In 2015, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) lost its corporate mind and opened its corporate heart to an almost insane idea. REI closed all its stores, stopped processing online sales and paid their employees to go outside and play on the biggest shopping day of the year. Now, they want you to OptOutside with REI on Black Friday.
The Opt Outside craziness continues for the fourth year in a row in 2018, when REI will again close its 153 stores, process no online payments and pay more than 12,000 employees to take a hike instead of coming to work.
Founded by 23 friends who climbed mountains together, REI has become America’s biggest consumer co-operative retailer.
REI has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for 19 consecutive years.
Since 2015, 15 million people and more than 700 organizations have joined the OptOutside movement. Former Black Friday shoppers have abandoned fighting crowds in shopping malls and taken restful walks in local parks instead.
That’s a great deal! We commend REI for this manifestation of their corporate manta:
At REI, we inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.
Black Friday is a big day for retailers in America. That’s when they supposedly begin to make a profit, after paying all their bills, costs, taxes and wages for the year. Stores hold giant sales on the day after Thanksgiving to celebrate — opening their doors at midnight, in many places.
The OptOutside idea of profit is to spend time with friends and family outdoors and to enjoy life in our beautiful state parks in Georgia, for example. They’re all open on Thanksgiving and all weekend long.
Maybe you could do a little pre-dawn door busting and walk it off after brunch … gloating at the deals you scored … opting for the outdoors after shopping.
Don’t worry. We won’t tell.
Click Here for a Ranger-Led Hike in a Georgia State Park
OptOutside with REI on Black Friday on a Trail Near Lake Lanier
