Go Green this Black Friday
Green is officially the new black this month with Irish shoppers being urged to buy local on 29 November.
For the second year running, the Green Friday initiative will go shoulder to shoulder with Black Friday in an attempt to encourage consumers to support small independent Irish businesses.
As part of the initiative, Irish-owned businesses across the country have donned their thinking caps to come up with novel ways to attract the thousands of shoppers who typically make Christmas purchases on Black Friday.
The people behind the movement, Cork duo Bronwyn Connolly and Meadhbh O’Leary Fitzpatrick of Wild Design Collective, say their goal is to mobilise the people of Ireland to work towards a stronger, more stable local economy so that communities can thrive in a more sustainable way.
“During Black Friday, the average Irish person buys four products and spends €300, with Black Friday global data for 2018 showing an 1,852 per cent increase in sales compared to an ordinary day,” said Ms Connolly.
Ms Connolly said that she hopes people will consider spending some of this money on locally produced products and services.
“There is so much choice out there! The Irish retail industry is primarily made up of small, family owned, indigenous companies and in supporting them, we are supporting our communities to stay strong, relevant and vibrant in amongst the many international retailers we have here in Ireland,” she explained.
According to the Green Friday organisers, the massive growth of Black Friday as a consumer phenomenon in recent years has led to huge pressure for smaller retailers who struggle to offer the kinds of discounts that large multi-nationals can.
Ms Connolly continued: “Artists and craftspeople spend years working on their skills and honing their craft and there’s very much a journey involved to following that interest and passion through the ups, downs and sacrifices involved in building a business from your creative abilities.
“So it’s a difficult balance to strike to retain that authentic value in your work and in your business, and also compete pricewise with retailers that can offer hard-core discounts on products that they can make or purchase much cheaper.”
The Green Friday initiative is calling on consumers to follow and engage with local businesses in person and through social media, something organisers hope will boost online visibility and brighten the day of a local businessperson.
Through the initiative, Ms Connolly hopes to raise awareness around sustainable and ethical shopping choices and bring communities together in a wholesome and supportive way.
“By supporting your local businesses, you are not only boosting your local economy, but you are building a stronger more connected community all while reducing your environmental impact,” she concluded.