The article in the url below reports REI's decision last Thanksgiving to "cancel Black Friday":
"Outdoor gear and sporting goods retailer REI is canceling Black Friday this year. No promotions, no hourly sales, no doorbusters, no waiting in line."
Instead, the adventure retailer is encouraging consumers to #OptOutside:
"In an unprecedented move for the modern-day holiday shopping season, REI's 143 stores will be closed the day after Thanksgiving. The co-op business plans to launch a campaign Tuesday encouraging people to forgo shopping to spend time outside instead. With the hashtag #OptOutside, REI will ask people to share what they're doing on Black Friday on social media."
Of course, the cynical side of me notes that REI has a vested interest in everyone spending more time outside. I am sure the firm is hoping that they will buy lots of REI gear in order to do it. But, at least they will not be buying that stuff on Black Friday. And, any pushback against the relentless march of materialism in our society must be a good thing, right?
For more detail on REI's campaign (which continues this year) and its underlying motivations, see: http://optoutside.rei.com/
And for a list of companies that will not be open this year on Thanksgiving Day (and the few that will also be closed on Black Friday), see: http://bestblackfriday.com/blog/stores-closed-on-thanksgiving-and-black-friday-2016/
Have a good weekend
David
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REI Closing on Black Friday for 1st Time in push to #OptOutside
By Hadley Malcolm
October 26, 2015
USA Today
