Target, Best Buy Join 'Thanksgiving Creep'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - More and more stores are announcing that they'll be open on Thanksgiving, and some will even be opening earlier.
It's a phenomena some call the "Thanksgiving creep."
On Monday, Target announced they would open on 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving - an hour earlier than last year.
Another hometown company, Best Buy, will open even earlier, at 6 p.m.
Experts say the slippery slide into Thanksgiving is a sign of the fierce competition for your retail dollar, and an unusually short holiday shopping season.
Last November, a petition with more than 300,000 signatures - protesting Targets Thanksgiving opening - was delivered to Target headquarters.
But on Thanksgiving night, the lines were long, and the sales were brisk.
Last year's big holdout, Macy's, is among those deciding to open on Thanksgiving this year.
University of St. Thomas marketing professor David Brennan says the competition is not just from other big-box retailers, but also from online giant Amazon.
"They're doing it because the competition is doing it," Brennan said.
Experts say another factor contributing to the Thanksgiving openings is the fact that the holiday falls on Nov. 28, the latest it can possibly be.
This means there are only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"It creates more risk if it's in a shorter period of time," he said.
For some consumers, like Marta Shore, there's another complication.
"We're not going to shop at Thursday at 8 p.m. because Chanukah starts Thursday," Shore said.
Shopper David Stai says he doesn't like the impact that Thanksgiving openings is having on the holiday itself.
"It's a time for families, so you should be with your family," Stai said.
But with Black Friday ads already online, some consumers say they're already planning their Target shopping spree.
Guy Pluff is a shopper who says he wants to support Target, the "hometown team," on Thanksgiving night.
"I have no other plans on Thanksgiving," Pluff said.
It's becoming harder to find retailers who are not going to be open Thanksgiving.
One continued holdout is Nordstrom, who even refuses to put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving Day.
