Following the support of a number of its members, and the generosity of consumers, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) is delighted to announce that nearly €50,000 has been raised for conservation as a result of events leading up to and around the Green (black) Friday weekend at the end of last year. Not only this, but the fundraising event held on the association’s stand at the ISPO tradeshow which followed immediately afterwards helped raise another €10,000.
Determined to counter the consumerism associated with Black Friday and make it a force for good, the figures that have come in since the November event have underlined the fact that customers are keen to make sure that the ‘reach’ of their purchases goes further than simply acquiring more material possessions. This could also be seen in the creative way that brands who got involved raised money. As well as raising money through its website, deuter used the date to stage the last event of its Promise Tour at the company’s HQ in Gersthofen to repair outdoor gear free of charge and make it fit again for its next adventure! McKinley made a donation to one of 3 charities (one of which was EOCA) every day during December based on the most creative Winter Wishlist submitted by customers. Other brands which got involved in raising money through online events were Adventure.ie, AKU, La Sportiva, Nikwax Germany, Osprey Europe and Pajak. Added to this was the many items donated to EOCA’s fundraiser on its stand during the ISPO tradeshow, which followed Green Friday, and included Camelbak, whose coffee promotion on its stand to raise funds for EOCA was so popular it sold out of mugs and coffee midway through the show.
Fabrizio Farinoni of La Sportiva HQ commented, ”This is the sixth Green Friday we have used to raise funds for EOCA and the results get better every time. We are proud to be able to use our membership to inform and involve our fans and clients to take action and encourage them to be more responsible in protecting the most precious thing we have and belong to: planet earth”.
