Last year our client, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, MI pioneered the midnight opening. Still technically on Black Friday. This year an hours arms race began. Retailers like Target, Macy's, Kohl's and Best Buy announced they'd be opening at midnight on Black Friday. Now Walmart has announced it will be opening at 10 pm on Thanksgiving night."Our customers told us they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early," Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer of Wal-Mart United States, told the New York Times.
Not sure where this goes next? Although Thanksgiving in brunch form is starting to make some sense. Enjoy your doorbuster circulars on November 23.
At nytimes.com, 200 readers already have commented on a business section article headlined 'Thanksgiving as Day to Shop Meets Rejection.' Excerpt:
ReplyDelete"Judging from the negative reaction from ... shoppers on blogs, Twitter and Facebook, the wave of midnight openings this year has crossed a line.
"Part of the objection is inconvenience. To be at or near the front of the line, shoppers say they will now have to leave home hours earlier — in the middle of the turkey dinner for some.
"But the wider objections reflect sentiments like those of the Occupy Wall Street movement, including a growing attention to the rights of workers and a wariness of decisions by big business.
"Either way, many in the shop-till-you-drop crowd have had enough with Black Friday creep."
http://nyti.ms/s0EKEc
"Black Friday creep" sure sums it up perfectly. Now don't get me started about Target's shrill Christmas Lady.
ReplyDelete