There has been a lot of debate regarding whether retailers and mall operators have the right to open their stores on Thanksgiving.
A practice that first emerged in 2012, more retailers are trying to extend their hours and beat their competitors to the holiday punch. One mall operator even threatened to fine retailers if they didn’t operate on Thanksgiving.
So will this practice be good or bad for business? The RTP editorial team shares their thoughts below:
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Debbie Hauss, Editor-in-Chief: I understand the potential business benefits of opening on Thanksgiving, but I hope that employees are not penalized if they choose not to work on the holiday. Similarly, I understand that it doesn’t look good if some of the mall stores are closed and others are open, but I don’t think fines on Thanksgiving are called for. If the mall insists on imposing fines, I would challenge the company to donate the money collected to help feed starving children.
Alicia Fiorletta, Senior Editor: With a shorter holiday season, I definitely understand retailers’ panic over getting as many sales as possible. However, I think this is a moment where we need to consider supply and demand. Consumers never had the need to hit the store on Thanksgiving; that is, until retailers presented it as an option. Now it seems like everyone is so hungry for deals, they don’t care when or how they get them, and, in turn, it has become beneficial for the retailers. I personally won’t be visiting my local mall on Thanksgiving (that’s what e-Commerce is for), but I hope that every associate who decided to take the extra hours will be receiving fair compensation. As someone who used to work at a gym, I understand how difficult it is to work on holidays while everyone is out having fun and celebrating. I think, overall, retailers should look to their employees to determine whether it’s worth the time, investment and potentially lower associate sentiment, to stay open on Thanksgiving.
Rob Fee, Managing Editor: Back in my video store days, I actually had to work a 13-hour shift on Thanksgiving. Truth be told, business was amazing that day, but there are always entertainment needs on holidays. Hitting the stores to hunt down deals on Thanksgiving, however, is not for me, and I certainly do not agree with property managers penalizing the shop owners who choose to give their employees the day off as well. As the article states, store leases are often tied to sales, so it’s easy to understand the motivation behind these fines. But it’s also easy to see the greed.
Kim Zimmermann, Managing Editor: I am not personally bothered if a store wants to open on Thanksgiving, but I probably wouldn’t shop that day. Those that are opposed to stores opening have the option of staying home. I’d encourage retailers to take volunteers to work that day. It can’t be assumed that every employee would be unwilling to work on the holiday. Some want the extra cash, some want the time. Let them make that choice.
Glenn Taylor, Associate Editor: I’ve never really been a Black Friday shopper, although I might check out what Cyber Monday has to offer this year. As far as the shops go, I’m not against them opening early, but it still seems excessive. Given that this is a fairly recent phenomenon, retail employees should have some say in the matter. The mall fines just reek of typical corporate nonsense; they are more or less trying too hard to make an authoritative point by fining the stores an amount that generally doesn’t have a large effect on a bottom line.
Brian Anderson, Associate Editor: I will not be hitting the stores on Thanksgiving; shopping doesn’t top my priorities as much as eating and spending time with family. It’s hard to say what kind of an impact this can have on retailers. One thing is that the store will be open for the unavoidable rush of people that fall victim to these shopping “holidays,” so more sales in a short period of time never hurt. But these retailers also have to take into consideration that their employees are people too. Is it worth being open on Thanksgiving when you know your employees will resent you for having them work instead of spending time with their families? It’s a gamble that many retailers are making, only time will tell if it’s reaps reward.
