Retailer encourages you to ‘Opt Outside’ on Black Friday

Of all the sources that would encourage you to shun Black Friday, a retailer seems an unlikely choice.

Nevertheless, one company’s campaign is catching on with those who don’t embrace the annual shop-a-thon.

US-based sporting goods store REI Co-op is asking people how they plan to #OptOutside on Black Friday, eschewing the shopping madness and instead exploring the great outdoors.

Company CEO Jerry Stritzke says REI is closing all 143 of its locations on Black Friday and will pay employees to go outside.

“While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we’ll be spending our day a little differently. We’re choosing to opt outside, and want you to come with us.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we'll be spending our day a little differently. We're choosing to opt outside, and want you to come with us."

Instead, the Opt Outside website allows visitors to say what they’re doing outdoors on Friday, or will suggest nature activities close to you… provided you’re in the U.S. A search for activities close to Toronto yielded a Missouri nature trail over 530 km away.

So far, over 900,000 people have signed up to Opt Outside.

A study by IPG Mediabrands indicates that over one million Canadians are planning to call in sick to work this Friday and use the time to go shopping. Another result finds that 44 per cent of respondents think those people should be fired.