Andrea Felsted, Columnist

Boycott Black Friday and Save the World

Forcing stores to rein in their promotions could cut environmental damage and help fatten profit margins.

November 28, 2019 at 7:00 AM UTC

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

Bracing for a backlash?
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe

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On London’s Oxford Street last weekend, you could almost forget we were in the midst of a retail apocalypse. Christmas lights and a slew of special offers marking an ever earlier start to the imported bargain frenzy, Black Friday, brought out the crowds. Similar holiday cheer and promotions have spread elsewhere in Europe too.

But European retailers face a new worry: shoppers deliberately staying away in order to safeguard the planet.