Many retailers across the nation plan to kick off their Black Friday sales early by opening their doors on Thanksgiving. But shoppers in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have to wait until Friday to hit the stores. It’s the law.
According to The Huffington Post, the three New England states have so-called blue laws that prohibit retailers from opening on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The laws were “first drafted in the colonial era to push people to go to church on Sunday and holidays,” HuffPo explained. Black Friday sales can start at 12:01 a.m.
According to CNBC, some people argue that the blue laws are outdated and put a strain on retailers, who could lose potential sales to another state or an online store.
Instead of promoting family time on the holiday, they say it hurts brick-and-mortar retailers and local economies.
“Any law that puts your local employers at a disadvantage to compete with the online seller for consumers is something we have to look at,” said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
Opinions are divided when it comes to whether Black Friday sales should creep into Thanksgiving. While some people love to get an early start on their holiday shopping, others think the holiday should be a day spent with family.
Hurst told HuffPo that regardless of people’s thoughts on the Black Friday creep, there doesn’t seem to be much push in Massachusetts to change the blue laws. He added:
“Frankly, it wouldn’t be my cup of tea to go out on Thanksgiving night and shop. I’d rather watch football.”
What do you think of the New England states’ blue laws? Share your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.
Now, here’s a video about how to keep from blowing your holiday budget.
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