Why I’m Not Offering a Black Friday or Cyber Monday Sale
As a maker and small business owner, I’ve been considering whether to offer a Black Friday sale. While it’s tempting to join the bandwagon and offer discounts, I’ve decided against it. Here are my reasons:
- Firstly, Black Friday sales can be a double-edged sword. While they can help me attract new customers and increase sales, they can also hurt my brand image. Offering discounts can make my products seem less valuable and can lead to a perception that my products are overpriced.
- Secondly, Black Friday sales can be a logistical nightmare. I might have to deal with a sudden surge in orders, and as a small business owner (yes, it's just me here most of the time, fulfillling orders and creating new products) I only have a limited capacity. If I fall behind then my customer services will suffer, resulting in negative reviews. I might also have to deal with returns and exchanges, which can be time-consuming and costly.
- Thirdly, Black Friday sales can be a distraction from my core business. Instead of focusing on creating new products or improving existing ones, I might end up spending all my time and energy on planning and executing a sale.
- Finally, Black Friday sales might not be as effective as we think. According to a study by consumer group Which?, most Black Friday deals do not offer genuine discounts . In fact, some retailers temporarily raise prices of goods just before Black Friday, so they would seem discounted by the time the sales day arrives. This means that I might not see a significant increase in sales or revenue, and I refuse to resort to such underhanded tactics as creating a false 'sale'.
In conclusion, while Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales might seem like a good idea, they might not be the best fit for my business. Instead of offering discounts, I’ll continue creating the best range of products that I can, whilst continuing to provide great value and customer service.