In 2015, nearly 35 million people shopped on Thanksgiving — an increase from 2014, but down from the 45 million who shopped on the holiday in 2013.
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With the election behind them, consumers are eager to see the deals retailers will offer for the biggest shopping weekend of the year, according to the NRF. Approximately 59 percent of Americans — an estimated 137 million people — are planning to or considering shopping this weekend.
Locally, shopping malls will stay open for consumers on Thanksgiving. The Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons will both be open on Thanksgiving, and have extended hours on Black Friday.
“Our extended holiday hours and popular selection of retailers at each center continue to meet shopper demand,” said Shelley Sloan, regional marketing manager for Washington Prime Group. “The variety of traditional events paired with other holiday happenings will make the centers even more appealing for friends and family to shop, dine and spend time together this holiday season.”
The Thanksgiving hours at both centers are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the Black Friday hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Select retailers will remain open through the entire two-day blitz, with hours from 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday.
Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe will also open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and stay open until Friday’s 10 p.m. closing time. Crowds will be shuttled back and forth from Miami Valley Gaming to the shopping center.
The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek will shut down on the holiday, but marketing director Kelli Kooken said several retailers will still open their doors. The shopping center will re-open on Black Friday at 6 a.m.
“We want it to be a destination for shoppers,” Kooken said. “We want it to be fun for the whole family.”
Kooken said it can be hard for small retailers to compete with the Thanksgiving deals offered by retail giants such as J.C. Penney, Sears, Walmart, Target Best Buy and Kohl’s.
J.C. Penney has announced that it will open up its stores at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving, and stay open until 10 p.m. Friday.
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Smaller retailers have criticized the early shopping hours. A number of stores — including Barnes & Noble, Staples, hhgregg, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard’s — will shut down on Thanksgiving, urging customers and employees to spend time with family.
“We stand behind our core values and beliefs of being a family-first company,” said Bob Riesbeck, president and CEO of hhgregg. “It’s important to us that our associates are able to be home with their families on Thanksgiving, and we are encouraging our customers to do the same — knowing great deals will be available online, on Black Friday and through the weekend.”
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This year’s calendar — Nov. 24 is the earliest Thanksgiving since 2012 — is giving retailers a few more shopping days to meet revenue goals before the end of the year, and may ease pressure to open on Thanksgiving.
Closing also saves businesses from incurring the extra cost of paying employees overtime and holiday pay.
“Retailers are a little more comfortable, I suspect,” said Serdar Durmusoglu, a University of Dayton marketing professor.
Black Friday is still the biggest day of shopping for the holiday season. A survey from NRF found 21 percent of weekend shoppers plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day, and 74 percent will venture out on Black Friday.
“Black Friday remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with Americans planning to take advantage of aggressive in-store and digital promotions over the entire holiday weekend,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO.
Want more holiday retail news? Find everything you need to know about planning your shopping outing, including hours, deals, traffic, weather and more.
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