topic Re: O/T -- Nice message in Beauty

O/T -- Nice message

suzyQ3 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 01:55:47 GMT

An e-mail I received from REI (sports-related retailer):

This Black Friday the co-op is doing something different. We’re closing all 143 of our stores. Instead of reporting to work, we’re paying our employees to do what we love most—be outside.

We want you, our members, to be the first to hear—not just what we’re doing, but why.

We’re passionate about bringing you great gear, but we’re even more passionate about the experiences it unlocks for all of us. Perhaps John Muir said it best back in 1901: “thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home.”

We think Black Friday is the perfect day to remind people of this essential truth.

And don’t worry, as a member you’ll still enjoy great deals on great gear all holiday season long. But on this one day, we’re going to #OptOutside and we want you to join us.

While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we hope to see you in the great outdoors. Visit optoutside.rei.com and you’ll discover great ways to #OptOutside from coast to coast.

Let’s get out there,
REI

P.S. If you have friends you want to encourage to #OptOutside, please pass along this invitation. You can also visit optoutside.rei.com to customize your own Black Friday message and share it via social media. There’s plenty of room out there for all of us.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

Kachina624 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 01:59:16 GMT

Good for them! Nice to hear of a retailer with the right attitude.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:58:49 GMT

Good for them. I saw it scroll across GMA this morning that they would be closed.

I also saw that all Neiman Marcus Last Call stores will be closed on Thanksgiving day as well to allow their employees to spend time with their families.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

ladyroxanne — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 15:13:12 GMT

what a great idea!

Re: O/T -- Nice message

BellaCarro — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:15:20 GMT

Just for that I will make it a point to buy a gift from REI this season.

Thanks, @suzyQ3, for sharing this.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

NativeJax — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:46:00 GMT

I heard about this and I think it is nice but I work with the public and have heard employees say they don't want to be off because they need the money. Retail employees do not make that much money and unless it's a day off with pay it could hurt them financially. It's just another way to look at it.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

HappyDaze — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:47:03 GMT

@NativeJax wrote:
I heard about this and I think it is nice but I work with the public and have heard employees say they don't want to be off because they need the money. Retail employees do not make that much money and unless it's a day off with pay it could hurt them financially. It's just another way to look at it.

They are paying their employees for the day AND giving them the day off. A win win for everyone.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

NativeJax — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 02:17:23 GMT

Oh great they are getting PTO! That is awesome and I didn't hear that part of the story, wonderful😇

Re: O/T -- Nice message

dex — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 03:46:50 GMT

rEI will still be selling online though and that is how most people are doing their Black Friday shopping these days anyhow so they are getting great advertising and not really loosing sales.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

Kachina624 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 03:53:45 GMT

REI is getting a million ddollars worth of publicity out of this. Makes me feel good to hear it.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

suzyQ3 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 17:08:20 GMT

@dex wrote:
rEI will still be selling online though and that is how most people are doing their Black Friday shopping these days anyhow so they are getting great advertising and not really loosing sales.

Yes, so it's a win-win. They don't lose money (maybe), and they broadcast what I think is an important message.

Re: O/T -- Nice message

Tigriss — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 20:34:40 GMT

Great idea. I have long stopped going on Black Friday. I sit at home on Thursday night and Friday online and buy what I want with just as good of a deal as it would cost me to drive 3-4 hours burning gas, burning time, frustration, and eating out. The prices are the same or even less when you subtract the above. Yeah, there are some in store only deals, but I love not to be in that crazy mess! i also buy my Christmas during the year when I find it on special and put it back. Retailers are making more money from online sales because of less overhead and less employees required and security for shop lifting and potential law suites for crazies that hurt each other during the sale or just hurt themselves knocking over things on themselves. I would love to see more retailers close on Thanksgiving and Christmas out of support for their staff. They can't make that much money compared to online sales. Let the people be at home with their families considering that they only make per hour, better still, pay them for those holidays!