Black Friday sales have started already?!
Can you even believe the bombardment we’re being hit with right now about Black Friday sales that will be starting early or have already started?! We need to be very careful here with our consumerism habits, being careful to only buy what is necessary.
The concept of kick-starting shopping for the holiday period originated in the USA in the 1800s and has only gained popularity ever since. After a few name changes, the current name of ‘Black Friday’ finally stuck in the 1980s and has become a household term coupled with ‘Cyber Monday’ as well. Historically, the Black Friday sales would kick off on the Friday of the Thanksgiving long weekend, Thanksgiving being the last Thursday in November. In the present day with e-commerce and online shopping becoming ever popular, we are seeing competitive sales strategies reinventing themselves year after year with lower-cutting discounts and mind-boggling deals on offer the internet over.
Inside the Cabbage Patch Kids frenzy and Black Friday riots of 1983
Sale into the 90s--a 1980s/1990s history Tumblr — 424. Black Friday though the years...
Nowadays, consumerism has gone absolutely mad with overconsumption tipping the scales with quantities of ‘things’ that people and households really don’t need. I’ve been getting hit with Black Friday marketing for over a week already (it’s only the beginning of November) when the true Black Friday sale day isn’t until 29 November (over two weeks away).
I understand the concept that creating hype around a product or brand activates the consumer into a state of FOMO (fear of missing out) and ultimately they become very likely to purchase. However, I feel that as good global citizens, we have an environmental responsibility to slow consumerism to a manageable level. These products that are being shoved in our faces with their epic deals have already been produced and already exist so whether they sell or not, our earth has to process the product whether it gets used to within an inch of its life or discarded because they didn’t sell. Take a moment before you click the ‘buy now’ button to consider how your purchase will be used and whether or not it’s worthwhile in the long term. I know I just said that the product already exists regardless of whether you purchase it today or not, but consumer habits are heavily scrutinised by the retail industry so what you don’t buy this year may have a positive impact on what’s on offer next season.
Why We're All About Mindful Shopping at LinenMe! | LinenMe
I will be the first one to tell you to try and shop sales to save a buck here and there because sales will always happen throughout the year from one business to another. I will also be the first one to tell you to try and support small local business first before turning to big business. We can’t always get what we need from small local business and that’s okay but we should always try. There are so so many reasons for keeping your shopping habits small and local but that’s a chat for another day.
Hopefully you’re feeling inspired to be a more mindful shopper. I’ve slowly changed, and am still refining, my shopping habits over the years due to reading some pretty powerful messaging from legends who have come before me, spreading this good word. I couldn’t list them exactly now; the concepts have just become a part of how I do life and I’m grateful for having my eyes opened to better ways of consuming, or not consuming as the case may be.
An Enchanted Christmas - Reusable Large Shopping Bag
You will see a Black Friday offer from me at Hot Chip the Label but it might not be the super discount that we’ve become accustomed to see.
Remember that you are an eco-fashion queen and little changes can add up to big impact. Thank you for reading my brain dump of sorts. I have passionate feelings about some topics that I like to share. I wish you all the enjoyment of the holiday season, whatever that looks like for you. Peace and love.
✌ Eliza
Bibliography
Why Is It Called Black Friday? the True Story Behind the Name
Black Friday | Origins, History, Retail Industry & Cyber Monday | Britannica
Black Friday, Cyber Monday sales set to top $6b, as consumers shrug off soaring inflation - ABC News