REI Will Be Closed on Black Friday, and Pay Its 12,000 Employees Not to Work That Day

Outdoor retailer launches #OptOutside

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REI is the latest brand to declare war on Black Friday, with the outdoor retailer saying it will be closed the day after Thanksgiving this year, and will pay its 12,000 employees as though it were a regular workday, "so they can do what they love most—be outside."

The campaign, called #OptOutside, was developed by a team of specialists drawn from Venables Bell & Partners, Edelman, Spark and REI. At its core is the decision to close all 143 retail locations, headquarters and two distribution centers on Nov.

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