Small businesses in Darlington are encouraging people to shop locally this week, with the launch of Black Friday alternative: ‘Colour Friday’.

The national Colour Friday campaign will take place on Friday, 24 November and aims to make people reconsider Black Friday deals by supporting local independent businesses instead.

Black Friday is infamous for its ‘fast fashion’ and consumerism, with flash sales pushing people into making impulsive purchases, and many products ending up in landfill after just a single use.

Holly Tucker MBE, the founder of ‘Not on the High Street’ and ‘Holly & Co’, who’s spearheading the Colour Friday campaign, said: “Colour Friday asks us to think and seek out small business solutions to our purchasing needs because Black Friday sales reached £12.3 billion in 2022, and Amazon was the top retailer. By buying just one Christmas gift with an independent this year, £2.7 billion could be reallocated in the national economy.”

In Darlington this year, new colourful signage will be installed by Darlington Borough Council to celebrate the diverse range of businesses on offer in the town.

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You’ll be able to grab a free hot drink from one of the participating coffee shops, thanks to Newcastle Building Society, whose staff will be handing out re-usable coffee cups and drinks tokens in the town centre.

Visitors to Darlington on Friday can also enter a free prize draw, to be in with the chance of winning a hamper containing gifts, vouchers and tickets supplied by local retailers.

Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy, said: “This is often the ‘make or break’ time of year for independent retailers and by choosing to spend your money with them, you are supporting your local economy and helping to protect the livelihoods of small business owners and the people they employ. Even if it’s just one present – buy local this Christmas.”