Headlines

Thanksgiving Shopping Brings Extra Backlash This Year

A “seismic shift” may be underway.

Published

8 years ago

November 24, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Is Thanksgiving an appropriate day for shopping?

More traditional types will give you an emphatic “no,” viewing the day as a time for family gatherings. But nowadays the masses are voting with their feet, heading to the malls and big-box stores that have tended to open their doors on Turkey Day in recent years to get a jump on Black Friday.

This year looks a little different, however, as a Thanksgiving-shopping backlash seems to be forming and Black Friday is, itself, losing a bit of its lustre.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “at least 50 national retailers” have opted to keep their doors closed on Thanksgiving this year, giving their employees the day off.

The newspaper explains: “Some call it a seismic shift for retail with the unprecedented number of store closures this year; others call it a cultural backlash to corporate excess.”

Whatever you call it, it may be a recognition that it’s not quite as important for retailers to get an early start on Black Friday as it used to be.

Retail consultant Jeff Green told the Inquirer: “Because retailer ‘door-buster savings’ are common throughout November, it has taken the wind out of Black Friday.”

He said retailers are focusing more broadly on the seven weeks following Nov. 1, and the week leading into Christmas in particular.

Experts say Saturday, Nov. 17, not Black Friday, will likely be the biggest shopping day of 2016.

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