REI announced it would totally decamp from participation in Black Friday sales

Brick-and-mortar stores belonging to outdoor lifestyle brand REI were always closed on Thanksgiving but open for business the day after—Black Friday. That changed in 2015 when REI decided to keep them shuttered on Black Friday as well. Beginning this year, the Black Friday closure will be extended to also include REI’s distribution and call centers (online ordering from the REI website will remain available but shipping won’t happen until the next business day). REI said the move was prompted by a shift in consumer attitudes toward the annual kickoff to the holiday shopping season—according to the company, Black Friday is losing its luster (especially among younger consumers) thanks in no small measure to retailers increasingly offering their best deals before the arrival of Black Friday.