Black Friday with a difference – raising cash for Magpas

We all love a bargain – but Black Friday sales have received bad press over the years for bringing out the worst in human nature.

At FatFace Ely, they’re using the week leading up to Black Friday to do something amazing.

There will be no flash sales, no pushing or shoving, no queuing up throughout the night to get a bargain.
Instead the company is donating a percentage of all its sales throughout the week to its chosen charity this year – which is lifesaving Magpas.
FatFace crew member Michelle Brown, whose eight-year-old son Xander is a prolific fundraiser for Magpas, suggested the air ambulance, which receives no government funding and has so far been dispatched 1084 times this year.
Michelle said: “Last year FatFace donated to Highfields School, this year it’s Magpas. It’s the company’s answer to Black Friday.”
Manager Dee Sykes added: “If anyone purchases anything in store this week, a certain percentage goes to charity.”
In addition, every customer who makes a purchase gets a token which they can put inside either a Magpas collection box or a FatFace Foundation box, which supports hundreds of local causes. Both will receive donations depending on how many tokens they receive.
The Ely store is also running a competition to guess the name of a fox soft toy, which costs £1 per go.
All proceeds go to Magpas, with the winner announced on Monday next week.
Last year FatFace took the decision not to take part in the discounting phenomenon ‘Black Friday’.
In a press statement, the company said: “This decision was taken as we felt strongly that discounting was not a sustainable model for UK retailers and that it wasn’t great for customers.”
FatFace decided to “make a statement against the discounting epidemic” but launching its Thanks for Giving campaign, which is about donating to good causes instead.
As a result almost £200,000 was donated to the FatFace Foundation nationally and this money was distributed to charities within communities where FatFace trades.
FatFace hopes to build on that total during this year’s Thanks for Giving campaign, which runs from today (November 21) until November 28, which includes the Black Friday weekend.
“FatFace believe passionately that the retail industry can act as a force for good.  Through the unique and innovative ‘Thanks for Giving’ initiative we are committed to making a difference to people and communities.”