The story of Black Friday and why NIKIN is rewriting it

A battle of discounts and mass consumption - that's how we know Black Friday. But where does Black Friday actually come from? And why is NIKIN doing exactly the opposite this coming weekend?

Black Friday, the day or even the weekend that is teeming with discounts and rebates. But how did it come about? Basically, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the American version of the harvest festival. Originally, people gave thanks to nature for its gifts. And how did this love of nature turn into a love of consumption?

Why is it called Black Friday?

Why the Friday after Thanksgiving (traditionally a Thursday) is called Black Friday is unclear. There are various theories. Some speculate that the many groups of people shopping look like a black mass from afar or that the day helps retailers get out of the red and into the black numbers for the year that is ending. Either way, Black Friday in the US is the start of a long weekend and the shopping season for Christmas.

How did Black Friday come to Europe?

Black Friday, or at least discount offers on this day, was already widespread in the USA and England in the 1960s. In the last decade, these sales have become more and more popular and have also reached other European countries. In Switzerland, Black Friday has become more and more familiar since 2014 and is now a fixed part of the annual shopping calendar. But this also has disadvantages.

The downside of Black Friday

According to utopia.de, the products are not cheaper, but sometimes even more expensive. Moreover, the goods in the sales are not always products that could not be sold, but partly new goods especially for Black Friday. next More consumption always equals more consumption of resources and this can harm nature. That's why NIKIN has been speaking out against more discounts and in favour of more love for nature all month with Green November. On Black Friday itself, we are celebrating Green Friday instead. On this day up to and including Monday, we will not be offering any sales, but instead we will be planting two trees per product instead of one. Because: Green is the new Black!