REI makes bold Black Friday decision second year in a row

While many retailers still struggle with how to leverage the Black Friday sales frenzy, REI has other plans in mind.



For the second year, REI will remain closed on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. “Instead of feeding the Black Friday frenzy, we're closing our 149 stores and giving our 12,287 employees a paid day off,” REI’s website reported.



While shoppers visiting REI’s online store will be able to add merchandise into their carts, no orders will be processed until Saturday, Nov. 26.



The decision coincides with its #OptOutside campaign that encourages its “6 million co-op members to choose the outdoors over fighting it out in the aisles,” according to a company statement.



“The moment we announced our decision last year, people who build their lives around the outdoors really embraced the idea of reclaiming Black Friday,” said the company’s CEO Jerry Stritzke. “It took on a life of its own and became about much more than REI.”



Shoppers participating in the #OptOutside campaign are encouraged to upload photos, share through social media, use the social hub to discover nearby trails and parks, and connect with non-profits that steward the outdoors.