Black Friday and Small Businesses: Why It Feels Like a Complicated Relationship

Every year, as November rolls around, small businesses everywhere start to get that familiar flutter in their stomach. Not from excitement about festive sparkle or cosy winter mugs, but from the looming question that feels impossible to escape.

Are we doing Black Friday this year?

If you run a small creative business, you will know exactly what I mean. Black Friday can feel like that friend who invites you to a very loud party. A part of you thinks it could be fun and full of opportunities. Another part of you wants to stay at home with a cup of tea while avoiding the chaos entirely.

Let's talk about it openly, honestly. Because if you know, you know.

Where Black Friday Comes From

Black Friday began as a big retail moment for huge companies with huge margins and even bigger warehouses. It was built for high volume, fast sales and dramatic markdowns.

Small studios, on the other hand, do not have conveyor belts or towering stockrooms. We have workbenches full of half glazed pieces, clay under our fingernails and the occasional panic when the kiln decides to be moody.

Handmade businesses run on love, skill and time. And time, unfortunately, does not go on sale.

The Complicated Bit

For small makers, Black Friday is not just a business decision. It is an emotional one too.

If we join in, it can feel like we are undercutting the true value of handmade work. Every piece takes hours to design, shape, fire, glaze and finish. A discount sometimes feels like a tiny betrayal of all that effort.

But if we opt out, there is the worry of missing out. People expect deals in November. The internet becomes a whirlwind of flash sales and countdown timers. Staying quiet can feel like whispering in a stadium full of megaphones.

So we sit there, wondering which is the better choice. Join the fun or stand our ground. Party shoes or slippers. The struggle is real.

Why It Matters

Black Friday does have an impact on small businesses, and not always the pretty kind.

• It can create pressure to compete with prices that big brands can afford but small studios cannot.
• It can shift attention away from craftsmanship and toward speed.
• It can encourage buying for the sake of a bargain rather than choosing pieces that are loved, cared for and kept for years.

But it also brings opportunities. People are online, looking for gifts, looking for something special, looking for makers with heart. And that is where small businesses shine brightest.

Finding Our Own Way

The truth is, there is no right answer. Some small businesses embrace Black Friday and create thoughtful offers that still honour their craft. Others choose to celebrate value instead of discounts and focus on storytelling and connection.

At Habulous, we think the best approach is the one that feels good, honest and true to who you are. If a studio discount makes sense, brilliant. If a studio chooses to skip the frenzy and celebrate mindful shopping instead, equally brilliant.

The magic of small businesses is that every one of us gets to do things our way.

A Different Kind of Celebration

Whether small businesses take part in Black Friday or give it a polite wave as it rushes past, one thing remains the same. We are endlessly grateful for the people who support handmade work all year round.

You choose slow made over mass made. You choose craft over convenience. You choose things that tell a story, spark joy and last for years, not minutes.

And that, truly, is worth more than any discount.