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3 Inspiring Brands Aim To Give Back On Black Friday

Here's a look at three inspiring ways brands will cash-in (and give back) on Black Friday.

Photo: Erica Nicole, Founder and CEO of YFS Magazine; Source: Jhnea Turner, Photographer
Photo: Erica Nicole, Founder and CEO of YFS Magazine; Source: Jhnea Turner, Photographer

As soon as they finish digesting their Thanksgiving meals, many Americans will head out for a shopping binge. In fact, some will skip dessert altogether and cozy up with their laptop or head out the door to snag their favorite deals.

“The National Retail Federation recently reported that an estimated 137.4 million people are considering getting a head start on their holiday shopping over the course of this year’s Thanksgiving weekend.”

According to ADI’s 2016 “Holiday Prediction,” report, based on an analysis of 1 trillion visits to more than 4,500 retail websites and 55 million SKUs:

 

  • Thanksgiving Day will grow the fastest, reaching $2 billion in online sales (15% YoY growth)

  • Black Friday will set record sales, passing $3 billion for the first time; reaching $3.05 billion (11.3% YoY growth)

  • Cyber Monday will be the largest online shopping day in history;  hitting $3.36 billion in online sales (9.4% YoY growth)

 

While the hysteria of Black Friday here in the U.S. is not new, the creative ways in which retailers aim to grab a slice of the pie are becoming more inventive each year. Yet some companies aim to give big and celebrate Black Friday in a different way.

Here’s a look at three inspiring ways brands will cash-in (and give back) on Black Friday:

 

1. Patagonia to donate 100% of Black Friday sales

Cause association is not new, however donating 100% of Black Friday promotional sales (to the tune of millions) is fairly unheard of. The Outdoor retailer Patagonia says it will donate 100% of its Black Friday sales to grassroots environmental groups this year. “Patagonia typically brings in millions of dollars in sales on Black Friday. But this year, the outdoor clothing retailer is giving away everything it makes that day,” according to CNN.

 

Source: Patagonia.com
Source: Patagonia.com

The company is determined to to use every means at their disposal to defend the world’s climate, air, water and soil. In an open letter, Rose Marcario, the President and CEO of Patagonia, Inc., states: “At Patagonia, we will grow and deepen our resolve to protect what we love. We will fight harder and smarter, and use every means at our disposal to prevail for the sake of the country, the planet, and the wild places and creatures that need our voice. We are here and we’ll keep fighting. 100 percent on Black Friday, 1 percent every day.”

Patagonia funds grassroots environmental organizations throughout the year by giving away 1 percent of sales – to date that amount totals $74 million. Learn more

 

2. Zappos to giveaway 9,000+ free pet adoptions

Zappos has teamed up with Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, to facilitate 9,000 pet adoptions this #PawlidayZ. Their goal is to honor the 9,000 dogs and cats killed in America’s shelter each day simply because they do not have a safe place to call home. 

 

 

From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Zappos will cover the adoption fee for the cat or dog of your choice when you adopt through Best Friends Animal Society or select locations in the No More Homeless Pets Network. Learn more

 

3. NO.GIFTS aims to spark a ‘giving revolution’ on Black Friday

“Don’t gift things. Gift meaning.” This is the credo behind, NO.GIFTS, an online charity platform, that matches you with causes and charities that align with your values.

Co-founded by Hitha Palepu and Samira Panah, NO.GIFTS is the brainchild of Hitha Palepu and Samira Panah, the co-founders of Bridge2Act. Their new site enables users to create personalized donation pages for their favorite nonprofits, in lieu of physical gifts. Users can also upload videos and photos, explaining why they don’t want friends and family to shop for them on Black Friday.

 

 

For consumers who are tired of giving “stuff”, NO.GIFTS founders urge them to give impact instead. Learn more

 

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