Seattle, WA – On a day when shoppers will be tripping over one another trying to score a Black Friday deal, one chain will be trying something different this year: closing its doors.
“We’re closing all 143 of our stores,” the company explained in an email distributed on Monday. “Instead of reporting to work, we’re paying our employees to do what we love most—be outside.”
The company, which includes ski and snowboard gear and apparel in its retail offerings, is encouraging its customers to join along, using the hashtag #OptOutside.
“For 76 years, our co-op has been dedicated to one thing and one thing only: a life outdoors,” says REI’s president and CEO, Jerry Stritzke. “We believe that being outside makes our lives better. And Black Friday is the perfect time to remind ourselves of this essential truth.”