Keep Calm and Ignore 'Black Friday': there is an alternative

Last year's coverage

Following the nasty, and I think contrived 'consumer frenzy' at Wembley ASDA last year LINK the company has decided not to participate in Black Friday this year.

Tradecraft is offfering an alternative this year folloowing new survey results that show more than half the UK is negatively affected by shopping fever in the run-up to Christmas.

They have launched the 'Just Friday' initiative:

More than half of people surveyed (54%) said they experience negative emotions when shopping in the run-up to Christmas – feeling stressed, anxious, ill, argumentative and violent.

As major retailers turn their backs on Black Friday, Traidcraft’s ‘Just Friday’ initiative offers shoppers an alternative to the riotous scenes played out in stores in recent years. The campaign encourages people to take a moment to stop, breathe, and buy their gifts mindfully and ethically. By buying from ethical organisations, consumers shopping on Black Friday can use their spending power to help people in developing countries across the world.

The recent survey, conducted on behalf of Traidcraft, also showed how almost half of all consumers (43%) would like to see an end to Black Friday all together, with four in 10 planning to shop online to avoid the chaos.

Larry Bush, Traidcraft’s marketing director, says:

With some of the biggest UK retailers scaling back their involvement in this year’s Black Friday sales, it’s obvious that consumers are growing tired of this materialistic ‘consumption culture’, which is why we’re running our Just Friday campaign again this year.

Imagine if just 1% of the £1bn that retail analysts predict will be spent on Black Friday was spent with ethical, fair trade organisations like Traidcraft and People Tree? Even this small percentage could help us improve the lives of tens of thousands of people across the developing world and make a huge difference to someone’s life – and you’ll be buying a beautifully handmade, unique gift for family and friends.

So on Black Friday, one of the most chaotic days on the shopping calendar, we’re offering an alternative with ‘Just Friday’, and asking people to take a few moments and think about their buying choices.

Safia Minney MBE, Founder & CEO of People Tree says:

Mindless consumption that makes Christmas shoppers feel uncomfortable, especially at the cost of workers and the planet, has to stop. We can create change, a different way of doing business and buy Fair Trade, ethically and sustainably this Just Friday.

Shoppers can enjoy free shipping on all orders placed on www.traidcraftshop.co.uk this Just Friday, with gifts for everyone handmade by artisans across the globe.