Best Buy CEO Not Thrilled With Midnight Black Friday Opening
Best Buy is one of many big retailers opening at midnight on Black Friday this year. The trend began when Target announced in late October that it would open its doors at midnight for Black Friday. Macy's and Kohl's soon joined in. Best Buy announced on Nov. 4 it will also open up at midnight.
The Pioneer Pressreports that Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn said at a Business for Social Responsibility conference that the midnight decision has been controversial with some Best Buy employees. He says he feels terrible because "It'll change some Thanksgiving plans for some of our employees."
Dunn also said, "We were going to be open at much more civilized hour, like 3 or 4 (a.m.). We made a decision at Best Buy that we need to be where our customers are."
The midnight openings not only change plans for people in the retail industry, they also change plans for shoppers. Black Friday shoppers used to start lining up outside stores very early in the morning. The midnight opening will push the time people start lining up by about 4 to 5 hours. This will impact Thanksgiving for many shoppers and it will likely result in a boost for online shopping. However, there will still be the typical long lines outside the stores. Doorbusters tend to be limited both online and at bricks-and-mortar stores. Some people feel more comfortable showing up early outside a physical store and being one of the first people in line so they can get the doorbusters they are seeking.
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Best Buy is one of many big retailers opening at midnight on Black Friday this year. The trend began when Target 
