We tried re-writing our thoughts about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, but the words we've shared the last two years still hold true:

There's a lot of cognitive dissonance at play for ethical retailers.

I find myself simultaneously hoping for amazing sales (which means a lot of people are buying a lot of things) and asking individuals to only buy the items that they truly love (which means encouraging people to walk away from an item if it's not "the one").

So what does that mean for the shopping behemoth that is Black Friday?

When it comes to Black Friday, or any holiday shopping, the same buying rules apply for me: items must be ethically made and I must be thoughtful about my purchases. I don’t let myself get caught up in the hype or the sale. If it’s not ethically made and I don’t absolutely LOVE it, I don’t buy it, period. Part of the beauty of buying fewer and better items means I don’t need a bargain because there’s no goal to maximize the number of "things".

That said, I also recognize that sustainable and ethical fashion comes at a higher price. That price is wholeheartedly justified by the quality and craftsmanship of the item, but can be a barrier for some shoppers. It's nice to offer a discount once in a while to reach more people who want to shop ethically.

Those beliefs will always be at the core of Hazel & Rose, and the idea of shopping thoughtfully is why Hazel & Rose even exists. After growing up around blockbuster Black Friday events, it's important to challenge people to think about the biggest shopping weekend of the year differently, and it feels like a necessary preamble to our own Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sale announcement.

We are having a sale. A few, actually. But we're trying things a little different this year. Instead of offering a blanket promotion all weekend long, we're offering a little something each day.  

The shop is closed on Thanksgiving. If you choose to shop with us online that day, 20% of your purchase will be donated to EarthJustice.

The shop is open normal hours on Black Friday, and we hope it's an alternative to the crazed shopping environments you may expect on Black Friday. We'll have drinks, snacks, conversation, and a sale for those on our email newsletter (if you want to get in on that, sign up at the bottom of this page).

The shop is open extended hours on Small Business Saturday (truly our favorite day of the year), from 10am-6pm. We will have a special sale that is only in-store and only happening on Saturday.

The shop is open normal hours the rest of the weekend and into the next week. We are having a Cyber Monday sale, but it's only happening on Cyber Monday (although again, email subscribers get early access), and it's only happening online.

Happy Thanksgiving!

all photos by Matt Hansen.