Beware, Black Friday is spreading | Tim Dowling Read moreWhile REI’s chief executive, Jerry Stritzke, says Black Friday was a “significant retail day” for the company, REI “did not experience any negative consequence financially” from the move last year. For his part, Stritzke plans to practice what he preaches, and will be spending Black Friday hiking with his grandson. Outdoor Research, a fellow hiking and outdoors equipment retailer has joined REI in its #OptOutside campaign, announcing that it will also not do business on Black Friday. Public opinion backs the closings, with a poll from the University of Connecticut finding that 49% of customers do not approve of stores remaining open on Thanksgiving day. The shopping sale season now stretches well beyond Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

Source: The Guardian November 24, 2016 12:00 UTC