Black. Friday.
Tis the season once again. Let us all join together and give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Let us gather around the dinner table with loved ones and enjoy one of the best heaping piles of food prepared all year long. Ready? Great! Now lets ruin this beautiful holiday and make thousands of Americans forgo their Thanksgiving so that we can shop for the "best deals" of the year that aren't even actually the best deals at all! woohoo! Okay I may not have the gift of words but I think you get my point here. And instead of ranting on about how absolutely absurd the day after Thanksgiving is (and now 6pm on Thanksgiving day thanks to the complaints of customers), I just want to give kudos to one of my already favorite stores. REI.
This wonderful outdoor gear retailer announced its decision to abandon Black Friday, encouraging shoppers to opt-out of shopping and spend time outside. On November 27th they will be closing its 143 stores in hopes to reiterate that "life outdoors is a life well lived”. How amazing is that!? I am in love with every thing about this!! Thank you REI for already being one of my favorite stores, and for taking a bold stance as a retail company on this godforsaken day. I couldn't be more impressed with the message they are sending to the world. I absolutely agree with them, and I too encourage anyone and everyone to spare yourselves from the black bullish*t bonanza and enjoy the beautiful day! To make it even better? Enjoy it outside!
PS. If you do decide to brave the crowds anyway and join the crazy, try not to get trampled, pepper sprayed, or stabbed. Happy Thanksgiving!
