Our Give Back Friday Event: Prioritizing Community Over Consumption

Scout Will Donate 10% of Net Sales During Black Friday Weekend

Toronto, CA: At Scout, we are believers in the notion that we are stronger when we stand together. That’s why this year we will be running our Give Back Friday Event and donating 10% of our net sales from November 27 until November 30 to Food Banks Canada as our way of prioritizing community over consumption.

This event intentionally coincides with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, sister holidays that often deflect from the importance of independent businesses. Traditionally, we like to take that time to practice gratitude for the community that sustains us through value-aligned discounts while also taking the opportunity to emphasize the importance of supporting small businesses as a way of positively impacting the local economy. This year, we are hoping to evolve this approach through our Give Back Friday Event.

“We've always felt a pressure to participate in Black Friday deals even though it really does more harm than good for a small business like ours,” explains Leah Eyles, Owner & Founder of Scout. “This year we wanted to consider ways we could use Black Friday and Cyber Monday as an opportunity to give back and remind our communities how important small businesses are in strengthening their local economy. This pandemic has really shone a light on food insecurity in Canada, so we've partnered with Food Banks Canada because we believe everyone should have the right to food.”

Now more than ever, this is an important issue for us to address. In September, CTV News reported a 39% increase in Canadians experiencing food insecurity in the first two months of the pandemic’s unfolding. This translates to one in seven people, particularly those in low-income and BIPOC communities. The article cites several systemic issues including financial precarity and the rising cost of living.

In their own words, “Food Banks Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. We support a network of Provincial Associations, affiliate food banks, and food agencies that work at the community level to relieve hunger. Our work is focused on maximizing collective impact, strengthening local capacity, and reducing the need for food banks.”

Profit-driven holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday clash with Scout’s values. We focus on increasing awareness, encouraging intentional purchases, and building meaningful relationships with our shoppers. By uplifting handmade, Canadian and independent makers, we hope to offer you a catalogue that brings you lasting joy rather than encouraging hyper-consumerism. We hope that you join us in this direct collective effort that helps us to nurture our community-building ethos and together help make small and meaningful change in our city.

ABOUT SCOUT
Scout is an independent gift shop in Toronto with a focus on handmade goods from Canadian and independent makers. They pride themselves in curating thoughtful goods that they stand behind and feel will offer something special to the homes and lifestyles of their clients, as well as their loved ones. To their biggest fans, they’re also known as the store with something for everyone, and the best card selection in the city!

Scout opened its doors in September of 2011 in beautiful Roncesvalles Village and opened its second location in Leslieville in November 2018. Scout prioritizes their supportive communities and their relationships with neighbours and customers alike. They’re so grateful to have had such amazing support throughout the years which has allowed them to flourish within the community.