Why We Don't Do Black Friday

WHY WE DON’T DO BLACK FRIDAY

Our entire team has the day off, but you can shop with us online 24/7!

While some people enjoy waking up at the crack of dawn to wait in lines, duke it out with fellow shoppers, and in general spend a day deep in consumerism, we feel like it’s a day to spend relaxing, enjoying family, and definitely catching your breath after your Thanksgiving efforts. And while we welcome you to shop What’s Good online on Friday in the comfort of your cozy clothes, here’s why our shop and office stays closed on Friday.

Taking a stand against stereotypical gender roles during the holidays

The holidays are times for gathering with family and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives. We know plenty of men who prep, clean, and prepare food for Thanksgiving, however holiday gatherings like this tend to reinforce normative gender roles that are outdated at best, and limiting and even harmful to some:

"In most households across the U.S. it is women and girls who will do the work of preparing, serving, and cleaning up after the Thanksgiving meal. Meanwhile, most men and boys are likely to be watching and/or playing football. Of course, neither of these activities are exclusively gendered, but they are predominantly so, especially in heterosexual settings. This means that Thanksgiving serves to reaffirm the distinct roles we believe men and women should play in society, and even what it means to be a man or a woman in our society today. In other words, Thanksgiving rituals provide a platform for many to live out and perpetuate heteronormative stereotypes."*

Each year, our team members have the day off to spend time with their families without the pressure of having to work. In addition to acknowledging and appreciating their hard work, we hope this also serves as a step toward advancing gender equality in the workplace, and expresses our support of efforts to work toward a gender-equal world.

Taking a moment to consider who HAS to work on Black Friday

It's important to remember that many people in the service industry and essential workers don't have the privilege of choosing whether or not they work the day after Thanksgiving. For hourly workers, especially those in retail and healthcare, the holiday season often means long hours and little time off to spend with their families. It's important to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices that these individuals make to ensure that essential services are still available, even during the holiday season. And maybe by not visiting big box stores in person on Friday, we send a bigger message to the big box stores.

Offering an alternative to the culture of over consumption

Let’s not overlook the fact that Black Friday stands for just about everything What’s Good is not: mass consumerism, big box retailers paying rock-bottom wages so they can make the biggest profit margins selling mass produced goods (likely produced overseas where labor practices are questionable), without any – or very little – thought about what goes in them. Asking folx to work on a day they might rather be with family or resting or traveling. And what's worse, making the discount available only on that day.

We’re all for finding great deals and supporting small businesses on Small Business Saturday (the day after Black Friday) and we're glad this reminder exists. That said, even this day seems too close to Thanksgiving and ill placed between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, essentially 'forcing' small businesses to heavily discount. Why can’t it be a week later or a week earlier? More importantly, why not make small business shopping your thing to do year-round?

Why it feels good to shop What’s Good:

• We are a woman-owned local business with a national presence.
• We sell vetted eco-friendly & ethically made products at fair prices.
• We support American makers and local and minority-owned small businesses.
• We ship sustainably & plastic-free, reusing gently used boxes & materials.
• We give back and support environmental & social justice causes and charities. This season, a portion of every order will be donated to World Central Kitchen as they provide meals to people in crisis around the world. 

Don’t forget, we’re also a 1% For The Planet partner. So when you shop with us, you do double good.

Thank you for supporting small businesses like ours!

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*Source:  Cole, Nicki Lisa, Ph.D. "What Sociology Can Teach Us About Thanksgiving." thoughtco.com/what-thanksgiving-reveals-about-american-culture-3026223.