Retail Experts React to Big Box Stores Staying Closed on Thanksgiving

(KNSI) — The trend of big box stores staying open on Thanksgiving is ending as Walmart announced they’re staying closed this year.

Experts say the move isn’t entirely surprising.

Marketing consultant Wendy Gratereaux says people are shopping earlier and earlier, meaning there isn’t the pressure to pump a ton of resources into one day. “They’re realizing that pushing their employees to the limit to prepare for one huge day event, might not be the best business after all.”

Stores are also rolling out big deals starting in October, so “We have seen these pre-Black Friday sales increase to take the pressure off of that having to mandate being open on Thanksgiving.”

Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Target say they’ll also be closed on Thanksgiving Day. It stemmed from COVID-19 precautions in 2021, where retailers started holiday deals earlier to avoid a crush of people in stores on Black Friday.

It could also come down to an issue everyone has been having.

“There have been issues maintaining good staff throughout regular days of the year, let alone mandating them to work on holidays.”

She says they would keep doing it if being open on Thanksgiving was a big money-maker. Instead, they’re getting good PR by staying closed.

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