Emily Mills
Thanksgiving is defined as the expression of gratitude. It is thought of as a time to be thankful for the things that we value the most. Typically, when a person hears ‘Thanksgiving’ the thought that slips into the mind is of families sitting around a dinner table, gratefully enjoying the family, friends and food they have been blessed with. However, it is very hard to spend time with family and close friends when some people have to go to work because so many now want to spend their Thanksgiving evening shopping.
Black Friday originally began at the break of dawn the Friday following Thanksgiving, but in recent years doorbusters and sales are starting even earlier. A handful of stores are now commencing sales on the afternoon and night of Thanksgiving. Another handful of stores and thousands of individuals are actually boycotting Black Friday on Thanksgiving. With 40,000 people, give or take, within the facebook group, “Boycott Black Friday”, they plan to encourage big stores such as Walmart and Target to stay closed during Thanksgiving night. Given that people continue to shop, the stores continue to stay open during the holiday. However, as a “blue law” lies in Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts, it prohibits supermarkets, large box stores, and department stores from opening on Thanksgiving. Though there have been few legislative issues to attempt to change things, the attempts have failed and stores continue to open on Thanksgiving. Provided with this opportunity to shop-shop-shop, many people will choose to leave family events to go…shopping.
Unfortunately, many store clerks will not be lucky enough to have the choice to leave their families and will be expected to meet customers at the store to assist them. The same customers that chose to leave their families to shop. Some retail employees, nevermind leaving early, may not even get the opportunity to make it to their Thanksgiving dinner due to having to show up for the crowds that often wait outside long before doors open.
Top 10 Black Friday Stores & Opening Times;
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1. Walmart - 6PM 11/26
2. JCPenney - 3PM 11/26
3. Michael’s Craft - 4PM 11/26
4. Dick’s Sporting Goods - 6PM 11/26
5. Gamestop - 5AM 11/27
6. Target - 6PM 11/26
7. Big Lots - 7AM 11/26 6AM 11/27
8. Old Navy - 4PM 11/26
9. Best Buy - 5PM 11/26
10. Kohl’s - 6PM 11/26
6. Target - 6PM 11/26
7. Big Lots - 7AM 11/26 6AM 11/27
8. Old Navy - 4PM 11/26
9. Best Buy - 5PM 11/26
10. Kohl’s - 6PM 11/26
However, there are stores who understand their employees’ desire to spend the holiday with their families. Some stores are simply sticking to the traditional opening of Black Friday on the Friday following Thanksgiving.
Top 5 Stores CLOSED during Thanksgiving;
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- A.C. Moore
- TJ Maxx
- TJ Maxx
- Petco
- Gamestop
- Gamestop
- Staples
Some of the stores that stay closed on Thanksgiving tend to still have sales online. Handfuls of people will choose to shop online rather than in stores in return of having more family time during the holiday. According to Bankrate.com, a projected 75% of previous year shoppers are expected to be staying home and online shopping. There are many stores offering free shipping on Black Friday. Some stores may even have better deals online compared to the deals in stores----and don’t forget about Cyber Monday when more deals become available, just in case you were not able to get the deal you have been waiting for.
Choosing Cyber Monday over actually going in stores can lead to wonderful things. Yes, wonderful deals...but also wonderful memories made with family at home rather than a crowd of angry and greedy people pushing and shoving for a TV. The memories that are made on Thanksgiving will not be available in any stores this year or any other year for that matter. A big amount of the memories that stick with individuals throughout their lives are formed during times spent with family. It is not about remembering how big of a deal you received on one day of the year, it is a time to be with the ones we love and admire. It is a time to be thankful for the people around the dinner table and to realize, that quality time is important, a lot more than the materialistic things in stores. So this Thanksgiving remember how important family is and spend as much time as possible together. You going out to shop on Thanksgiving motivates these stores to keep the people who do not want to shop, on the registers. You might have been able to spend your Thanksgiving with family, but just because you were able to does not mean that others are as fortunate. Keep that in mind when you choose to leave family to shop. Most importantly enjoy the holiday season filled with warm food, drinks, and hearts.
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