~~Each year Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the most unproductive month of the year for many businesses. It becomes a time when it’s OK to stop and talk a little longer or eat a few extra candies from the bowl.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am all about Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the friendly people and great food. I do think some corners have been turned that will be hard to come back from.
Black Friday was the kickoff to spending for Christmas and some had the tradition of waiting in line overnight to be the first in the door but as many are aware in an effort to out-consumer the next store and squeeze out a few extra shoppers that opening times are starting to get a little early. Eight am? On Thanksgiving?
Now I am all about capitalism and providing jobs and I know some would work all night if they could but as a small business owner, I draw the line at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I remember years ago when I was traveling on Thanksgiving in the US before I moved here. I was in Kentucky and I remember thinking I better have gas and hope the hotel has something to eat because even the fast food chains were closed. Driving down a two-lane road I saw a couple of people chopping firewood and then what must have been Mom or Grandma’s house. Lots of cars, people throwing footballs and I’m sure there was a ton of great food.
After the rush of Black Friday and the rest of the weekend shopping along comes Cyber Monday- Great for Business but Bad for Businesses.
All over the country news outlets wait anxiously for the reports to come out about how much was spent on Cyber Monday. For online retailers, this is the mother load. All of those high-speed computers connected to their sites and unlimited credit card numbers rolling in.
But what about the businesses that are supplying those computers and connections and paying the wages of the people using them to buy stuff? That number does float out on occasion. The amount of lost time and money for the other businesses.
If there was ever a question about whether the US has switched from a manufacturing country to a consumer country that day provides the answer. How many of the people buying items online while at work complain that they have too much work to do or are too valuable to the company to ever get laid off?
As I mentioned earlier I am all about capitalism and a consumer-driven economy but I do have a concern with the entitlement thought process that people feel they have the right to get paid to use a business’s tools for their personal use.
Let ‘s head on to Christmas and spend some time with family and friends and truly appreciate the season for what it is.
If you have any comments please post them below.
Play (and shop) Safe
Ken
P.S. If you are looking to work at home and buy your items on your own time. Click Here and be your own boss.
