Independent shops on a town’s high street are encouraging people to shop small and local to combat Black Friday’s mass consumerism.
More than 30 shops in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, are taking part in ‘Colour Thursday’, by staying open late until 20:00 GMT and hosting special events in stores to showcase their products.
Amelia Black, co-owner of the Tetbury Pet Shop, said: “It’s a push back, not against specific corporations but against the wastage that goes on in the industry around Black Friday.”
It follows the creation of Colour Friday, set up nationally four years ago, to help redirect the billions of pounds spent on Christmas shopping towards independent businesses
Ms Black said: “We have such a great high street in Tetbury and your high street is really the hub of the community.
“A lot of people love coming to a great high street for a day out and meet people, without a lovely high street people would really miss it, so supporting it is really important to keep everyone going.”
She said that as well as opening late they are doing a spin the wheel to give customers the chance to get money off or win a prize for their pet.
A special trail map has been created to showcase all the stores opening late, created by local artist Brian Van Zyl.
Tetbury town councillor, Alison Figueiredo, helped set up the event.
“What we are trying to do is to really promote the high street because we have some fantastic independents here,” she said.
“The high street offers a different experience to what internet Black Friday offers, you get a much more personal touch.
“It’s about teaching people how to shop more mindfully as Black Friday does encourage that mass consumerism and a lot ends up in landfill.”
