Behind Tropic Skincare’s alternative Black Friday campaign

Tropic Skincare is raising funds for charity this Black Friday
The brand is aiming to fund 80,000 days of education via this year's Black Friday. (Tropic Skincare)

The festive beauty sales have started and some brands have taken a new approach to the biggest event in their marketing calendar...

According to UK-based beauty brand Tropic Skincare, 65 million children worldwide don’t have access to primary education. So rather take a classic approach to the Black Friday sales, the company has launched a ‘Give Back Friday’ campaign for the second year running.

As part of this marketing campaign, when customers spend a set amount they will get exclusive free products and fund a day of education for children in poorer parts of the world through Tropic’s partnership with charity, UWS.

The qualifying spend can be made on any products on Tropic’s website and the offer is split into two tiers. Those who spend £90 on products get a free 10ml Youth Potion Enriched Retinal Complex (worth £28) and fund one day of education. While customers who spend £130 in one purchase get a free limited edition Eternity Collection (worth £44). Plus, they will fund two days of education.

Targeting 80,000 days of education

Last year’s event funded an extra 74,000 days of education and this year the brand is targeting 80,000 days of education.

Funding education has been a company mission for Tropic over the past five years. Its various endeavours have helped it provide 6.8 million days of education across the globe, as well as opening four schools, one in Nepal, one in Cambodia and two in Madagascar.

The brand, which recently celebrated its 20th birthday, was founded by CEO Susie Ma when she was a teenager to help her mum pay the bills.

According to Ma, the brand has a bigger purpose beyond selling beauty products and donates 10% of all profits to charities.

She said that a huge population of children still don’t have access to primary education. “They can’t read, write, or dare to dream bigger than the world they know. We want to do something to help change that,” she said.

This year Ma has upped the brand’s target to reach 80,000 days of education, so has decided to offer better gifts to meet this bigger goal.

She also said that what the brand is funding is “much more than ‘just a school day’.”

“Each qualifying purchase you make ensures children have access to safe school buildings, with plenty of room for learning and playing; Trained teachers who are committed to helping the children unlock their potential; Classroom essentials, including desks, chairs and whiteboards; School libraries bursting with books to encourage a love of literacy; Clean water, bathrooms and health lessons,” she concluded.