Meet the Brands Ditching Discounts for Donations This Black Friday
These retailers are swapping their usual Black Friday discounts for donations to charitable causes or commitments to more sustainable shopping.
Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events in the year, with many brands and business slashing their prices for a day – and sometimes longer – of deals and discounts in November. This year, Black Friday falls on Friday 27th November and while non-essential shops across the UK remain closed due to lockdown measures, some online retailers are planning bigger-than-ever deals online.
However, it’s no secret this year has proved to be a huge challenge for many brands and independent retailers – not to mention families who have suffered financial hardship as a result of the global pandemic. With this in mind, a number of children’s brands and mum-favourite shops have opted to ditch the discounts in favour of encouraging donations. With a great focus on sustainability, too, other brands such as Emma Bunton’s Kit & Kin are also committing to a greener way of shopping.
Childrensalon
With many Black Friday shopping events fast approaching, instead of discounting Childrensalon will donate 20% of all product sales taken on 27th November to two charity partners; Nourish Community Food Bank and Porridge & Pens Ghana. The proceeds will be divided equally.
“We’ve always been a little hesitant towards Black Friday, but this year it really didn’t feel right to participate. Instead of doing nothing, we felt this was an opportunity to refocus the event into something more in line with our values of giving back and doing good in the world, as well as being more planet-friendly. We’re hoping this will have a really powerful impact on the people and communities these charities work so hard to support.” Sorche-Harriman Smith, Group Co-CEO at Childrensalon.
Both Nourish Community Foodbank and Porridge & Pens Ghana are long standing charity partners of Childrensalon. With their mission that “no-one need go hungry”, Nourish Community Foodbank provides short-term emergency provisions, support and signposting to individuals and families in a crisis within Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.
Porridge & Pens Ghana believe every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential by having food to eat and an education. Working with some of the poorest children in Kumasi, Ghana, they provide ongoing grants and support to schools, orphanages, families and individuals in the region.
By focusing on giving this year rather than discounting, on Black Friday Childrensalon hopes to help those truly in need.
Baukjen and Isabella Oliver
Sustainably and socially conscious online womenswear and maternity wear brands; Baukjen and Isabella Oliver, have swapped deals for good deeds this Black Friday, and will donate all profits over the four day shopping weekend (27th- 30th November) to a combination of four deserving charities, honouring their brand commitment to give back.
Collectively known as the House of Baukjen, the premium fashion brands have decided to go against the aggressive discounting this year, boycotting consumerism and instead will partner with a different charity, per day, from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday and donate 100% of profits from both websites to social causes in the UK.
The chosen charities include:
- Centrepoint, supporting youth homelessness,
- The Trussell Trust, working to end the need for food banks in the UK,
- PAPYRUS, a national suicide prevention charity
- The Princes Trust, helping the young build skills and confidence to find employment during this critical time.
“It’s been such a difficult year and as an ethical and sustainable brand we don’t feel its right to participate and encourage hyper consumerism. We believe in buying less and buying better, which is why this year, we wanted to give back and really make a difference.” Says House of Baukjen Creative Director & Founder Baukjen de Swaan Arons.
Kit & Kin
Taking a clear stand against this period of overconsumption and bargain hunting, Kit & Kin has opted to use this time to encourage a moment of calm, to pause and focus on what is truly important.
As part of its campaign #NotBlackFridayButGreenerTomorrow, which reflects the brand’s strong eco credentials, the team will be turning off all advertising and instead using this money to invest in and protect more acres of precious rainforest through the World Land Trust.
Commenting on the Greener Tomorrow initiative, Kit & Kin co-founder Emma Bunton said: “I am so proud to have co-founded a brand that is truly making a difference to our world. Our eco credentials are a key part of who we are and protecting the planet for our children and the generations that follow is vital. This year in particular, we just knew we had to do something a little different. We hope our campaign will encourage everyone to avoid getting wrapped up in the Black Friday chaos and instead look beyond to what we hope will be a greener tomorrow, for the future of all our families.”
L’Occitane
This Black Friday weekend, L’Occitane has a lovely charity initiative that will be accompanying a 20% off discount on all purchases online at uk.loccitane.com.
Respecting Biodiversity is a key commitment for L’Occitane, who have partnered with PUR Projet for the second year. We will be donating £1 from every hand cream sold over Black Friday weekend to PUR Projet, which will be raising funds for their agroforestry tree planting mission in the UK.
