I've not been really big on Black Friday, nor Cyber Monday... It has become a contemporary tradition to go shopping the weekend after Thanksgiving here in the US, and it has become the biggest shopping weekend of the year for some businesses. Even our local fabric store was having big weekend specials they were calling "Doorbusters", and I made the mistake of stopping in for supplies... Argh. Big mistake.
I understand the idea behind saving money. Really I do. I don't have anything against a person looking for the best deal and spending as little as they can. But the last couple of years have seen a lot of customer "recklessness" in their attempts to get that outlandishly priced sales item. People line up for hours as businesses open their doors early, or even stay open late for "pre-sales sales". This year, there have been various reports of a woman assaulting other customers with pepper spray to prevent them from taking all the sale items before she could reach them. There's also been customers shooting each other over sales, and I just heard about an entire line of people that let an elderly gentleman collapse from illness, stepping over his body as they proceeded into the store...
I shake my head at these things and think, "Is this what we've become?"
I don't participate in Black Friday. On purpose. But then again, maybe that's because I'm a guy. I've read that guys approach shopping as a "tactical experience" while women approach it as a "philosophical debate". Have you ever tried to simply find a parking spot at a store so you could even get inside to shop at all on Black Friday? I have. Simply put, my "tactical experience" ended in the parking lot, and I've never looked back.
I'm not sure I understand why there's such a frenzy to spend money on this particular weekend... I guess I just value different things when I shop. Like my sanity. And my ability to breath. I'm willing to forgo a sale to keep these things. No savings is worth giving them up. I guess I don't value "things" as much as others do.
I have a theory about that. I think it boils down to the skills I've developed over the years, and my ability to "make" things. I don't feel the need to buy them. I enjoy the process of making and giving if I can. I think that sort of short circuits the overwhelming need to buy stuff, because I know that a gift from my heart is worth much more than a stereo component or a new flat-screen TV. I just don't get it. I don't think I ever will.
So for all those people who don't find what they want on Black Friday, Cyber Monday has become the biggest sales day in the US online as people turn their attention from brick-and-mortar stores to online shopping opportunities. I've seen so many sites this weekend offer free shipping, it's almost smarter to simply let your fingers do the walking and stay home while it's all mailed to your door. That might be what I'll do, but I still don't feel the need to shop, then shop some more, and then shop even harder...
I know that sounds antithetical to my own business success (as I should be encouraging others to spend their money on my stuff) but there's something inherently "artificial" about these conjured up opportunities to spend money... Honestly, if you want something, I hope you'll buy it, but it's already at the lowest price I can offer it...
And as an artist, do I really want people to buy my stuff who are looking for "deals"? Is that the demographic that I'm marketing to? I don't think so... Those kinds of shoppers would inevitably be disappointed that I don't have a "buy one, get one free" offer, nor a percentage discount. I do include tax and shipping in my price for orders in the US--but that's regardless of whether it's the holiday season or not. The whole point is to encourage relishing artistry, not relishing thriftiness...
So I encourage you to shop this holiday season with your heart as well as your wallet. Consider what you're paying for and where it came from, not just how much you'll be saving. Ponder the experience of giving, not the item given.
And be careful out there... It sounds dangerous.
Until next time, Live Life with Relish!
Top Image from sffoghorn via Flickr. Creative Commons License.
Bottom Image from tshein via Flickr. Creative Commons License.
Comments
Good grief, these people are insane! I would not trade the few dollars saved for the aggravation, exhaustion and sheer crabbiness that would set upon me from all of the hurry and scurry. As I type this, I am sitting peacefully in my jammies, large cup of coffee in hand, after having wrapped most of the Christmas presents I collected at several summer art shows this year.
I spent Black Friday demonstrating at the Mississippi Crafts Center, but I got a peek at the mindset of sale addicts the night before. It was three in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day and six women were sitting at a table at the hotel planning their incursion into the hostile territory of the biggest sale day of the year.There were sales flyers and coupons spread all over the table. They looked like army officers discussing D-Day plans! I listened in horrified (and slightly amused) fascination as they discussed possible routes and schedules. The final mission plan included a short nap followed by Toy'r'Us at 9 PM, then they would split up to hit two different stores at 11 PM. At midnite they would rejoin forces to target Circuit City, followed by another split to hit several clothing and jewelry stores at 4 AM. At five they would break for coffee before resuming the mission. I had to leave before I got the whole list of stores they intended to hit. I did hear that they planned to be finished by 11 AM on Friday. I gave heartfelt thanks I was going to be safe at the Crafts Center, far from the insanity.
Hear, Hear! I 100% agree with all of this! I have another reason to contribute as to why to avoid the horrors. Who needs all that stuff? I have no interested in the tv's and what nots.
The one time I could have profitied was when I bought my mac the saturday after Black Friday a couple of years ago. When the clerk told me I could have saved money if I had been there yesteday... I had a vision as to how packed the apple store normally is multiplied by 20. I am so happy I missed that sale.
That's kind of what I do. I start collecting at the early summer shows and keep going. From a budgetary perspective, it's way kinder to my wallet + I am buying art from artists+ I can avoid stores. It's a win-win-win.
I'm with you on that, Jacquelyn. Still enjoying the turkey leftovers and thinking, just thinking about shopping for the holidays. Actually I shop all year long at art fairs so always have a fine stash.
I agree with Karole. I avoid stores at the best of times and Black Friday is definitely not the best. My heart is simply aghast at the soul-less, crass consumerisn that seems to have taken over. If people quit tackling each other over mass-produced garbage and purchased items with a little more soul, sales for artists would soar.
THANK YOU!!! Corey, it isn't just because your male. I too have NEVER participated in the nonsense of "Black Friday". I think the shopping gene skipped me. Shopping as pastime, or recreational activity, makes absolutely no sense to me. I do like to save my hard earned $$, but see no good reason to spend my free time "shopping" for the best bargain. I'd rather spend my time creatively. So kudos to you Corey!! Join the common sense club!!
Thanks for more of an insight into Black Fridy/Cyber Monday Corey. Obviously these events were promoted initially by retailers (bricks and mortar) as an "event" to boost sales and then not to miss out the online sector got involved as well. They have taught the public well and it sounds like a Pavlov's Dogs reaction with people getting all excited at the thought of sales.
In Australia we have Boxing Day sales by the larger retailers (bricks and mortar only) with some similar frenzy in action, although as a rule, Australians seem a bit more laid back about it all and many don't bother - it seems to be limited to people who live in cities I guess. I've never been to a Boxing Day sale in my 46 years and neither has anyone in my family!
I'm promoting handmade/handcrafted/artisan as much as I can and people are slowly responding, seeing the worth in items that have taken time, care, skill and artistry to make. But many people still want their technological devices over everything else so I think we've got a long haul in front of us convincing them all!
It's a crazy world out there! I'm proud to say that I Black Friday shopped at the Eye of the Dog Art Center outside of San Marcos, TX. Various artists were set up for a holiday market. I bought myself two dichroic pendants for Christmas. Everyone else is getting something that I made.