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REI Disses Black Friday
One major retailer has decided that the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, which is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, is not that important.
Seattle-based outdoor retailer REI, corporately known as Recreational Equipment Inc., is giving its employees the day off on Black Friday and keeping its 143 stores closed. The purveyor of camping, hiking and climbing wear and gear wants its employees to enjoy the outdoors instead of working the registers.
Despite the fact that it is one of the biggest selling days of the year for the chain, REI CEO Jerry Stritzke said the shopping day has gotten “out of hand.” Every year on Black Friday there are stories of consumers crowding shopping centers, often resulting in injury, to take advantage of retailer discounts.
