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A Time for Shopping?

11/22/2014

 
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There is a season for everything.  The Byrds sang this theme in their 1965 hit "Turn, Turn, Turn!" which the biblical King Solomon had articulated over two thousand years earlier.  If the third chapter of Ecclesiastes were appended for some of today’s most popular activities, it might include times to email, exercise, eat out, text, tweet, and shop.

Even the most casual consumer recognizes that we are entering the most frenetic shopping season of the year—the holidays.  While Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, used to represent a clear and even start to the holiday shopping frenzy, the starting line has been continually inching forward, first into the early morning hours of Friday, then into the wee hours of Thursday/Friday night, and then into the early evening and late afternoon of Thanksgiving Day.

Of course, things haven’t stopped there.  Now many stores, like Macy’s, Walmart, Sears, and Staples, have decided to be open all day on Thanksgiving.  On one hand uninhibited holiday hours seem to be what many consumers want.  Come Thursday, these stores will experience no shortage of shoppers; if they did, they wouldn’t be open.  In the spirit of the Byrds and Solomon, however, one might ask if Thanksgiving Day should be a time for shopping.

Another significant group of national retailers has answered this question “no” and decided to remain closed all day on Thanksgiving.  Those stores include T.J. Max, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Nordstrom, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Many of these stores have cited respect for their employees as their reason for remaining closed, which is a great reason.  Whether or not they realize it, their closure also represents a gift to consumers.

As important as buying and selling is, it is not an activity that needs to happen all the time.  The growth of ecommerce has enabled shopping at virtually any time and in any place, which is all the more reason people should take a break from it—i.e., everything in moderation.  Even a good thing can become a trap if done in excess.  Hitting the stores on Thanksgiving Day seems like such overload.

Furthermore, shopping on Thanksgiving runs contrary to the very nature of the holiday.  How can we really focus with gratitude on the people and other blessings in our lives if our minds are consumed with our next purchases?

Giving people the opportunity to buy items they need is a good thing.  So is the decision to temporarily forgo commerce in favor of more important priorities.  Congratulations to the retailers who will practice Mindful Marketing by being closed this Thursday, recognizing that Thanksgiving Day is not the time for shopping.
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Danielle Chun
12/9/2014 09:43:45 am

I think this blog post hit the proverbial nail on the head. Increasingly, Thanksgiving seems to be more about the incredible deals offered than about an opportunity to take a break from life's busyness, to breathe and spend time with family and friends. Furthermore, sales are no longer limited to Black Friday; stores are choosing to open earlier and earlier, some on Thanksgiving Day itself. Doing so encourages customers to spend the day in stores and necessitates sales staff having to work. Kudos to Macy's, Barnes and Noble, and the other retailers that chose to keep their doors shut on Thanksgiving. I believe that we need to shift our focus and realign it with the true purpose and reason of Thanksgiving; after all, the holiday is Thanksgiving, not Black Friday.

Drew Gugliuzza
12/10/2014 07:54:19 am

There is something extremely encouraging in the fact that there are still stores holding on to their values and remaining closed until Black Friday actually arrives. The purpose of all the sales of course is to please the customer and create revenue. But hopefully companies are focused on doing so without jeopardizing their employees' holiday. And it is encouraging to see companies doing such. There is much more to gain by remaining closed on Thanksgiving rather than opening up and allowing your customers a chance to light up your income statements. In a society today that is continually quickening it's pace, I am one to support slowing down for the Holidays and not loosing focus of what this time of year is truly for; for family, friends and fellowship.

Rachel Peters
1/12/2015 03:33:52 am

I whole-heartedly agree that stores should not be open on Thanksgiving. As the article alluded to, Thanksgiving should be a time to be thankful for what we have, not pining after things we still want. My mom and I have a tradition of Black Friday shopping together and it is a tradition I love. However, we feel that we cannot contribute to taking retail employees away from their families on Thanksgiving day. I worked in a bakery for a couple years and it was not rare that I put in at least twelve hours on Thanksgiving day (as well as other holidays). It was always frustrating to deal with frantic, stressed customers when I wished I could have been at home with my family enjoying the day. While there is nothing wrong with shopping, I think this article got it right when it states, "Even a good thing can become a trap if done in excess."

C Halim
10/27/2015 01:29:26 am

I find myself torn after reading this blog. On the one hand, I do see your point that closing for the holidays is a gift in its own way. That holidays should be celebrated by focusing on the gratitude and blessing you express to your loved ones. Closing stores on Thanksgiving day will provide consumers and employees with a much needed break from shopping. On the other hand, I find myself leaning to the potential decrease in spending if all stores decided to close on thanksgiving. Spending in good for the economy. It contributes positively to the overall GDP and in the long run it will prevent overinflation of the currency. Holidays, black friday most of all, play a crucial role in keeping sales up. If all stores were to close on the largest shopping day of the year, I am certain the economy would suffer in the long run.

Mayan
10/27/2015 11:26:52 pm

I completely agree with this blog it is mindful. I was shocked and upset last year when the mall and Best Buy decided to open on Thanksgiving day at 8:00 PM. I also, found myself sad and disappointed how a lot of people celebrate Easter as an “egg hunt” theme and Christmas as a “presents” theme, the only holiday where people actually get to take time out of their busy lives to spend with their families and thank God for whatever they are thankful, and it is ruined all by Black Friday. I do not understand why Black Friday has to be two days, instead of just that Friday. There is also Cyber Monday, where it is increasing in sales every year, due to people not wanting to spend long time in long lines nor go to the mall when it's super crowded. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and in my opinion I think that Black Friday should stay as done in the past on Friday 12:00 AM, but not Thursday 8:00 PM!


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