Black Friday used to be just the best excuse to get a favorite fancy coffee drink in the hugest size. It was the first day where it was officially acceptable to put on holiday music, and a nap before noon was imminent. Electronics were never cheaper, cutting in line was the norm for the day and glitter was everywhere.
We all know this still goes on, but we at MDG also know we aren’t alone in thinking that Black Friday has, in recent years, been taken to another level. Big stores are opening earlier and earlier, some opening now at Thanksgiving dinnertime. They stay open until the wee hours, if they close at all. People getting trampled to get a discounted TV? Madness.
Some stores are happily breaking with tradition by not opening at all on Black Friday. REI is collectively asking us out, encouraging us to leave those florescent lights in our dust and to #OptOutside. Others, like Patagonia, are donating 100% of their sales today to small environmentalist groups. Small Business Saturday is a great alternative to the zoo that is Black Friday. Denver-based Feral Mountain Co. was just selected by GearJunkie.com as one of the Best Independent Gear Shops in the USA. They also aren’t open today and recently opened their online shop, just in time for Cyber Monday. (Psst… be sure to check out our shop too.)
