Doing some research for a story about the psychology of Black Friday, I found this nugget on the National Retail Federation’s website.
“NRF offices will be closed Friday, November 29.” It goes on to say that reporters can still get in touch with media relations folks, but only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
I am related to one of the great bargain-hunters of all time, so I get it: You can acquire a whole year’s worth of birthday gifts for 90 percent off if you plan well. I’ve been the beneficiary of such planning, in fact. But retail creep will reach a crescendo this year on Thanksgiving week, owing to a quirk of the calendar. Thanksgiving is the latest possible day it can be, and the latest since 2002. In other words, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is compressed. Not only will there be panic buying, there will be panic store opening. On Thanksgiving. Forget camping out after Thanksgiving dinner for a early Friday opening. Now, if you don’t skip desert and head right to the store on Thursday, you’ll miss all the best sales.
But where does it end? Take two minutes to read the Consumerist’s collection of Thanksgiving Day Best Buy worker laments and I bet you never shop on Turkey Day again. The headline says it all: “Everyone at Best Buy dreads 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day opening.”
So, where does it end, really? It ends at the National Retail Federation, apparently, which doesn’t expect is employees to work that weekend. Maybe national retailers should re-think their policies, too.
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