New York (AP) — Target will no longer open stores on Thanksgiving Day and will permanently transition to an informal start of the holiday season that was interrupted during the pandemic.
To limit store congestion, retailers were forced to turn what turned into a weekend shopping blitz into an extended event last year, with big holiday discounts starting as early as October.
The forced shift seems to have been a coincidence.
According to the National Retail Federation, the largest retail group in the United States, US holiday sales in November and December last year increased 8.2% year-on-year in 2020. Industry groups predict that 2021 will grow between 8.5% and 10.5% and could break that record.
According to Target, Americans who were able to get the same offer over a wider period of time and were freed from the stress of vacation seemed to embrace change, which resonated with workers.
“What started as a temporary measure caused by a pandemic is now our new standard, which recognizes our ability to fulfill our guests’ holiday wishes both during and outside business hours. “Target CEO Brian Cornell wrote in a note to employees. “Don’t wonder if this is the last Thanksgiving to spend some time with family and friends, because Thanksgiving business hours are one of the things that” never returns “when the pandemic finally subsides. “
Target was the first major retailer to make such a permanent move during a pandemic, and the decision could lead other retailers to follow that path, said retail research firm President Retail Metrics. Kemperkins says. He also considers whether retailers are worth spending money on labor and other costs to open at Thanksgiving as shoppers turn to online shopping away from physical stores. I think it is.
“Is it really necessary to have Thanksgiving because of all these online shopping opportunities?” Perkins said.
Macy’s, which hasn’t opened for Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, said the curbside pickup service will be available in some locations. “We are devoted to telling our customers and colleagues that they are important in these decisions,” he said, although no plans for the future have been announced.
Coles and Wal-Mart will also be closed on Thursday, but Wal-Mart said it has not yet decided on the future of shopping at Thanksgiving stores. Coles declined to comment.
Target said the distribution and call centers had some Thanksgiving staff to collect holiday salaries.
The holiday shopping season began to sneak up on Thanksgiving 20 years ago when retailers began selling early on Black Friday. Ten years later, Target and other major stores opened their doors to the holidays themselves, creating a new shopping tradition.
Many have done so to compete with the growing threat of Amazon and other online threats. According to consumer analyst Julie Ramhold, at its peak five years ago, about 25 chain stores flooded the Thanksgiving stores. DealNews.com..
However, the shift seems to only prey on the Black Friday sale, and a large number of people have appeared in the Thanksgiving doorbuster deal. Shopping events became even more dilute when stores launched Black Friday sales throughout Holiday Week and then throughout November.
Major retailers suffered backlash from critics that thousands of people were forced to work instead of staying with their families on vacation. In recent years, Thanksgiving has also begun to reduce the crowd, and the number of retail chains and malls, including the Mall of America in Minnesota, has ceased that practice. This reduced the number of stores open on holidays well below the 20 major chains, with the exception of pharmacies and grocery stores that are open for at least a few hours.
Some people, like Costco and Nordstrom, couldn’t open the door during the holidays and said they wanted to respect the holidays.
Thanksgiving has not historically been a big sale day. Stores usually open around 5 pm, so they won’t be in the top 10.
But it was a big online shopping day. For the past two years, Holidays have remained online for Cyber Monday and Black Friday, according to the Adobe Digital Economy Index.
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With the goal of permanently closing Thanksgiving stores | National News
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