Black Friday can be traced back to the 1960s in the USA, when stores’ books and accounts moved from “red” to “black”, when they began to make a profit. However, Black Friday was not brought to the UK until 2010, when it was introduced by Amazon.  It was not until 2013, when Asda took part, that it really began to take off in popularity. Since then, spending has increased rapidly in the UK, with this year it being predicted that Black Friday would generate £8.74bn in revenue.

As well as high levels of revenue, Black Friday generates lots of controversy, particularly spurring debate about the growing relationship between consumerism and Christmas.

It must be noted that there are some positives to black Friday, these include the ability to reduce costs around Christmas (presents, decorations and in some cases food) as well as the boom in shopping leading to economic benefits. This boost in sales can then be linked to a positive ripple effect on the economy and job market.

However, despite the appearance of Black Friday, with the “massive savings” and use of festive symbolism, there are many things about it that are deceiving.

Often, it becomes easy to get caught up in a frenzy of buying and deals, so easy that Black Friday can be blamed for the promotion of consumerism culture. The massive consumer demand that emerges over such a small time can lead to excessive consumption and production- contributing to resource depletion and waste. Moreover, the transportation of goods releases problematic emissions. It is also often argued that in recent years, the emphasis on material possessions has begun to overshadow holidays.  

These arguments began to intrigue me, and I started asking my peers and family how they feel about black Friday. 58% of the people that I asked said that they do normally shop during Cyber Week/ Black Friday. This is like the “Finder” statistic that suggests 51% of UK adults planned to spend during Black Friday 2023.

A question I asked my peers was what they would buy on Black Friday. An overwhelming response suggested that people my age use Black Friday to buy Christmas presents for friends and family. This led me to begin to question whether Black Friday really affects the nature of Christmas. Of course, it would be wrong to say that this excuses the negative aspects, but it does provide a more positive outlook on Black Friday, in keeping with a Christmas ideal, “giving”.

How can we work towards a more sustainable Black Friday next year?

  •  “Small Business Saturday” (2/12/2023).  This aims to encourage people to support local and independent businesses.
  • Prioritize quality over quantity.
  • Look for brands that are open about their environmental impact.
  • Avoid buying into impulse buying!
  • Be aware of the lifespan of items you buy.

 

Whilst some may argue that lowering prices allows for a more inclusive range of customers, it is undeniable that Black Friday has contributed to a consumerist attitude around Christmas shopping.