How to make better purchasing decisions – not just on Black Friday sales

Online shopping is an enormous convenience, especially for people who don’t have much time to move between brick-and-mortar stores – or simply don’t enjoy it. During sale seasons, the ability to take advantage of multiple attractive deals almost simultaneously, all from the comfort of your home, is particularly valuable. Still, it’s worth approaching it all with common sense, moderation, and the ability to make conscious decisions.

The holiday of frenzied consumption

Black Friday is one of the most important days for bargain hunters – but at the same time, it’s far from a cheerful one for the planet. The carbon footprint generated by mass overconsumption contributes to the ongoing degradation of the natural environment and brings us closer to exhausting non-renewable resources. Is it possible to combine big discounts with conscious shopping?

Impulse-driven purchases sparked by irresistibly low prices often lead to waste: around 80% of items bought during major sales end up in the trash shortly after, without being properly recycled. These were the findings of the Building a Circular Economy report prepared by independent experts from Green Alliance in 2019. According to recent forecasts, this year’s Black Friday deliveries alone could generate nearly 430,000 tons of greenhouse gases.

Practicing conscious shopping

So how can we make the most of seasonal discounts without contributing excessively to the climate crisis? The answer lies in conscious shopping – thoughtful and responsible decisions about what goes into your shopping cart, both virtual and real. Making such a decision requires a bit of preparation. It’s worth spending at least half an hour researching and comparing different products to choose what truly meets your needs.

Above all, take a moment to reflect on what you really need – and how a new purchase will genuinely improve your daily life. If you’re buying furniture or other interior design elements, start by creating even a rough layout of the room to ensure that what you choose fits both the style and the dimensions of the space.

Take your time. Do some research not only on the product but also on the manufacturer. Pay attention to materials and their origins. It’s also worth learning more about the brand – its core values and how they are put into practice.

Assessing product quality when shopping online

When you can’t physically interact with a product, only view it through a screen, it can be harder to judge its quality. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to minimize the risk of disappointment.

• Verify the seller – whether you’re buying from a large marketplace or a brand’s official website, always gather as much information as you can about the seller. Look for reviews on Google, forums, and social media. Pay attention not only to product feedback but also to comments about customer service and communication quality.
• Learn as much as possible about the product – read descriptions, specifications, and technical details carefully. Make sure the information is precise and complete. Check what materials the product is made from, where they come from, and whether there are any certifications confirming quality or sustainable sourcing. If possible, find out where the item was manufactured. Size also matters – especially for clothes, shoes, furniture, and home accessories.
• Review warranty and return policies – even after thorough research, a product might still not meet your expectations. In such cases, a transparent and simple return policy is crucial—make sure you understand it before placing an order.
• Read customer reviews – reviews from other buyers are invaluable when deciding whether to buy or not. Look for verified opinions on trusted platforms. Focus on reviews that go beyond simple praise and describe specific qualities, durability, usability, or flaws.
• Order material samples – before making a larger or more expensive purchase, such as furniture, home decor, or even certain clothing items, it’s a good idea to order material samples. This allows you to assess the quality, color, and texture – or, in the case of our desks, the type of wood – before committing.
• Compare similar products from different brands – finding the perfect item often takes time. Compare several similar products and analyze not only the specifications but also the reliability of descriptions, photos, and videos. Price plays an important role, of course – but be cautious: a suspiciously low price can be a warning sign of equally low quality. Sometimes, if something seems too good to be true – it probably is.

Bigger purchases: how to buy a personalized desk online

For most people, buying a good-quality desk is a significant investment, which makes Black Friday an excellent opportunity to get premium quality at a more affordable price. But it’s also a purchase that deserves careful thought.

Choosing the right dimensions

When planning to buy a desk tailored to your needs, start by identifying those needs precisely. The first question is how much space you require on your desktop. Consider:

• how many monitors you use and their size;
• whether you need extra space in front of the monitor for documents or other work materials;
• the depth of the desk to ensure proper screen distance from your eyes (especially important for large monitors);
• what other essentials you keep on your desk daily—make a list of tools and accessories you need at hand;
• whether your current desk space feels sufficient.

Classic or adjustable?

An adjustable standing desk is ideal for people working remotely or in hybrid setups. Alternating between sitting and standing helps protect your spine and overall health – crucial when you spend most of your day at home.

A classic desk, on the other hand, works well in smaller spaces – but not only. When properly configured, it can also make an elegant addition to a spacious office. Even with our Oakywood Classic Desk, you can customize the height of the tabletop to your needs using our 3D configurator.

Cable management

When designing your desk in our configurator, it’s worth including a cable grommet and adding an under-desk cable organizer to your order. If you use two or more monitors, we recommend adding one large, central grommet where your monitors will stand. As for other cables, there’s no need to add multiple holes – run them behind the desk into the organizer instead. Our organizers are adjustable or suspended just 1 cm below the tabletop, allowing flexible management.

When you make thoughtful purchasing decisions, you’ll likely end up buying less – and as we all know, less is more. “Less” often means higher quality, ethical and sustainable production, responsibly sourced materials, fair working conditions, and support for local communities. “Less” also means reducing waste and lowering your carbon footprint. And finally, “less” means creating a harmonious, well-composed interior where every element fits perfectly, providing both comfort and functionality.