Working in the Retail Industry on Black Friday

COMMENTARY | I worked in the retail industry for a number of years, part of the time as an assistant manager of a retail variety store. Black Friday was definitely always the busiest shopping day of the entire year.

In the town where I worked, we had what was called "Moonlight Madness" on Black Friday. Although the stores always opened on Black Friday between 8 and 9 a.m., the best deals were offered to the customers after the sun went down, usually starting around 6 p.m. The stores would stay open as long as there were shoppers around, even as late as midnight on some Black Fridays.

It usually was very busy with shoppers during those "Moonlight Madness" hours, and by the time the lights were turned off at the end of the day, employees were very tired as well as somewhat stressed, to say the least. That marketing strategy seemed to work quite well for the majority of the retailers, as it still continues today, some 25 years later.

I sympathize with those Target employees who signed those petitions in an effort to prevent Target from opening at midnight on Thanksgiving. I agree totally with them, in the fact that Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be celebrated with family, instead of having to worry about going to work. In this busy world we live in, family time seems to be getting less and less, so on a holiday such as Thanksgiving, it should be reserved for family celebrating.

If we allow this trend to continue, before long the stores will open earlier and earlier for shoppers - a concern of many of those who have signed those Target petitions. Thanksgiving will be just another day and its true meaning could soon be forgotten, I feel.

In my opinion,Target's decision, as well as the decision of the other retailers, who have decided to open at midnight on Thanksgiving are strictly putting their business interests over family.

On Black Friday retailers should open their stores at the time they normally do on any other day, allowing everyone a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving the way it was meant to be celebrated. Their is still plenty of shopping time before Christmas arrives.

When I worked in retail, Black Friday was the busiest shopping day of the year, but everyone still seemed to be able to get those "doorbuster" deals without interfering with anyone's Thanksgiving celebrations.