This is perhaps the most conflicted week in American capitalism...Everyone knows and is preparing for, Black Friday - the day when retail is finally placed "in the black" for their sales revenue (at least that's what they hope!) and shoppers, reinforced by the previous day's glutonny, enter the marketplace to shop till they drop in a mad frenzy of trying to get the best deals for their holiday gift-buying orgy.
Perhaps you've noticed in years past, that I, an admitted retailer, have firmly supported "Buy Nothing Day" begun by Adbusters in the late 1990s to encourage people to pay attention to their behaviors surrounding consumption. Its adherants do not buy a thing for a single 24 hour period. And hopefully, after that day, they think a bit before separating themselves from their cash...
Then a couple of years ago, American Express began what I hope will become every bit as strong a tradition as Black Friday sales. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. Since small businesses are also typically local businesses, I'm all for everyone shopping small and shopping local, and then, critically - SHOP Handmade, Handcrafted items.
I can't say it much better than this blogger I came across over the weekend: the Thoughful Consumer. And I love the chalkboard admonition in the photo on that link!
Shop local, buy from your neighbors, if you can use public transportation to get there, do that. Keep the economy in your community growing in the right direction.
And let the big boxes watch from the sidelines (I wish!)
1 comment:
Both those options sound perfect. Local or nothing. I usually don't leave the house but it's important to support the small businesses.
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