Why We Don’t Do Black Friday
Published on 24.10.2025 by Charlotte
At Handover, we’ve been employee-owned since 2022. As an Employee Ownership Trust the company is run for the benefit of its employees. This means that decisions on things like sales, promotions, prices, etc. are all made by the employees, not share holders.
To quote Michael Venus, who previously owned Handover, and who chose to make Handover employee owned when he retired, this means that “The staff can run the company in their own best interest and that any profits benefit the people working there at the time”.
So, why have we decided not to participate in Black Friday?
Every year, as November approaches, you see adverts everywhere for Black Friday. Countdowns, banners, and promises of “the biggest deals ever.” For many companies, it’s the biggest weekend of the year. For us, it’s something we have always avoided.
Even before we were employee owned, Black Friday wasn’t something we felt matched our ethics. Not because we’re against good deals, but because we try to give fair prices all year, not just for one weekend. That way, you can buy what you need when it suits you or the client you are working with, without worrying about missing a “special” sale.
When we make or choose our products, we think about quality, longevity, craftmanship, and whether something is worth the space it takes up in your home or studio. We keep our margins reasonable so our prices stay fair, whether it’s March, September, or November.
Being employee-owned means this real, honest pricing affects all of us, so it’s something we take very seriously. Every member of our team has a stake in what we do, so keeping prices honest isn’t just a business decision made by an executive – it’s a shared value that we all agree on.
Black Friday is about urgency – “buy now or miss out!” We believe buying should feel calm and considered. The products we offer aren’t meant to be impulse purchases; they’re tools and pieces you’ll live with, work with, and enjoy for years to come. By keeping our prices consistent, there’s no need to wait for a certain weekend to get a “better” deal. This doesn’t mean we will never have discounts or run promotions, but we can’t, and don’t want to, compete with huge, one-day shopping events like Black Friday. This way, you can buy when it suits you, knowing you’re paying a fair price, whenever you need the products.
Our main focus is on manufacturing or sourcing products we believe in, working closely with suppliers and our own brushmakers, to make honest, good quality products, and keeping our prices as low as we can, every day of the year.
Thank you for supporting a small, employee-owned business that runs on honesty, good quality products, and hard work; a business that cares about its products and customers.
Hooray!
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