Here’s how ridiculous this is: It’s easier to list the major retailers that won’t be open on Thanksgiving than it is to list those that will. Among the retailers allowing their workers the day off to share a meal in celebration are Costco, REI, Nordstom, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Pier 1 Imports, Home Depot and Sam’s Club (although Wal-Mart leads the tide of stores that will be open.)
And to wrap it with a big black bow, some are referring to the day as Black Thursday rather than, well, Thanksgiving.
Recognizing that the subject approaches curmudgeon territory, it’s not too much to ask that the day be left as one that allows as many people as possible to be with their families. Of course, there are plenty of people who work on Thanksgiving, not to mention Christmas and other holidays. Those working in public safety, health care and other occupations that require staffing every day, around the clock, deserve our appreciation.
But we can wait a day longer to buy a 42-inch flatscreen TV, can’t we?
Some will note that those stores choosing not to open on Black Thursday are milking their “Closed for Thanksgiving” signs for publicity. Certainly, they are counting on impressing some shoppers who would prefer to shop somewhere that values its employees more an additional day of sales. Some shoppers are content to buy according only to price, but others prefer to patronize stores that they believe share some of their values.
And maybe the blame lies not with the stores that plan to be open on Thanksgiving but with shoppers themselves.
Consulting firm Accenture surveyed shoppers recently and found that 45 percent of Americans planned to be out for Black Thursday, up from 38 percent in 2013. And only 32 percent said they didn’t plan to shop on Thursday so they could be home with family, down from 41 percent last year.
So, are we more interested in scoring a great deal on a gift for a family member than we are in sharing a meal with that family member?
Here’s the irony: The Black Thursday and Black Friday deals are rarely that big of a deal. “Doorbusters” typically are items in limited supply at each store, which means that if you haven’t started lining up outside the Wal-Mart on Wednesday you’re likely out of luck.
There is one shopping day we’re happy to promote. Saturday, following the blackness of Thursday and Friday, is Small Business Saturday, which encourages shoppers to make their holiday purchases at locally owned shops. You can find out more at tinyurl.com/SBAsaturday. By doing so shoppers support the local economy, help keep small businesses open and help provide jobs for their friends and neighbors.
And you won’t miss out on any pie on Thursday.
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