Macy's To Open At Midnight On Black Friday For First Time

NEW YORK -- Macy's Inc. says it will open all of its namesake stores at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving for the first time. It becomes the latest retailer to extend hours on Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to the holiday season.

More than 800 Macy's stores will stay open for 23 hours and close at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25. That compares with last year when Macy's opened eight stores at midnight while the rest opened at 4 a.m.

Martine Reardon, Macy's executive vice president of marketing, said the midnight openings are a response to customers' requests.

"People want to shop through the night," Reardon said.

In recent years, retailers have expanded their Black Friday hours and rolled out sales for the day weeks in advance. That's in contrast to a few years ago when stores kept their discounts and hours secret until a few days before the Thanksgiving weekend. Retailers are responding to shoppers who like to map out their bargain-hunting strategies early.

Last year, Sears and Kmart stores opened Thanksgiving morning for the first time. Toys R Us stores opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Many Gap Inc. stores also were open. And Wal-Mart opened most of its stores by midnight that evening.

Target Corp. became one of the first retailers to announce its Black Friday hours this year. The discounter said on Friday that it would open its doors at midnight for the first time ever and offer Black Friday specials at that time. Like Macy's, it plans to stay open 23 hours. More merchants are expected to announce their hours and deals for the Thanksgiving weekend in the next week or so.

Comments

[BJD44]

02:52 PM on 11/14/2011

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I HOPE THIS 'OPENING SO EARLY CRAP' SERIOUSLY
AFFECT THESE COMPANIES BUSINESSES, AS I WILL
DEFINITELY NOT PATRONIZE COMPANIES WHO
WON'T EVEN LET THEIR EMPLOYEES FINISH THEIR
THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH THEIR FAMILIES
BEFORE HAVING TO MAKE THEIR EMPLOYER
A BUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOPE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, MACY'S AND
WALMART!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS DISGUSTING..... AND ALL FOR THE
ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!

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[BJD44]

02:53 PM on 11/14/2011

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I, FOR ONE, WILL NOT BE
PATRONIZING THE STORES WHO
DO THIS. I HOPE IT BACKFIRES
ON ALL THESE COMPANIES!

****************************************************

[SonyaInTx]

01:05 AM on 11/02/2011

Macy's sure plays for keeps!

[scarletgrl11]

02:11 PM on 11/01/2011

Last year at 46 years old I did the Black Friday shopping thing for the first time. This is a crazy CULTURE thing - there are large groups of mostly women fueling the need for retailers to open this way. If Macy's didn't come along they would miss the sales - these girls come with lists and plans to spend - if Macy's isn't open the items get purchased at other locations, trust that they will get purchased! I had no idea what I was doing and literally had women screaming in my face to get out of their way so they could get to stacks and piles of stuff to buy - Black Friday is straight INSANITY

[lesdavi89]

01:47 PM on 11/01/2011

Just more reason to boycott Messy*s. (Way to Flop!) Any retailer that does this to it's employees at Thanksgiving just make an extra dime gets NONE of my business.

[Drew Sargent]

01:04 PM on 11/01/2011

Retail is desperate. Don't be seduced into buying a lot of things this Christmas. The consumers in this country are now holding face cards against the corporate state. Show them we mean business. Buy your Christmas gifts after the 25th and make the day of giving during that week. On the 25th, honor Jesus' birth in stead perhaps.

[Ohsherri]

12:48 PM on 11/01/2011

This sort of reminds of my aunt who is working at a well known big box store.
She has worked there over ten years.
At Christmas all the front end cashiers get a "gift" from the company.
Are u ready for it?

They all get $15.
In the store gift certificate.
AND they have to spend over $50 in the store to cash it.

LMAO!

[arnlws67]

12:23 PM on 11/01/2011

The internet is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

[BlueZoo]

05:09 PM on 11/01/2011

Absolutely and free shipping offers abound! I haven't been to a mall in over 8 years and I don't intend to go this year either!

[kaddison2001]

12:20 PM on 11/01/2011

Thank GOD I do not work for Macy's or Target. I feel for their children that have tired hardworking parents that they will rarely see from Thanksgiving to New Years. Now their Thanksgiving Day is ruined because their parents will have to try to find some time that afternoon to get some sleep before going to work that night. Just so a handful of scragglers with nothing better to do can get out in the middle of the night and do their shopping. I am so glad that I buy for Christmas all year and by the time I get to Christmas all I need to do is plan for my company and my meals. I can relax and enjoy without all the crazies. I don't have a Macy's in my area but have no intentions of shopping at Target in the middle of the night. I hope both stores reconsider their store hours for next year holiday shoppers!!

[kaddison2001]

12:05 PM on 11/01/2011

One more thing I'd like to add.....those of you that think you need longer hours to shop and then rude enough to continue shopping after the store has announced they're closing ...or....coming in 5 min before the store is closing are rude and inconsiderate!! Retail workers are anxious to get home and spend a few minutes of time with their loved ones too!!!

[kaddison2001]

12:03 PM on 11/01/2011

I THINK IT IS PATHETIC!!!! Anyone working retail during the holiday season knows the only two days you enjoy during the holiday season with family is Thanksgiving and Christmas ( that is if you're lucky to work for a company caring enough about its employees to close those days.) It isn't just about the employees......it has to do with their children, their families!!!! Not to mention that retail workers are forced to work just about every holiday and not able to spend memorable time with their kids. Changing jobs isn't realistic for 99% of those working retail. Opening all night after Thanksgiving and then starting the long hours over the next four weeks will force many to try to celebrate early on Thanksgiving so those workers can try to catch a few sleep hours before going to work that night!!! People are selfish not considering the feelings of others. There is NOTHING that has to be bought that night that couldn't be purchased the next day with normal store hours. Besides, the majority of people I have seen out in the early hours doing their Black Friday shopping are not the kind of people most feel safe being around. Families are encouraged to spend more time together, eating together, ect. Retail employees would like to be there to share and create holiday memories with their families too without having it ruined by people complaining about needing more time to shop.

[whyus]

11:53 AM on 11/01/2011

I hope they pay their employees double time.

[lesdavi89]

01:48 PM on 11/01/2011

I was told that during these extra hours, the employees can get an extra 90 cents an hour.

[Jasmine Mar]

02:51 PM on 11/01/2011

I know the way my store works, it only counts the time period of which falls on the holiday. So, for example, if the workers have to be at macy's at 10pm on christmas they would get the extra pay for those hours which fall on christmas. After 12 it's not a "holiday" anymore.

that's just retail, friend.

[malnyst67]

11:39 AM on 11/01/2011

Time to drop the phrase "Black Friday" to "Black Midnight"...

[chrissy8569]

11:21 AM on 11/01/2011

I was just invited back to work at Macy's as part of the holiday team again this year...after last year being the nightmare it was and them opening at midnight this year, I'm happy to say I will not be going back!

[scotttimscott09]

11:30 AM on 11/01/2011

Glad everything's working out for you. I sure could use that job (nightmares and all).

[kaddison2001]

12:07 PM on 11/01/2011

Go apply all retail stores and I bet at least one of them will hire you....nightmares and all !!!!!

[dovelove]

09:31 AM on 11/01/2011

of the not if the