Applause For REI: They're Closing On Thanksgiving Day
g under p
Posts: 18,196
I just got an email saying they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day......I think they should be given an applause for down playing the chaos on this day.
http://time.com/money/4088989/black-friday-thanksgiving-rei/
Why Some Stores Are Closing on Black Friday
Brad Tuttle @bradrtuttle 12:56 PM ET
Late on Monday, outdoors and apparel retailer REI surprised employees and shoppers by announcing it would be closed on Black Friday, which is traditionally one of the biggest days of the year for sales. REI won’t be processing orders on Black Friday at its website either. “Instead of reporting to work, we’re paying our employees to do what we love most—be outside,” a message sent to REI customers (or rather, members, as REI is a co-op) explained. “While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we hope to see you in the great outdoors.”
REI also created a website, optoutside.rei.com, as well as the requisite hashtag #optoutside to boost publicity for the campaign.
On the one hand, the move seems incredibly bold and selfless. “Any retailer that hears this will be startled by the idea,” REI President and CEO Jerry Stritzke said to USA Today. As he told CBS News on Tuesday morning, the idea is all about being “authentic” to its brand. “For us, encouraging people to get outside was maybe one of the most authentic things we could do,” Stritzke said. “It’s important for brands to always to be true to who they are.”
Cynics, on the other hand, will take note that it’s pretty convenient for a retailer that relies on people wanting to enjoy the outdoors to take an anti-consumerism stance that just so happens to encourage people to go enjoy the outdoors. What’s more, the OptOutside site, created to supposedly help people find ways to enjoy the outdoors, seems to be focused on spreading the word about REI’s movement rather than providing good, practical information for outdoor enthusiasts. The map showing outdoor opportunities is hardly comprehensive—only three hiking trails are listed for all of Vermont, and only three options for skiing show up for the entire U.S.
Clearly, REI and its CEO doing the media circuit hope to get some good publicity out of the unconventional decision to be closed on Black Friday, a.k.a. the “Super Bowl of Shopping.” And yet, is there anything wrong with that? After all, it’s possible to do the “right thing” and do what’s in your own best financial interests in the same breath, all while patting yourself on the back in extremely public fashion.
Read Next: Company That Promised a $70,000 Minimum Wage Is Reaping Rewards
In recent years, the battle over doing the “right thing” has been focused on Thanksgiving rather than Black Friday, with more retailers open on Turkey Day and stores being shamed and boycotted for hosting sales and encouraging people to shop during the holiday traditionally reserved for family time. Still, many of the same issues—shopping vs. family time, more stuff vs. simple pleasures, consumerism vs. being thankful for what you have—are raised regardless of which day we’re talking about.
And yes, it’s fair to applaud retailers’ decisions to stay closed on Thanksgiving while simultaneously questioning their motivations. After being open the previous two Thanksgivings, Staples will stay closed on the holiday this year. That’s nice for Staples employees and their families, but surely some of the decision was based on the fact that few shoppers are clamoring for deals on reams of paper and office desks on Black Friday. Likewise, it would seem to be pretty easy for retailers like Home Depot and Lowes and warehouse clubs such as Costco and BJ’s to remain closed on Thanksgiving because they wouldn’t be big sales days even if they were open. That hasn’t stopped them from posting self-congratulatory messages about staying closed on the holiday, and reminding shoppers they’ll be open bright and early on Black Friday.
A couple weeks ago, a press release announced, “GameStop Takes a Stand!” concerning its “core values” and “doing the right thing to disrupt the emerging trend in the retail industry of taking away holidays from customers and associates.” If you didn’t know any better, you might think the video game retailer was launching a major about-face in policy with the decision to keep doors closed on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, it’s never been open on Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, it wants to get some props for keeping the holiday sacred, and compared to the retailer competitors who increasingly view Thanksgiving as just another day to draw in the crowds and drum up sales, GameStop indeed deserves a little credit.
In most cases, the decision to open or close on Thanksgiving (or Black Friday) is based on business strategy in addition to doing the “right thing.” By staying closed on Thanksgiving, stores will naturally endear themselves to shoppers who think it’s awful that any stores are open that day. By staying closed on Black Friday and encouraging folks to go hiking, skiing, or biking, REI will naturally endear itself (more) to people who love the outdoors—and who probably weren’t going to be elbowing the crowds in the mall on Black Friday anyway.
Above all, there’s something seriously disingenuous about presenting the decision to close as purely a matter of ethics and doing right by employees when money and brand marketing factor in heavily as well. Case in point: A PR representative for a mattress retailer reached out to me recently, hoping to get the store some publicity because it was not going to open on Thanksgiving. As if this was a brave, humanitarian move. Who buys a mattress on Thanksgiving?
Any other stores do you think will also close on this date?
Peace
http://time.com/money/4088989/black-friday-thanksgiving-rei/
Why Some Stores Are Closing on Black Friday
Brad Tuttle @bradrtuttle 12:56 PM ET
Late on Monday, outdoors and apparel retailer REI surprised employees and shoppers by announcing it would be closed on Black Friday, which is traditionally one of the biggest days of the year for sales. REI won’t be processing orders on Black Friday at its website either. “Instead of reporting to work, we’re paying our employees to do what we love most—be outside,” a message sent to REI customers (or rather, members, as REI is a co-op) explained. “While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we hope to see you in the great outdoors.”
REI also created a website, optoutside.rei.com, as well as the requisite hashtag #optoutside to boost publicity for the campaign.
On the one hand, the move seems incredibly bold and selfless. “Any retailer that hears this will be startled by the idea,” REI President and CEO Jerry Stritzke said to USA Today. As he told CBS News on Tuesday morning, the idea is all about being “authentic” to its brand. “For us, encouraging people to get outside was maybe one of the most authentic things we could do,” Stritzke said. “It’s important for brands to always to be true to who they are.”
Cynics, on the other hand, will take note that it’s pretty convenient for a retailer that relies on people wanting to enjoy the outdoors to take an anti-consumerism stance that just so happens to encourage people to go enjoy the outdoors. What’s more, the OptOutside site, created to supposedly help people find ways to enjoy the outdoors, seems to be focused on spreading the word about REI’s movement rather than providing good, practical information for outdoor enthusiasts. The map showing outdoor opportunities is hardly comprehensive—only three hiking trails are listed for all of Vermont, and only three options for skiing show up for the entire U.S.
Clearly, REI and its CEO doing the media circuit hope to get some good publicity out of the unconventional decision to be closed on Black Friday, a.k.a. the “Super Bowl of Shopping.” And yet, is there anything wrong with that? After all, it’s possible to do the “right thing” and do what’s in your own best financial interests in the same breath, all while patting yourself on the back in extremely public fashion.
Read Next: Company That Promised a $70,000 Minimum Wage Is Reaping Rewards
In recent years, the battle over doing the “right thing” has been focused on Thanksgiving rather than Black Friday, with more retailers open on Turkey Day and stores being shamed and boycotted for hosting sales and encouraging people to shop during the holiday traditionally reserved for family time. Still, many of the same issues—shopping vs. family time, more stuff vs. simple pleasures, consumerism vs. being thankful for what you have—are raised regardless of which day we’re talking about.
And yes, it’s fair to applaud retailers’ decisions to stay closed on Thanksgiving while simultaneously questioning their motivations. After being open the previous two Thanksgivings, Staples will stay closed on the holiday this year. That’s nice for Staples employees and their families, but surely some of the decision was based on the fact that few shoppers are clamoring for deals on reams of paper and office desks on Black Friday. Likewise, it would seem to be pretty easy for retailers like Home Depot and Lowes and warehouse clubs such as Costco and BJ’s to remain closed on Thanksgiving because they wouldn’t be big sales days even if they were open. That hasn’t stopped them from posting self-congratulatory messages about staying closed on the holiday, and reminding shoppers they’ll be open bright and early on Black Friday.
A couple weeks ago, a press release announced, “GameStop Takes a Stand!” concerning its “core values” and “doing the right thing to disrupt the emerging trend in the retail industry of taking away holidays from customers and associates.” If you didn’t know any better, you might think the video game retailer was launching a major about-face in policy with the decision to keep doors closed on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, it’s never been open on Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, it wants to get some props for keeping the holiday sacred, and compared to the retailer competitors who increasingly view Thanksgiving as just another day to draw in the crowds and drum up sales, GameStop indeed deserves a little credit.
In most cases, the decision to open or close on Thanksgiving (or Black Friday) is based on business strategy in addition to doing the “right thing.” By staying closed on Thanksgiving, stores will naturally endear themselves to shoppers who think it’s awful that any stores are open that day. By staying closed on Black Friday and encouraging folks to go hiking, skiing, or biking, REI will naturally endear itself (more) to people who love the outdoors—and who probably weren’t going to be elbowing the crowds in the mall on Black Friday anyway.
Above all, there’s something seriously disingenuous about presenting the decision to close as purely a matter of ethics and doing right by employees when money and brand marketing factor in heavily as well. Case in point: A PR representative for a mattress retailer reached out to me recently, hoping to get the store some publicity because it was not going to open on Thanksgiving. As if this was a brave, humanitarian move. Who buys a mattress on Thanksgiving?
Any other stores do you think will also close on this date?
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Post edited by g under p on
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Could probably eliminate participation by Best Buy, Walmart, Macy's, etc...
It is a sound move on all fronts, they have captured the anti-marketing market (RIP Bill Hicks) and I will be spending my dividend, and then some, for the holidays Another day anyways.
We talk about family values but don't give a crap that many families will not have time together so we can buy cheap disposable plastic crap on SALE
If you shop at a store on thanksgiving or before 10am Friday you suck. Yes tell my family and friends same thing.
I really do like the REI stores and products that they sell. Even when not in need of anything in particular I would go in there just to see their products. Glad they've stepped up to do this....I hope more stores will do this. Just look how Chic Fillet has grown over the years having made the decision from the beginning to close on Sundays. They're more profitable than KFC now.
PEACE
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
it's refreshing
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Sure beats my old man's hatchet by a mile, and his is as good as they came in his day.
i truly love your post up above. hatchets, axes & knives are terrific & a must. i am excited for you & i'm even more excited to one day get myself a rei hatchet. i've a few mule deer horn handle circular sawmill blade knives... the craftsman cut blades out of old circular sawmill blades & fashioned them into knives. they are like hatchets
now if i just had a truck load of rounds i could chop. chopping firewood is the best time
enjoy your hatchets, sir
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
I could practically filet a fish and chop down a redwood with just this hatchet.
their prices are high 98% days of the year.
they're like patagonia....."we're all about the planet.....made in viet nam"
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=67517
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Regarding the axe, Fiskars is all about new tech and functionality. A double headed axe, while being supremely badass (second only to a heavy mad axe in badassness) is not all that practical nowadays, if you aren't a lumberjack in the deep bush. Better to leave the back flat to use as a hammer, shaves a lot of weight too.
Kudos for closing though!
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)