Voices
stores putting profits ahead of people. The fact is that far too many
consumers — post-weekend surveys estimated 247 million shoppers in person and online — are
and were willing to shop during the
extended hours, camp out, stampede and even trample and steal
from each other for retailers to
turn their backs on the windfall,
or risk it going to competitors, so
the trend of opening early becomes
a necessary competitive strategy.
Companies facing criticism for
“taking advantage of employees”
can make the strong case that by
meeting consumer demand they
are actually taking better care of
their employees, avoiding layoffs
and pay cuts, particularly in a weak
economy. In addition, stores were
projected to hire approximately
300,000 temporary seasonal workers to meet the increased demand.
Retailers are not the only ones
who benefit from maximizing
holiday sales revenue. Others include the workers — both regular and seasonal — who count on
the extra pay in order to provide
for their families. Shareholders who own stock in companies
that make a third of their profit
in the last sixth of the year benefit from those returns. The sales
JOHN
FRIEDMAN
HUFFINGTON
12.02.12
taxes generated during Black Friday support local communities as
well as federal government programs. Some advocates promote
online shopping as the “best of all
worlds” option, with consumers
able to price compare and shop
from the comfort and convenience
of their holiday homes, while in-
Companies facing
criticism for ‘taking advantage
of employees’ can make
the strong case that by meeting
consumer demand they are
actually taking better care of
their employees.”
store employees remain in theirs;
but as the percentage of shoppers
who hunt bargains on the internet
increases, the number of employees — both regular and seasonal
— who count on the extra money
by working holidays will decrease.
And the issue of sales taxes further complicates the equation.
With far more elements supporting expanding holiday shopping
than resisting it, there is reason
to believe that we will
see a continuing erosion
of our holidays.