This article was provided by nShift.
This Black Friday, deals and discounts will not be enough to appeal to increasingly eco-conscious consumers. Shoppers will also be seeking a sustainable experience.
Indeed, several retailers have turned away from Black Friday in recent years and adopted a ‘Green Friday’ approach by stepping away from discounts in an effort to distance themselves from overconsumption and the impact it has on the planet. Patagonia, Ikea, and Sofology are among the retailers that followed this path.
But for those still participating in the annual event and looking to draw shoppers in with money-off deals on fashion, electricals, homewares, and much more, greener thinking should go a long way.
Recent research reveals that consumers are more environmentally focused than ever before. Some 60% claim that a company’s sustainability credentials influence their purchasing decisions. As well as seeking to buy sustainable products, they are equally concerned about how their purchase is delivered. As many as 91% of online shoppers expect to find an eco-friendly delivery option at the checkout.
Against this backdrop, nShift’s latest guide “How retailers can deliver a greener Black Friday” offers four steps towards sustainable shipping for Black Friday and beyond. They are, as follows:
- Offer sustainable delivery options – growing concerns around their own carbon footprint mean that many consumers are prepared to wait for a delivery if it means reducing emissions.
- Optimise “last-mile” deliveries – if warehouses have real-time information on what will arrive when, they can make last-mile deliveries as efficient as possible, avoiding unnecessary repetition.
- Track emissions and create a benchmark for improvement – strategies to improve emissions are only meaningful if businesses have accurate information on the current state of play and whether their strategies are working.
- Reduce waste by converting unwanted purchases into exchanges – a third of Black Friday purchases are returned. But if they are easy for warehouses to relist for purchase they can quickly be sold again.
Richard Anderson, chief customer officer at nShift, commented: “Today’s shoppers are more sustainably minded than ever.
“This Black Friday, discounts won’t be enough to attract their attention. They will want to be convinced by the environmental credentials of the companies they are buying from.”
He added: “By offering environmentally-friendly delivery options, and taking other measures to tackle emissions, retailers and web shops can help give consumers the sustainable shopping experience they seek.”
[Image credit: nShift]
