It's that time again. Black Friday dominates the web and almost every shop window. Its consequences are serious, because overconsumption leaves serious traces on people and nature. But you could do things differently. Like WINQS and the Berlin City Mission.
Originally, Black Friday was intended to help stores get rid of the last remaining stock so that they could offer new products before Christmas. Now, however, this very special time of year is deliberately targeted. Strategic overproduction ensures that as much merchandise as possible is sold on that day, or rather in those weeks. Regardless of losses.
But what's so bad about being able to treat yourself to something you probably wouldn't otherwise buy? It's not just that so many people allow themselves to be persuaded to buy things they don't even need, which only further deepens our collective ecological footprint. In the global age, massive discounts put pressure on every link in the supply chain and worsen working conditions - from the delivery driver, to the seamstress in the factory, to the cotton farmer.
Sustainable companies therefore do not play this game - at least as long as they don't have to. On the one hand, because they don't want to be part of such buying sprees. On the other hand, because fair production is significantly more expensive and there are good reasons why such discounts cannot be afforded.
At WINQS, we also looked for another way and found it - with the "Good deed instead of lots of discounts" campaign. That's why we are foregoing Black Friday discounts and instead donating a second product to a charity in our home city, the Berlin City Mission, for every product sold. For example, if you buy a pair of running shoes from us in the week from November 20 to 26, 2023, someone who is in urgent need of such a donation will receive a pair of their own.
Of course you can also support the Berlin City Mission in this way, just visit the website of the Berliner Stadtmission clothing store.
Photo: Berlin City Mission
