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Already shopped today?
Many people these days should answer the question with yes.
Because on Friday, Black Friday heralded the Christmas shopping season.
Many retailers make more sales during the shopping event than on any other day of the year - all over the world.
Original sound:
“It's great, that's why so many people came. Last year there weren't that many. Accessories are $1 and shoes are $20, all you have to do is find your size and go.”
Black Friday is a global phenomenon.
Especially in the USA, the day has become a tradition for many people.
After celebrating Thanksgiving, millions flock to the country's major shopping malls.
Original sound:
“We got here at 7 p.m. last night. Some of us even left Thanksgiving dinner a little early to get in line early. The first 200 will receive a gift voucher. We're hoping to get one of the higher priced gift cards so we can redeem it for various things. I plan to go to the Lego store. Some people want to buy something for others.«
Despite or perhaps because of the rise in consumer prices due to record inflation, online shopping in the USA is more than ever before.
According to analysts, sales in American web shops will exceed the nine billion dollar mark for the first time this year.
In Europe and Germany, too, many retailers are now extending Black Friday to include a Black Friday weekend or even a Black Week - and promise the cheapest offers for much longer than just one day.
But there is resistance to seemingly limitless consumption.
Greenpeace activists demonstrated on Friday at the corporate headquarters of the largest online retailer Amazon.
They want to draw attention to the consumption of resources that the purchase of new products inevitably entails.
Viola Wohlgemuth, Greenpeace:
“And that's never being pushed as hard as it is on Black Friday, the Fukushima of overconsumption. The day when vast amounts of new products are produced, products are shipped back and forth, and in the end are even destroyed and sent back.«
Black Friday is not even ten years old in Europe.
Despite the sales opportunities, some retailers are not participating or are already rethinking.
Patrick Desrumaux, CEO of fashion brand Xandres:
“We're taking part in Green Friday instead of Black Friday. We're very radical: You can't buy anything from us today. All stores are closed, the webshop is closed. Today, instead of selling, we will give the clothes a longer life by repairing all the clothes that have been brought to us.«
Other shops also participated in Green Friday.
The chain of stores Dille & Kamille also remained closed on Friday in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
According to information on the company website, the employees volunteered with various organizations for nature on the day.
Some companies use the apparently green counter-campaign to draw attention to sustainable products from their own range - and offer discounts for them.
A contrast: Because customers who want to protect the climate should buy as few new things as possible - whether on Black or Green Friday.
If you still want to indulge in the shopping fever, it's worth taking a closer look: In some cases, retailers only increased the prices shortly before the discount on Black Friday.
And already on Monday, Black Friday is followed by what is known as Cyber Monday - online retailers' answer to Black Friday.
Under no circumstances should you let yourself be put under pressure by the many offers.
The next discount will definitely come.