Of all the foreign traditions we could have imported, we chose perhaps the dumbest, reads the crystal clear message from Kristin Hofstad, acting CEO of SMB Norway.
The shopping party Black Friday – or Black Week – has gained a solid foothold in Norway. In recent years, however, the controversial trading phenomenon has met with opposition, protests, boycotts and massive criticism of sustainability.
Quietly, several Norwegian companies have taken action and launched alternative responses to the violent shopping hysteria. The Norwegian book service Bookis is one of these players.
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– We are boycotting Black Friday for the third year in a row. We took a stand from the beginning about not contributing further to the already strong buying pressure that exists that Friday, says Arne-Morten Willumsen to Børsen. He is the founder behind Bookis, together with Lasse Brurok.
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– Vulgar
The book service was launched in January 2018. Bookis currently counts around 300,000 Norwegian users by investing heavily in the resale of books. Willumsen states that the company has had solid growth since its start-up and estimates a turnover of around NOK 50 million in 2021.
Trouble for the book industry: – Critical
– We have grown a lot, and have had a growth of about 200 percent from last year. Although we also offer new books, it is used books that account for most of the sales, he says.
Willumsen believes the growth illustrates that there is a solid market for recycling solutions – and that the heavyweights in the trading industry must wake up.
– It has developed into a vulgar shopping party, where the focus is “buy, buy, buy” of new products. Our overall goal is that the entire e-commerce industry must become far more circular, and focus on sustainable solutions, rather than pushing new goods on consumers.
– Responsible for the worst
Willumsen refers to the well-established lack of resources that the world is now facing. Ikea is among the trade giants that struggling with shortages due to the global shipping crisis. Simultaneously the book industry shouts warnings about international paper shortages.
Intimidated by Black Friday: – Active euthanasia
– This only emphasizes the importance of the fact that we can not continue as we have done.
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He continues:
– It is about making the worst responsible. There are many industries that can take responsibility for the circulation of goods, but who do not choose to use their distribution channel for this. We know that such a change takes time, but I hope we can be an example to follow.
– A rubbish dump
– Cut out the whole shit, agrees Roger Odeh (62).
BAN: – Norway has become a rubbish society, and I do not want to contribute to it, says Alle Tiders owner Roger Odeh about why he is boycotting Black Friday. Photo: Linn-Christin Marthinussen
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He is the general manager of the souvenir shop Alle Tiders in central Oslo. While neighboring stores are preparing for a large influx and the smell of scorched bank cards on Friday 26 November, Odeh announces a full boycott.
– Those who want to drive on with Black Friday, can turn off the light. With me, all prices can withstand full lighting, jokes Odeh, before emphasizing the real point:
– Black Friday means that people buy a lot of things they do not need. Then it ends up in the trash. Norway has become a rubbish society, and I do not want to contribute to that. People should buy what they need.
Emergency call from central Oslo: – It has gone to hell
– Have you considered closing the store completely on the relevant Friday, as some other small players do?
– I’m open. But I say at the same time – cut out all the shit. And rather cut prices for the poor who can not afford to pay 6,000 kroner for a branded jacket. But do not use this day to empty the store of rubbish.
Pandemic framework
According to SMB Norway, small businesses experience that sales stop completely in the days and weeks before Black Friday itself. Thus, the companies also lose valuable turnover.
The situation is particularly critical in the wake of the pandemic – which hit the retail trade hard.
Klesgründer on «black friday»: – It’s the kill
By the way, Odeh was the personification behind the #reddroger campaign last year, where the goal was to focus on precisely the tough pandemic situation the city center companies were in.
Odeh emphasizes to Børsen that he is not opposed to offers. It’s the buying pressure Black Friday is generating he is against.
– I also have offers. Look here, “buy one for 99 or two for 150”, he says enthusiastically and points to a shelf with miniature Viking ships.
Offers are not the problem. But Black Friday creates false demand, and that is the problem, Odeh believes.
Squeezed out
Kristin Hofstad in SMB Norway believes there is every reason to shout warnings. She fears dramatic consequences for small businesses in Norway if the development continues.
Closes in protest: – It’s boiling
– Black Friday grows every year and pushes more and more of the valuable Christmas shopping over from small local shops to the big chains, she points out.
– It is the very biggest players who are the big drivers for this trade party. This is because they have enough muscle to push retail prices so low that they fall below the purchase price for the smaller players.
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Warns
SMB Norway organizes several thousand member companies, most of which have between five and ten employees. The companies span several industries, with retail as one of the largest.
“Perfect storm” creates crisis
– Our member companies that operate in retail, describe a large and unwanted pressure to participate in this. Many also experience that sales stop completely in the days and weeks before Black Friday itself and that it subsequently sharply affects the Christmas shopping, which has traditionally been the most important period for the shops.
Hofstad also comes with a clear warning:
– For us, it is timely to remind that this sooner or later ends up with you as a consumer getting a poorer selection. It removes diversity, and it helps to move both customers and local workplaces away from the city center and into the large shopping centers, is her gloomy prediction.
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