Push Black Friday back?
Retailers staying open on Thanksgiving Day is hurting families across U.S.
Black Friday sales are beginning earlier and earlier each year as retailers open on Thanksgiving Day to the detriment of families of retail employees across the U.S.
Black Friday — Retailers across the country stayed open on Thanksgiving day for Black Friday sales. Google Images
Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and celebrate everything they have to be grateful for. It is a time to rejuvenate and relax with those closest to you. For college students, Thanksgiving often means returning home to loved ones after months apart, making time with family have even greater significance.
However, people who work in retail are unable to take off from work during one of the most important holidays of the year. Family time is greatly compromised, and college students may find themselves lacking a loved one or two from Thanksgiving dinner. But there is a glimmer of hope that this trend may be changing.
Some stores have decided to take the higher road this year and stay closed on Thanksgiving Day. Retailers such as REI, Staples and Lowes have announced they will remain closed until bright and early Black Friday morning. However, they are in the minority and, quite honestly, are not the kinds of stores people go running to for great Christmas deals.
TIME’s Brad Tuttle recently criticized many businesses that espoused their move to stay closed on Thanksgiving as a kind and selfless move. He pointed out that many of these retailers had nothing to gain from being open in the first place.
“In most cases, the decision to open or close on Thanksgiving (or Black Friday) is based on business strategy in addition to doing the ‘right thing,’” Tuttle said. “By staying closed on Thanksgiving, stores will naturally endear themselves to shoppers who think it’s awful that any stores are open that day.”
Tuttle pointed out those who have decided to close on Thanksgiving are simply enacting a marketing plan that will attract buyers who protest companies that are open on Thanksgiving. Basically companies that remain closed for Thanksgiving do so for financial gain. This is just one more example of how the consumer culture has warped a holiday that is meant for giving thanks for what you have.
When most will be putting Thanksgiving dinner on the table, major retailers will be opening up to the Black Friday crowds. Best Buy and Target are slated to open at 5 p.m. while JC Penney will begin its Black Friday deals at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Employees will work through the night, guiding and helping customers. If they are lucky, there will be leftovers for them in the fridge when they get home the next morning.
College students who work in retail in their college town will not have the opportunity to drive home for a few short days to see family. Parents of students may not have the opportunity to spend valuable holiday time with their son or daughter.
Consumers should not be so obsessed with fighting the crowds for overhyped products. Instead, stay home and spend time with the family. Give thanks for what you have. There is plenty of time until Christmas to find the perfect gift.
If everyone decided to stay home on Thanksgiving it would give stores an incentive to close their doors and send their employees home to be with their families too.
Young is an opinion writer.