Outdoor Retailer REI Closes Stores For Black Friday
On one of the biggest shopping days of the year, outdoor retailer REI took the opposite approach for Black Friday closing all 143 of its stores nationwide.
Thousands of employees, including those at the REI on 321 Anacapa in Santa Barbara, had a paid day off.
CEO Jerry Stritzke said, “Black Friday has gotten out of hand.”
REI came up with the slogan #OptOutside encouraging its employees to enjoy the great outdoors.
The enthusiasm over the idea spread to local hiking trails.
“I love that REI cares enough about their employees that they would do that for them,” said Robyn Loritsch.
Some people said they hope more retailers follow REI’s lead next year.
“I’m more prone to shop at REI now that they’ve done this, rather than if they had not,” said John Loritsch.
