In what has become a tradition for REI, the outdoors retailer is closing its stores, activity centers, distribution centers, call centers and headquarters on Black Friday for the seventh year in a row, the company announced on Tuesday. The company will also close on Thanksgiving.
The retailer is continuing the effort as part of its #OptOutside initiative, which encourages people to spend time outdoors rather than shopping on Black Friday. REI will pay its over 15,000 employees to #OptOutside this year.
The retailer recently launched the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a charity that provides financial support to a network of organizations promoting “justice, equity and belonging in the outdoors.” The company will feature the fund’s inaugural grant recipients as part of #OptOutside, per the announcement.
Source: Retail Dive