Black Friday has continued to increase in visibility here in the UK over the last few years. Originally, it was the period when Americans would start their Christmas shopping following Thanksgiving. Since 2014, it has become a sales promotion where many large retailers offer “large discounts” to entice consumers to start spending in the build-up to Christmas.

This year, it’s predicted a staggering £9.14 billion will be spent over the madness of the Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend (29th November – 2nd December), an increase of 4.5% from last year!

With many retailers extending their Black Friday promotions for up to two weeks, this £9.14 billion could actually be closer to £23.7 billion.

Did you know?

• 1 in 3 small to medium sized businesses fear closure by the end of 2024.

• 86% of independent retailers questioned in a recent survey have stated that they will not be participating in this years event, as the advertised savings are very often misleading. Someone, somewhere will be bearing the cost; most often lowly paid workers, operating in poor conditions, producing goods made from cheap and nasty materials, which have a detrimental impact on the environment.

• In the UK, over half of consumers expressed concerns about the negative environmental impact of overconsumption during Black Friday.

As I mentioned in my Dulux Colour of the Year post last month, I’m always unsure about the choices these leading colour experts select. However, Benjamin Moore’s Cinnamon Slate is ticking all the boxes for me.

Being a self-confessed lover of all things earthy tones, this intriguing, rich, velvety near-brown with muted-plum undertones adds an element of warmth and richness to a room. It works particularly well alongside the simplicity of neutral Glacier White

With that in mind, why not consider supporting small businesses this Christmas?

Holly Tucker MBE, promotes Colour Friday, an initiative to encourage consumers to avoid the likes of Amazon and buy Christmas gifts from UK independents instead.

At the start of the month I shared my Christmas Gift and Decor Guide, where I try to promote as many small businesses as I can.

Last year I did the same where I dedicated my whole Christmas Gift guide to supporting small independents.

So, are you truly getting a good deal?

The Which report from last year suggests that 98% of Black Friday ‘deals’ aren’t the cheapest price of the year.

Just 2% of products from 2022 Black Friday promotions were found to be cheaper than at other times of the year.

208 products were tracked from retailers such as Amazon, John Lewis and Very, and 98% were the same price or less, with 45% actually cheaper at other times of the year!

I’m not saying don’t use Black Friday if it’s a way to save a few pounds on those gifts you do need to purchase; what I am suggesting is you think smartly about these so-called “promotions” and make them work for you.

Here’s how:

Organise

I love a list!

Over the Christmas period I have lists covering everything from who I need to buy a gift for, potential gift ideas, what’s happening each day over the festive season, a food planner for each day and of course my food shopping list.

So decide who you plan to buy a gift for this Christmas.

Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert shares the best advice, especially for those that just don’t have the money to spend on unnecessary gifts, which is to stop buying gifts for an ever-growing list of teachers, friends and extended family.

Why sometimes the best Christmas present is giving nothing at all.

Once you’ve worked out who you really need to buy a gift for, create a list of what you’re planning to buy.

Research

Once you have your list, make a note of the price for each gift, alongside the retailer you plan to purchase from.

As the build-up to Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) begins, keep a record on any price changes to see if you’re actually getting a good deal, if there is a price drop, or if the price actually goes up!

Yes, prices can even go up, during Black Friday promotions.

With our friend the algorithm, prices can increase if there is a peak on certain products being searched.

You may have noticed this when searching for flights, especially if you’re looking to book a holiday during peak season. You check the price of a flight on one day, and then find it’s increased a few day later. It all comes down to supply and demand, and Amazon uses the algorithm this way to increase pricing, so don’t always assume you’re getting the best deal.

Now, if you have to purchase something from a larger retailer; I myself have four nephews and they all want certain toys which are more often than not, only available from selected retailers. Where I do begrudge giving my hard-earned cash to such retailers, I’m not going to disappoint my nephews on Christmas morning!

However, for every purchase I have to buy from such retailers, I then try to balance out with some stocking fillers from small independents.

Support small (and local)

One piece of good news is that once the horribleness of Black Friday is behind us, we have the far more appealing Small Business Saturday on the 7th December.

This Christmas, if you’re able, please try to support small local businesses. You may pay a premium for some products, but often these have been made with love, care and attention, rather than being churned out on a production line somewhere in the Far East.

Visit your local town, shop the independents and look out for those unique gifts at the local Christmas craft fair.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and choose to support small businesses this Christmas, Even if you’re able to purchase just one gift from a small business, remember…

When you buy from a small business an actual person does a happy little dance.

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