GRAB A GREEN BARGAIN THIS BLACK FRIDAY
Everyone loves a bargain but, this year, why not ditch Black Friday in favour of Green Friday to get yourself a deal which does good at the same time as saving you money? There are many options for savvy shopping - Gumtree, ebay, Vinted, and plenty of charity shops, for example – which’ll probably be cheaper than the Black Friday ‘specials’ available and won’t contribute to the day’s environmental nightmare. Friday 29th November has also been declared Green Friday by a growing movement of organisations, encouraging people to move away from impulsive buying and encouraging ‘slow spending’. Stroud Brewery’s Green Friday offers are its ‘Waste Warriors’ specials and a pre-loved clothes sale on Sunday 1st December.
The appeal of Black Friday seems to be gaining popularity again after seeing a dip between 2020-23, and the appeal is understandable: the whole experience probably stimulates the old hunter-gatherer instinct through searching for, and finding, that perfect deal. And the crowds probably feel as scary as a host of sabre tooth tigers.
UK shoppers plan to spend an estimated £3.8 billion in the 2024 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales which is up 27% on 2023. Younger people are far more likely to spend than others with 86% of Gen Z planning to spend £181 on average during Black Friday compared to an average spend of £122 by shoppers generally.
However, consumer magazine, Which?, points out there are many deals on offer throughout the year which can be just as good as Black Friday. Bargain-hunters are advised to research the options before they decide to buy, especially as 52% of shoppers regret their Black Friday purchases a week later.
The environmental cost is also massive – Black Friday generates an estimated 1.5 million tonnes more waste in the UK than during average shopping days. Half of this is packaging, and 80% of purchases end up being thrown away. Not to mention all the greenhouse gases produced from producing, delivering and disposing of the goods.
Green Friday is an anti-Black Friday movement started in 2015 to create awareness about the negative impacts of society’s shopping habits. It began originally in Canada in 1992 and was referred to as Buy Nothing Day. However, it is now Green Friday and encourages people to buy from sustainable and ethical brands, or consume in a way that respects the environment. Not buying anything is still an option or you could go for a walk instead. It’s up to you.
Stroud Brewery is supporting the Zero Waste to Landfill movement and has created a special ‘Waste Warriors’ section on its website selling beer just past its Best Before Date (but still drinkable) and end-of-line clothing at discounted prices rather than thrown them away.
There’ll also be a pre-loved clothing sale on Sunday 1st December at the Brewery because being stylish and eco-friendly is always in season (and with Christmas around the corner, it’s the perfect time to find that party outfit). Whether refreshing the wardrobe or just looking for unique finds, shopping at this sale will mean supporting a more fun, less wasteful and circular fashion scene.
If you can wait a bit longer, trot along to the Christmas Craft Market at Stroud Brewery the following Sunday, the 8th December, and find that perfect hand-made purchase made by local people and businesses.
