a jar of jam; you aren’t just shopping for a painting that couldn’t have taken more than a few hours to create, or buying a card that’s ‘just a bit of paper.’ You are paying for the skill, the years of failed attempts; you are paying for the vision, and our commitment to our crafts, our vision, and our knowledge.

I’m lucky enough to be popping up with some amazing small local businesses at The Small Business Pop Up, and I see the hours of work and effort that goes in to it. My old business was creating bridal jewellery, and I know how much work went on behind the scenes - it was so much more than just making earrings! The sacrifices that small business owners make. The fact that creative businesses are there every weekend (when many people have a weekend off) to give you a small business destination to shop at.

So when Black Friday, and its even more odious sister Cyber Monday comes along, I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy things that are discounted if they are what you need. But I am asking that you understand when small businesses, artisans and creative businesses DON’T discount.

I’m proud to stock and support products from small and creative businesses, and I won’t be taking part in Black Friday this year (or any year).

Shop small, shop local.