Black Friday is a term that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the United States. It is the day after Thanksgiving Day, and it is a day when retailers offer massive discounts to attract customers. This year, Black Friday falls on November 26, 2021. The Black Friday Agreement is a voluntary agreement between retailers to keep their stores closed on Thanksgiving Day.

The Black Friday Agreement was first implemented in 2011 by outdoor retailer REI, and it quickly gained popularity. The agreement requires retailers to close their stores on Thanksgiving Day, so that employees can spend time with their families. Since the implementation of the agreement, other retailers have followed suit. Some of the retailers that have signed the agreement include Nordstrom, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Costco.

The agreement has been received positively by employees and shoppers alike. Employees appreciate the time off to spend with their families, while shoppers appreciate the reduced commercialization of the holiday season. Additionally, closing stores on Thanksgiving Day gives employees a chance to rest up and prepare for the busy shopping day the following day.

Some retailers do choose to open their doors on Thanksgiving Day, despite the Black Friday Agreement. These retailers are often criticized for putting profit over the well-being of their employees and ignoring the spirit of the holiday season.

In recent years, the Black Friday Agreement has been challenged by online retailers. Online retailers do not have physical stores to close on Thanksgiving Day, and many of them offer deals that are just as competitive as those offered by brick-and-mortar retailers on Black Friday. As a result, many shoppers have turned to online shopping on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

In conclusion, the Black Friday Agreement is a voluntary agreement between retailers to close their stores on Thanksgiving Day. The agreement was implemented in 2011 by outdoor retailer REI, and it has since been adopted by other retailers. The agreement has been positively received by employees and shoppers, as it allows employees to spend time with their families and reduces the commercialization of the holiday season. However, the agreement has been challenged in recent years by online retailers, who offer deals that are just as competitive as those offered by brick-and-mortar retailers.