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Thanksgiving

by Neil Morgan
7 replies
Firstly, I would like to wish my American friends, customers and partners 'all the best' for your upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations.

On a business note, it would help people in Europe and elsewhere if someone could explain how the Thanksgiving holiday affects business.

Personally, I'm interested to know things like:

1. When does business close and re-open around Thanksgiving?

2. What about schools, colleges, universities etc - do they have time off around Thanksgiving?

3. Do people take extended time off around Thanksgiving like, for example, many do in the UK around Christmas, to spend time with family and friends?

Thanks!

Neil
#thanksgiving
  • Profile picture of the author Talltom1
    Hey Neil,

    Thanks for the warm wishes. Thanksgiving is an important US holiday. Some people might already be gone for the week. However, the bulk of businesses will begin closing down late Wednesday afternoon. They will generally remain closed until Monday.

    Having said that, retailers will be open full blast. In fact, in the US, the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Most retailers operate at a breakeven for the year until now; then during the next five weeks, generate all of their annual profitability. So for them, this is a critical time period.

    Schools will shut down on Wed and reopen on Monday.

    Also, Thanksgiving can be a major travel time in the US, with families going to one set of parents for Christmas/New Years, the other set of parents are visited around Thanksgiving.

    But most of all, Americans really do pause to reflect with gratitude on all of the many blessings we've been granted during the past year. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

    Talltom
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    • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
      Thanks TallTom

      That's useful information.

      Now, if anyone wants to know the effects on global business during Strathaven Gala Week, drop me a PM

      Cheers,

      Neil
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi Neil,

    Talltom is right on the money. The only thing I woiuld add is that in the US, the day after Thanksgiving usually is NOT the biggest retail day of the year. The biggest is actually the Saturday before Christmas, but you would never know it from the way "Black Friday" is promoted.

    Because Thanksgiving is on a Thursday, a lot of employees will get a four day weekend. The main exception would be the service industry.

    Not sure how that compares to the much maligned Strathaven Gala Week though.

    All the best,
    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
      Hi Michael

      Not sure how that compares to the much maligned Strathaven Gala Week though.
      Well, I heard that Bunty goes to her sister's place in Auchtermuchty so the coffee shop loses out until she gets back.
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by Neil Morgan View Post

        Hi Michael



        Well, I heard that Bunty goes to her sister's place in Auchtermuchty so the coffee shop loses out until he gets back.
        Wow Neil!

        Thanks I needed a hearty laugh this morning!

        Cheers!
        Michael
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        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Some schools are closed for the entire week of Thnanksgiving. I have never heard of it before, but my sd is out of school for the whole week this year.

          I am not homeschooling for the week, either.

          Thank you for the good wishes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Talltom is right on the money. The only thing I woiuld add is that in the US, the day after Thanksgiving usually is NOT the biggest retail day of the year. The biggest is actually the Saturday before Christmas, but you would never know it from the way "Black Friday" is promoted.
      l
      True, although Black Friday used to be the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, back before they started playing Christmas music in stores before Halloween.

      Now many retailers are doing holiday sales as early as the start of November.

      That Friday still is madness, with many stores opening ridiculously early for early bird specials. I never understood why I should have to show up at 6 am to get the special- great logic, let's make it inconvenient for the customer.
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