For many stores looking for an edge in the ultra-competitive retail landscape, kicking off the holiday season on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is too late. “For customers who are out shopping on Thanksgiving, they are out for robust discounts and enjoy the hunt”.
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This week is the busiest time of year for retailers who are getting prepared for Black Friday, and Thanksgiving Day for some stores. This year, JCPenney will try to one-up its competitors by opening at 3 p.m.
Individual retailers can decide to stay open outside those hours, mall spokeswoman Susan Spacarelli said.
Big national retailers and malls began opening on Thanksgiving several years ago. Many shop on Thanksgiving because they don’t have family nearby and so aren’t having big holiday dinners. “It is not going to go away…”
Shoppers make their way past the LL Bean store at Colonie Center mall on Monday, November 18, 2013 in Albany, NY.
Some Black Friday sales are creeping even earlier into Thanksgiving this year. “Now, opening on Thanksgiving gives people an opportunity to extend the tradition to Thursday as well”. “It’s a day for families to be together, and the people that have to work should get to be with their families”. Instead, they are directing customers to their websites to shop from home.
The Wall Street Journal reports Wednesday that many malls are actually forcing small stores and restaurants to open for Thanksgiving shopping, by threatening fines in letters that say that staying open on Thanksgiving is mandatory.
This year, Staples, which was open on Thanksgiving the past two years, chose to be closed.
Refinery, a men’s leather goods and accessory store, will be open along at 10 a.m. with the other stores in the Coconut Point mall in Estero, Florida, on the Gulf Coast. The mall reopens at 6 a.m. Black Friday until 10 p.m.
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Meanwhile, outdoor specialty chain REI made the decision to remain closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
