Get out. That’s the message from outdoor retailer REI, whose CEO recently announced that the company’s 143 stores will be closed the day after Thanksgiving.
In a bold reversal of retail trends, REI is giving its 12,000 employees a paid holiday and even orders placed online won’t be processed until Saturday. It is encouraging employees and customers to enjoy outdoor activities on Black Friday, whether or not they need the hand warmers, hiking socks and other gear that REI sells.
It is a welcome change from the high-pressure sales tactics that encourage consumers to abandon family and leftovers and head for the mall — earlier and earlier with each passing year. Some retailers have resisted the push to open on Thanksgiving itself, but REI is the first national chain to shut down for Black Friday.
Nearly 90 million Americans went shopping last year on Black Friday, according to the National Retail Federation, and for some families shopping trips become an extension of the time they spend together over their turkey dinner. They’ll still have plenty of options, even with REI closed.
The chain’s decision may be a risky proposition or a smart strategy. Either way, in an era when Americans increasingly demand 24/7 convenience, it’s refreshing to see a company agree that even people who work in retail should be able to enjoy an occasional paid holiday.
Editorial by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Send questions/comments to the editors.
