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The TRUTH Why REI Black Friday Disappeared #OptOutside

November 12, 2018

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opt outside REI

REI Black Friday doesn’t exist.  All REI stores are closed.  All 153 Stores.  Including all ONLINE sales.  AGAIN.  For the fourth year in a row.

If you love outdoor adventures, camping or hiking, then you know REI.  This store is amazing and has everything you need to get outside to enjoy the great outdoors!  You would think that Black Friday is the time that they cash in on the upcoming Christmas season.

But no.

The outdoor-gear retailer first completely closed it’s doors in 2015 on Black Friday, and launched what is now known as the the #OptOutside campaign.  And for the past four years, REI has closed on Black Friday and Thanksgiving every year.  But wait, there’s more.  They also give 12,000 employees a paid day off so they can spend time with friends and family.  They even REFUSE to process even any online sales, as part of a movement to encourage people to spend the day outdoors.  Hastag Hiking, people.

Slow Clap, right?

Founder of ReI

The company’s CEO and president, Jerry Stritzke, says that the decision to stay closed on Black Friday has not only NOT hurt their business, but actually HELPED it.  “You don’t win in the long-term by pushing … what I call rampant consumerism,” Stritzke told Business Insider.

Only about half of Americans spend any kind of significant time outside.  REI is hoping to take the opportunity to have their customers get outside instead of sitting inside their houses online, or in retail stores.

But here’s the part that strikes a nerve.

“We’re asking people this year to reevaluate that picture of themselves. To see technology as the starting point to a journey outside, not the destination. And to go explore the world with someone they love – on Black Friday and every day,” he said.

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.  As a business using (obviously) technology as a platform, we are doing the same thing at Van Adieu.  We want to take technology and make it the STARTING POINT, not the destination.

Strizke goes on to say, “About this time every year, everyone in retail starts talking about door buster sales and foot traffic on Black Friday. We would like to announce our Black Friday numbers for the last three years since we started #OptOutside — 2015: $0. 2016: $0 2017: $0. Since launching #OptOutside, we’ve watched more than 200 retailers go out of business. It has been a period of enormous change in retail. We’ve stayed healthy partly because we’ve stuck with our core values — like giving our employees time to do what they love with the people they love during the holidays. It’s enabled us to add millions of new members and, most importantly, connect millions of people with the outdoors. We’ll once again be closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and we’ll share more about our #OptOutside plans in the next few weeks.”

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This year is a bit different for REI though, in the coolest way possible. They have now committed $1 million toward a center at the University of Washington to “study the link between human health and time spent outdoors.”  I think we all know the awesome results they are going to find already.

Technology is here to stay.  But, it can be part of our lives, instead of the focus of our lives.

Over the past 3 years, REI has said that they have tracked that nearly 15 million people and more than 700 organizations participated in #OptOutside.

Let’s increase that number of people enjoying an outdoor Black Friday again this year.

OPT OUTSIDE

FIRST –  Click here to print the “Will You Go Out With Me?” poster  SO YOU CAN SHARE WITH EVERYONE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO #OPTOUTSIDE!

So, how will you #OptOutside this year? 
1. Turkey Trots – There are about a million Turkey Trot Races you can get out and do to run off that Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner!  Want to find them?  Look here. 
2. Public State Parks and National Parks – Get out there!  Explore something NEW!  Make it a family tradition to go somewhere new OUTSIDE each year!  Take pictures, enjoy each other, the memories and the time spent together.  This is what the holiday are about, anyway, if we are being honest – not consumerism. Get your Black Friday Hiking on!
3.  Learn a new skill – Snowshoeing?  Snowboarding? Climbing?  Ok – maybe those are too advanced for you.  How about geocaching, birdwatching, or fishing?  Just get out there.  God made this big beautiful world – go enjoy it!
Still think you need Black Friday to buy your gifts?  I’m going to help you.

FREE DAY HIKE CHECKLIST

Loving our Hiking Post? This FREE Day Hike Planner & Checklist will help you make sure you have everything you need!

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Subscribe and get instant access to this, as well as our ENTIRE FREE resource library, the Van Adieu Vault, full of even MORE AMAZING goodies! 

I’ve created three gift guides to make your life easy.  You can get your gifts now, relax with some yummy hot chocolate, and then figure out where you will #OptOutside this year.

Ultimate Gift Guide for Adventurers

Gift Guide for Hikers, Backpackers and Outdoor Lovers!

Stocking Stuffers Under $25

Gifts for Hikers under $25

Hiking and Camping Gifts for HER!

These gifts for Women Hikers will be a HIT! Hikers, Campers, Outdoor Adventurers - these gifts for the outdoorsy girls are exactly what they want! Hey, we even include a way to bring WINE on the trail! You're welcome!

So, tell me, I mean REALLY tell me – how will you #OptOutside this year?

*FREE*

DAY HIKING CHECKLIST

Subscribe and get this FREE Day Hiking Checklist to make SURE you have everything you need for your day hike!

(Plus, get access to the Adieu Crew Vault FULL of FREE goodies!) 

And, did you print your poster?  I can’t wait to see you with it!  Post in the comments below or on our Facebook Page!

How are you spending Black Friday? REI Black Friday doesn't exist! They close their doors (even online!) so that people can spend time OUTSIDE! How will you #OptOutside this Black Friday? Hiking, camping, walking, running, spending time outdoors! Join the movement and #OptOutside #VanAdieu #Stop Wasting Weekends #BlackFriday #REI #hiking #camping #hike #camp #outdoors #nationalparks #OptOutside! Get outside this Black Friday instead of shopping! REI leads the movement to spend Black Friday in the Great Outdoors with friends and family, and enjoy nautre, camping or hiking! #OptOutside #VanAdieu #Stop Wasting Weekends #BlackFriday #REI #hiking #camping #hike #camp #outdoors #nationalparks #OptOutside #VanAdieu #Stop Wasting Weekends #BlackFriday #REI #hiking #camping #hike #camp #outdoors #nationalparks

 

 

 

 

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You are all kinds of awesome for joining us here at Van Adieu! I’m Annette, and I provide outdoor resources and inspiration for the amateur adventurer!  Todd is my husband, and is crushing it on our Sprinter Van Conversion Project! You can learn more about us here.  We are so glad you stopped by, because seriously, I’ve always liked you.

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