Thursday, October 20, 2016

Retail Blog: Bring Back Black Friday


Bring Back Black Friday
              This year, Thanksgiving weekend will be looking a little different. Due to backlash the past few years, several companies have decided to keep Black Friday exclusively to Friday; this means that participating stores will open at 6:00am on Friday morning as opposed to 6:00pm Thanksgiving night. The operator of 89 regional malls and shopping centers, CBL and Associates, will be closing 73 of its locations on Thanksgiving Day. This includes the Mall of America, which has been open on Thanksgiving for the past four years, and retailers like Costco, Home Depot, and REI. Many of these retailers claim that their motive for closing their stores is due to their desire to reclaim Thanksgiving Day as a day for giving thanks with loved ones. This may not be the only motivation for several of these retailers.
              The real motivation behind the store closures has to do with money. The past few years, Black Friday sales have been decreasing. The day is also on the brink of losing its title as the biggest shopping day of the year, expected to not even rank in the top 10. By closing on Thanksgiving, companies are hoping to bring back the true Black Friday experience and bring popularity back to the day. This may also eliminate negative press that has been emerging about being open on the Thanksgiving Holiday

              Customers are viewing Costco, Home Depot, and REI’s actions as a step in the right direction. Do you believe other retailers should follow in their footsteps?

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