REI said it will “forgo profits and sales” and pay its more than 14,000 employees to enjoy time outside.
DENVER — REI Co-op will be closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday once again.
The outdoor retailer said its 195 locations will be closed as part of a movement the retailer calls “Opt Outside.”
The co-op said it will give its 14,000 employees a paid day to spend outside, while calling on the broader community to “rethink the start of the holiday season.”
In 2022, REI announced Opt Outside would become an ongoing, permanent, employee benefit.
REI will close all stores, distribution centers, activity centers, call centers, and headquarters on Black Friday. While customers can still place an order on REI.com, order processing and fulfillment will not begin until the following day.
“The holidays can be one of the busiest times of the year, but also one of the most meaningful,” said REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton. “Opt Outside gives all of us the chance to pause, step outside and reconnect with ourselves, our communities and what matters most.”
“When we first decided to close our doors on Black Friday, it was a leap,” said Susan Viscon, REI’s Chief New Ventures and Impact Officer. “It meant missing one of the biggest sales days of the year so our employees could be outdoors with their families and friends. But that was the point. Choosing time outside was an act of care that reflected our values and who we are as a co-op.”
“I remember announcing Opt Outside at a store manager conference and seeing tears in people’s eyes,” Viscon said. “When we reopened, everyone came back refreshed, proud, and more connected to what REI stands for. We did what felt right for the co-op, and it changed everything.”
