Black Friday Goes Global – And Not Everyone’s Happy
People don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in France, Russia, or South Africa, but they do shop the day after: Black Friday.
As globalized commerce brings U.S. consumer tastes to shoppers around the world, the Black Friday sales phenomenon has spread to retailers worldwide. Now it’s prompting a backlash from some activists, politicians and even consumers.
This Black Friday, workers at Amazon in Germany went on strike for better pay, while climate demonstrators near Paris blocked one of the retail giant‘s warehouses as well as a shopping mall.
Consumer rights groups in the U.K. and some other countries say retailers use Black Friday as a gimmick to lure in shoppers, but it’s not always clear how real or big the discounts are. Other critics say it hurts small businesses.
To French activists, Black Friday is the symbol of capitalism run amok.
“The planet burns, oceans die, and we still want to consume, consume … We will not betray our children for a 30% discount!” reads a manifesto by groups holding “Block Friday” protests around Paris.
Vocabulary:
globalized commerce – (noun phrase) the system of buying, selling, and trading goods and services on an international scale across borders, “The rise of globalized commerce means you can easily buy products from Japan or Brazil with just a few clicks.”
consumer tastes – (noun/plural) the preferences, likes, and dislikes of buyers that influence what products or services they purchase, “As consumer tastes shifted toward healthier food options, the fast-food chain updated its menu.”
sales phenomenon – (noun phrase) an extraordinarily popular, rapid, and widespread buying trend or event in retail, “The release of the new video game console became a massive sales phenomenon worldwide.”
prompting a backlash – (expression) causing a sudden, strong, and negative reaction or public opposition, “The company’s decision to raise subscription prices is prompting a backlash from loyal customers.”
went on strike – (idiom/expression) stopped working as a collective protest to demand better pay, improved working conditions, or other benefits, “The transit workers went on strike after negotiations with the city broke down.”
retail giant – (noun phrase) an extremely large, powerful, and dominant retail corporation, “The online retail giant opened a massive new distribution center in our town.”
gimmick – (noun) a clever, unique, or unusual trick or strategy used primarily to attract attention, publicity, or business, “The free toy inside the cereal box was a successful marketing gimmick to get kids to buy the brand.”
lure in – (phrasal verb) to attract, tempt, or entice someone to go somewhere or do something, “The bakery piped the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls onto the street to lure in hungry customers.”
critics – (noun/plural) people who express disapproval, point out faults, or judge the quality of something, “The new movie received high praise from audiences but was heavily panned by film critics.”
capitalism run amok – (expression/idiom) an extreme situation where the pursuit of profit and consumerism goes completely out of control, causing social or environmental harm, “For many activists, the massive piles of discarded fast-fashion clothing are a clear sign of capitalism run amok.”
betray – (verb) to be disloyal to, let down, or act against the trust of someone who relies on you, “She felt that sharing her friend’s private secret with others would betray their trust.”
manifesto – (noun) a public declaration of policy, intentions, motives, or beliefs, often issued by a political, artistic, or activist group, “The climate group published a manifesto detailing their plans to reduce urban carbon emissions.”