Thanksgiving can withstand some shopping

The decision this year by some large retailers to open their doors earlier on Thanksgiving has stirred up angst over what some seem to see as a commercial “desecration” of the holiday.

Many of us view Thanksgiving Day as a time for family and for reflection on what we can be thankful for in our lives. It is one of the more important holidays of the year for many families.

So, it is perhaps understandable that some believe it should be a day without work or other distractions that take away from this spirit of reflection and thankfulness.

But the reality is that these things already happen. Those in public safety, communications, retail and other occupations already work on Thanksgiving and other holidays. Families already choose to go to the movies or watch sports and other events or do a myriad of other things on the day of thanks.

So the decision by retailers to offer an opportunity for consumers to go shopping on the day is not that unusual, although it does mark a departure from what many businesses have done in the past.

A few businesses, such as restaurants and some retailers, have long stayed open on the day. Larger retailers began to depart from their traditional early morning “Black Friday” openings by pushing into Thanksgiving last year. It was in response to the poor economy and a desire to get a head start on the most profitable time of year for them. It was and is simply a business decision.

The response from consumers must have been good because some are opening even earlier this year. If the response continues to be good, even more changes may come in the future because smart businesses adapt to what their customers want. If customers don’t respond, well businesses will see that too.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day and most of us, we are sure, don’t want it to go away. But it can withstand a few adaptations.