Target Pushes Thanksgiving Day Opening Earlier, 8 p.m.

Updated


Source: Target Corporation

Target announced today it would be opening its doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to kick off its Black Friday deals, an hour earlier than it opened last year on Thanksgiving Day. The retailer will remain open until 11 p.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

"For both our guests and team members, Black Friday is an exciting event that officially marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season," said Kathee Tesija, executive vice president of Merchandising and Supply Chain, in a press release. "By offering advance access to deals at Target.com and opening our stores earlier, we are making it easier for guests to build a Black Friday ritual that works for them."

Target joins a long list of retailers that have announced they will open earlier this year, including J.C. Penney, Kohl's, and Macy's, which will each open at 8 p.m., marking their first time opening on Thanksgiving Day. Kmart and Sears have each faced backlash, as they will open their doors at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively, on Thanksgiving Day. Best Buy will open on Thanksgiving beginning at 6 p.m. and will remain open until 10 p.m. on Friday. Last year it opened at midnight on Thanksgiving. "Last year customers clearly showed that they wanted to be out shopping much earlier on Thanksgiving," said Best Buy spokeswoman Amy von Walter in a statement. "Our plan this holiday is a direct result of that feedback and provides multiple opportunities for our customers to shop in-store and online, whether at 6 p.m., midnight or on Black Friday."


In addition to opening on Thursday evening, Target also announced it would be rolling out 15 online-only daily discounts each day beginning Sunday Nov. 24, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The company highlighted that "on Thanksgiving Day, hundreds of Black Friday deals, including almost all in-store deals, will be available starting in the early morning hours at Target.com."

Target did highlight in its press release that its employees who work on holidays receive their pay at a rate equal to 1.5 times their hourly pay, and that those who work anytime beginning at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving to 8 a.m. on Black Friday "will receive additional compensation on top of holiday premium pay."

-- Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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