Why I Don't Do Black Friday
Every November my inbox fills up with Black Friday emails, and I expect yours does too. Countdown timers, "biggest sale of the year", codes that run out at midnight. The pressure is on.
You won't find any of that at The Leather Store. Quite simply, I don't do Black Friday. I wanted to explain why, because it isn't about being stubborn. It comes down to a few things I care about a great deal.
My prices are honest all year round
When I price a bag, I work out what it really costs to make it well: the leather, the brass hardware, the floral lining, the skilled hours that go into it, and the care kit that goes in every box. Then I add a fair margin so my business can keep going. Those margins have been pushed to the limit over the past 18 months due to rising fuel costs and the US Tariffs and duties, which I also cover.
There's no inflated price sitting there waiting to be slashed. If I could knock 30% off in November, it would mean I'd been charging you too much the rest of the year. I'd rather you know that the price you pay in March is the right price, full stop.
The one exception is the odd end-of-line bag. When I retire a style or have the last few in a colour, I'll sometimes offer a small discount to find them a good home. That's a genuine clearance, not a price that was inflated to begin with.
It wouldn't be fair to the people who've stood by me
I started The Leather Store in 2008. Since then, so many of you have come back again and again: for a second bag, a gift for someone you love, a knitting bag for a friend. Some of you have been with me since the start, and you're the reason I'm still here.
You paid full price because you believed the bag was worth it. It doesn't sit right with me to turn round once a year and give a stranger a better deal than the people who've supported me all along. Loyalty should work both ways. I'd rather repay it by keeping my word on price, quality and service, every single day.
Discounts have to come from somewhere
My leather comes from a family-run tannery and my bags are made by a trusted production partner. Deep discounts don't come out of thin air. Somewhere along the line, someone gets squeezed: a cheaper hide, a rushed job, a supplier pushed for a lower price.
I don't want any of that in my bags. Paying everyone fairly is part of what makes them what they are.
A good bag isn't an impulse buy
Black Friday is built on urgency: buy now, think later. But a full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather bag is something you'll carry for years, and it only gets better as it softens and ages. It deserves a bit of thought.
I'd much rather you take your time, choose the one that's right for you and love it for a long time, than grab something in a hurry because a timer told you to. That's better for you, and better for the planet too.
What you get instead
There's no sale, but here's what you can count on whenever you buy:
Free delivery to the UK and internationally (outside the EU)
Taxes and duties covered if you're ordering from the USA
A Renapur leather care kit in every order, with balm, sponge and a cotton dust bag
Plastic-free, sustainable packaging
A bag I designed myself, and a real person on the other end if you ever need help
If you're thinking about a bag for Christmas, now is a lovely time to have a look, with no pressure and no countdown. And if you've bought from me before, thank you. You're the reason I can keep doing things this way.
The Leather Store was created in 2008 by Beckie, turning her love of handbags and sustainable fashion into a much loved and respected brand.
Classic 70s handbags are the inspiration behind The Leather Store designs. Soft, supple leather, generously shaped, classic silhouettes with a whisper of bohemian and vintage flair. That’s our thing.
You can read more about Beckie and her brand ethos on her Story Page You can contact Beckie by email at hello@theleatherstoreuk.com
