Support small businesses this Christmas: Everything you need to know about Colour Friday

It’s that time of year already. The shelves are stocked with gifts, the Christmas adverts have returned to our screens, and the present buying season is well under way. What’s more? The retail bonanza that is Black Friday is fast approaching.

It’s forecasted that Brits will spend upward of £9 billion on Black Friday ‘deals’ over just one weekend. Whilst it’s expected that spending will be around 8% less than in 2021 due to the cost-of-living crisis, the occasion will still see a remarkable over consumption of unsustainable consumerism.

The alarming truth of Black Friday is…

·      Up to 80% of Black Friday purchases are thrown away after just one or even zero uses.

·      Upward of 400,000 tonnes of carbon is forecasted to be emitted from Black Friday home deliveries alone - the equivalent impact of more than 215,000 return flights from London to Sydney.

·      89% of shoppers reported finding Black Friday stressful.

·      A quarter of Brits say they regret their Christmas BlackFriday buys.

So, what’s the alternative? Colour Friday…

What is Colour Friday?

Colour Friday is the biggest date in the independent shopping calendar. It’s a retail revolution set up business advocate and founder of Not On The High Street, Holly Tucker.

Colour Friday is a day when consumers are encouraged to shop small for their Christmas gifts. The campaign is an appeal to #VoteWithYourMoney for the kind of world you want to live in.

How to join in with Colour Friday:

·      Shop with independent businesses and choose unique and carefully made gifts.

·      Choose gifts made to last, rather than mass produced items destined for landfill.

·      Think quality over quantity and support your favourite independents that you want to be here beyond Christmas.

What is the future for small businesses?

This year, the Colour Friday campaign is more important than ever. In a recent poll, half of UK small business owners said they’re genuinely concerned that this will be their last Christmas trading. What’s more? According to the Federation of Small Businesses, 500,000 small UK businesses could go bust before Christmas has even arrived.

With the uncertainty that came with the pandemic, and now with the resulting cost-of-living crisis, small businesses have battled through several turbulent years of trading and need the support of consumers more than ever. 

What does it mean for Amaranthine?

Thoughts from Amaranthine founder, Sarah:

As a small business owner, I am extremely passionate about the Colour Friday campaign. I don’t want to live in a world without independent shops and I’m sure you don’t either.

The entire community of small business owners has seen a staggering decrease in sales this year due to the cost-of-living crisis - or, as I like to call it, the cost-of-living challenge. We are all worried about the future of our businesses.

For Amaranthine, I’ve put my heart and soul into building a business I’m proud of, and with that I’ve grown a lovely community. I am determined not to lose it. The passion for creating beautiful, sustainable skincare products is what keeps Amaranthine going. This passion is what all small businesses are made from, and it shines through in quality.

I call the crisis a challenge because it’s important to stay positive.That’s why I have pledged, along with thousands of other small businesses, to join the Colour Friday campaign and shout from the rooftops about supporting independent companies this Christmas.

I’m so very grateful to Holly Tucker for creating Colour Friday, and for all the positive support that it brings to my indie community.

Will you join us and be a #retailrebel on #ColourFriday?

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Exclusive artwork Created by the talented Newton Davey (AKA David Newton), an illustrator, screen printer, picture book maker.