Saving Thanksgiving

My Day

By Dr. J. Ester Davis

Is Thanksgiving the same? What is the matter with retailers?  Why can’t we have one family day that is celebrated without retail interruptions?  Do we need to save Thanksgiving?  Should we move Thanksgiving back to its original date?  But, some retailers have announced their Black Friday plans even earlier than last year, and a record number of customers are expected to show up for the early sales with tents, coffee, and wearing pajamas.  Black Friday has moved to Thursdays after Thanksgiving dinner and the traditional turkey day trend is rapidly losing precious family time.

However, something is changing.  The list of holiday closures on Thanksgiving Day is losing its charm.   For years, Black Friday has been steadily creeping into Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, with full opening hours. Now, in 2024, we are receiving notices of not being opened at all.   For example, this year, Sam’s Club, Costco, Walmart, and Target will be closed on ‘Turkey Day’.  Two years ago Target opened at 8:00 PM Thursday, Thanksgiving night, with continuing non-stop shopping through Black Friday. Sure ordering online is the answer, except there are more returns than anticipated, which “gnaw” at your profit line.

What is changing you ask?  Well, it seems that family is still King!  For about two years, there have been online and community circulars protesting the early hours of Black Friday Sales.  At one time there were about sixty(60)petitions online protesting the earlier competitive hours for Black Friday sales.  Some of the online comments are thought-provoking.  One comment is, “Only in America can people run over each other one day after being thankful for what they already have.”

The last time I checked the petitions it was near 200,000 signatures for retailers to CLOSE on Thanksgiving Day for obvious reasons.  Stores proclaim sales of 20%- to 40% of their annual sales between Black Friday and Christmas.  That argument did not ‘hold water’, and the petitions grew larger and more demanding; however, it is admirable that families still value their time together in America.  Family is important.   And while every day is a day of Thanksgiving, being together as a family is a precious treasure.

On a more serious note, our landscape with ‘open air’ shopping is nearing a close. Some of the other retailers that will be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2024, will be Marshall’s and T. J. Max. J. C. Penney will permanently close their remaining fleet of stores that are still open around the nation. On the list of permanent closures still remain CVS (select stores), Victoria’s Secret, Denny’s, and Best Buy.  Macy’s will shutter 55 stores in 2024 and more over a three (3) year period. I think we are up-to-date on Revlon and Tuesday Morning.  Walmart remains fascinating in that class all by itself.  They continue to close more stores blaming underperformance and theft.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving

EsterDavis2000@gmail.com   

FinishingTHATArticle:  “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren”.  My apologies for the delay.