Does Discounting Hurt Your Overall Profit?

Author

Deborah Engelmajer
March 14, 2023

I am currently reading a book by Ellen Ruppel Shell called “Cheap: The High Price of Discount Culture”. It’s a very interesting report piece on how our society has been transformed by our obsession with low prices.

From everyday offers (two for one, 40% off, 15% off your first order, etc.) to themed promotions (Valentine’s, Back to School, and the king of them all: Black Friday), there seems to always be a reason to discount products if one chooses to do so. 

Whether that’s sustainable for our society at large is a conversation we won’t have time to get into today (my opinion in one word is, “no” (and you should definitely read Ellen’s book if you’re interested in a deep-dive) but since Black Friday and the craziness that is the fourth trimester in the retail world is around the corner… it could be a good idea to discuss discounting your handmade products.

Is it problematic? Or a marketing necessity? Let's dive in!

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