Macy’s Insists On Opening Earlier On Thanksgiving Day As Other Retailers Back Out
Macy’s is not backing down when it comes to their Thanksgiving Day plans. The retailer plans to open even earlier while other retailers are refusing to open their doors this holiday.
Black Friday used to actually be on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Most stores would open their doors at midnight to cash in on the sales and the madness. However, over the years, retail stores have been opening their stores earlier and earlier, leading into Thanksgiving Day. Now, there is a backlash from retailers who refuse to open early on Thanksgiving Day. They want to give their employees the day off, so they can spend time with their loved ones. Macy’s isn’t one of those retailers, and they refuse to quit.
The reportedly slumping business wants to open its doors even earlier on Thanksgiving Day. Macy’s announced on Monday, Oct. 17 that they will have Thanksgiving Day shopping, opening an hour earlier this year. The retailer plans to open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, with most Macy’s stores closing at 2 a.m., and then reopening at 6 a.m. Friday, as reported via ABC News. This move dampened hopes that other retailers would finally back away from the Black Friday “Christmas Creep.”
The reason? Macy’s cited “ongoing customer interest in shopping on Thanksgiving, both at Macy’s and at many retailers.”
Macy’s has been opening on Thanksgiving Day ever since 2013, but they have remained open throughout the night. In a statement to The Associated Press, Macy’s claims it surveyed its own employees before making the decision.
“We are working diligently to staff Thanksgiving with associates who volunteer. Doing so means that our employees are able to make their own decisions about how they contribute to our most important and busiest weekend of the year.”
Macy’s is not the only one opening its doors on Thanksgiving Day. J.C Penney, Kohl’s, and others will follow suit, according to CNBC. While many retailers will continue to open on Thanksgiving Day, times are changing once again. The Mall of America announced earlier this month that it will close its doors this year for the first time since 2012, though its tenants do have the option to stay open. In addition, Tennessee-based CBL & Associates is shutting its doors until 6 a.m. Black Friday.
According to CBL CEO Stephen Lebovitz, opening on Thanksgiving Day only spread sales, not add to their top line.
“We think that for our employees and for the store employees, they deserve the day off and to be able to spend the day with their families,” Lebovitz said to CNBC last week.
Mall developer CBC also announced that it would close 72 malls on Thanksgiving Day and start Black Friday sales on Black Friday for the first time since 2011. Staples, Office Depot, and hhgregg are also planning to stay closed that day, reports Fortune. The Great Recession has retailers split on whether or not to open on Black Friday. Most retailers are fighting for consumer wallets in a tough economy.
Macy’s isn’t budging because the retailer’s sales fell two percent in its second quarter, notes Fortune. Last year, J.C. Penney opened its doors at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, which gave it an edge ahead of other retailers when it came to kicking off the Black Friday weekend. Penney has credited its earlier Thanksgiving hours for its strong fourth quarter results.
Back in August, it was reported that Macy’s would close 100 of its stores to “concentrate its financial resources and talent” on its better-performing stores. The retailer did not announce when the closings would happen, but it’s likely to take place in early 2010. Since 2010, Macy’s has closed 90 stores but has opened 13 new stores. Thanks to the surge in online shopping, the death of the American shopping mall, which was once home to retailers like Macy’s and J.C. Penney, is on a slow decline.
[Featured Image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]
