Department stores announced that they will start Black Friday earlier this year, with stores such as Macy's launching the sale on Thursday, November 27, which is still Thanksgiving.
The department store Macy's that it will start its holiday sale on Thanksgiving day at 6 p.m., two hours earlier than last year's opening. The success of last year's event, which had 15,000 people waiting for the sale to start, prompted the store to do it again this year. Till 2012, they started the Black Friday sale at midnight.
Macy's confirmed that the staff to man the store on the holiday signed on voluntarily, and they will be compensated with incentive pay.
Since experts have emphasized shoppers' willingness to go straight to the mall after Thanksgiving dinner, stores have been jumping on the chance to attract customers as early as possible. Besides increasing revenues during the sale, it also provides the customers a bigger budget for Christmas.
K-Mart plans to start the Black Friday sale on the morning of Thanksgiving day, while Best Buy will also open its doors at 6 p.m. on the holiday. Belk aims for an earlier start as it already announced that its Black Friday sale will begin on the day before Thanksgiving.
Other brands plan to stick to the tradition and start the sale on Friday, November 28. Nordstrom, Dillard's, and TJX will remain closed on Thanksgiving, and open its doors for the Black Friday sale the next day.
TJX spokesperson Doreen Thompson said, "We consider ourselves an associate-friendly company, and we are pleased to give our associates the time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends."
Figures show that starting the shopping event earlier doesn't necessarily equate the bigger sales. Last year, many retailers started the Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving, but the statistics showed that the sales flopped.
Many critics are saying that starting the sale on Thursday will bring forth the death of Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping.
