Fyreside Newsletter - 12/1/25

Hey Reader,

Look, I'm not one for rampant consumerism, but Black Friday used to be an Event. That's right, a capital E, bold font Event. I remember friends and family clamoring into cars at ungodly hours to attempt to secure a flat-screen TV for less than $50. I remember doorbuster deals so insane that you'd feel guilty if you stayed home.

So wtf's up with all this "GeT 20% oFf ThIs BlAcK fRiDaY!" nonsense??

(unrelated: there's an absolutely massive announcement at the bottom of today's newsletter)

Black Friday was Sucked Dry

Ok, follow me here: we all know what happened to Black Friday. After years of sales starting earlier, stores seeing larger numbers of visitors and shrinking margins for brick and mortar retail, there's just not much left. Because the Event was wrung dry of all possible profit, it lost its magic. Maybe that's ok; I'm not here to vehemently defend Black Friday. My point is, we all watched Black Friday wither away.

Now the trend seems to be barely-better-than-average sales that last between a week and a month. The problem is: There's no hype.

People Used to Die!

I'm a sucker for brand loyalty, but please, no one die in the name of Bahnfyre PR.

There's a website called blackfridaydeathcount.com that tracks deaths and injuries in the US on Black Friday. According to BFDC, there have been 17 deaths and 128 injuries since 2006. The deadliest Black Friday to date was 2008. That year, two men gunned each other down in a Toys R Us and a Walmart employee was trampled by approximately 2000 people. These were terrible tragedies and neither should have happened, but look me in the eyes and tell me a few thousand people would trample a human being for 20% off.

Back in 2008, Toys R Us would give you 6 free games, a dvd and a remote control just for buying a PS2. Don't believe me? Here's their ad from that year.

Things Can't Always be On Sale

Reason 1 that the hype is gone: the deals suck. Reason 2 is more important and what I really want to focus on.

Reason 2 that they hype is gone from Black Friday is that things are on sale literally all the time. Modern marketing has led business owners to believe that there is benefit to always running a sale. "Something should always be driving people to purchase" is a common refrain I hear in marketing spaces everyday. Well, let me clue you into reality: perpetual sales feel bad and it fosters bad buyer behavior.

If your product is always on sale, customers will assume one of two things.

This product sucks and you can't sell it.
There will inevitably be a better sale.

Neither of those things are beliefs you want your buyers to hold. Trust me, I am that guy. I didn't go out shopping this weekend because everywhere I wanted to go had sales that I see from them at least once a quarter.

That's Why I'm Doing it Right.

For one day and one day only, I'm running a sale. And it's a real sale, not some bullshit, bogo, schlock.

Right now, you can buy anything on my website for 60% off. That's right nerd, sixty whole-ass percent off.

Consultation calls: ~~$199~~ > $79.60
Social Audits: ~~$499~~ > $199.60
Super Base Camp: ~~$1610~~ > $644

You have 24 hours. Tell your friends, buy someone a holiday gift. If you want to prepurchase a service for someone you know or want a digital "gift card" to send someone, I'd love to work that out with you. If you have someone in your life who is a small business owner or is trying to start something online, I promise this is the best possible gift you could get them. They will love you forever. You will be their favorite.

Use code CYBER60 at checkout.

-MC

p.s.

The sale wasn't the announcement, keep scrolling.
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