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CUSTOMERS DON'T WANT TO SHOP ON THANKSGIVING

Black Friday stands large on calendars of consumers and retailers alike. The day after Thanksgiving is well known for being one of the most prominent shopping days in the U.S. Stores consistently brainstorm new promotions, visual merchandising strategies and marketing techniques to attract frantic Friday shoppers.

BestBlackFriday.com conducted a poll of shoppers and found 47 percent of consumers prefer stores stay closed on Thanksgiving. Only 34 percent though retail spaces should open and offer Black Friday deals on the national holiday. Last year, Time magazine shared data from Accenture and National Retail Federation that suggested Thanksgiving hours don't boost store numbers. Opening a day earlier just attracts consumers who would have been there during the weekend anyway.

Respondents to the BestBlackFriday.com survey suggested Black Friday isn't worth the hype in general. Seventy-nine percent of consumers said they didn't like shopping on Black Friday and 63 percent didn't believe the day offered the best discounts of the season.

ABC News suggested many retailers ignore standard practices and offer deals as soon as Halloween ends. Instead of playing the usual games and risking ostracizing traditional shoppers, stores may want to avoid the Black Friday arms race strategies and offer seasonal promotions at unique intervals.

There will still be shoppers expecting deals the week of Thanksgiving. A store can capitalize on Black Friday fever without going to extremes by displaying discounts throughout the week that promote a sense of urgency. In-store signage and promotions should make everyday in the holiday season feel like an event, without cutting into the family time of employees or consumers.