BY IRIS ZHANG

 

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

 

You're watching multisource business news analysis from Newsy.com.

No time to digest. Retailers across the country are opening earlier than ever for Black Friday. But for some employees, this means: no Thanksgiving dinner at all.

“Anthony Hardwick now has to be at work at Target at 11 P.M. Thanksgiving night. (Harwick) ‘I’m gonna have to get some sleep and probably go to bed at two and miss my family’s Thanksgiving dinner completely.’ ”

The Target parking lot attendant has launched an online petition at Change.org called “Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving,” urging the retailer to push back opening time to 5 a.m. The petition has gained nearly 90,000 supporters nationwide by noon Tuesday.

“A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation -- all Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones and get a good night's rest on Thanksgiving!”

Target is hardly the only retailer that will extend the hours.

Macy’s, Kohl’s and Best Buy are all opening at midnight on Thanksgiving. Wal-Mart? 10 p.m. Toys R Us? 9 p.m. A blogger for Sun-Sentinel raises a question:

“Is this really necessary? There are 30 shopping days after Thanksgiving until Christmas. Why must several hours of one of the few remaining holidays that is special be taken from employees, who will have no choice in the matter.”

Still, CNN Money says it’s all about supply and demand - showing the great market opportunity retailers are after.

“Thanksgiving Day openings have been a boon to retailers during the economic downturn. The number of people who shop on Thanksgiving ... about double the amount just five years earlier ... Last year, the number of people who began their Black Friday shopping at midnight was triple the amount in 2009.”

But are shoppers really willing to concede to the early doorbusters? USA Today - quotes another poll - showing holiday shoppers would wait.

“ConsumerSearch.com found in a recent survey of 1,003 people that 87% felt retailers should stay closed on Thanksgiving. There's definitely a family spirit around Thanksgiving that people don't really want to see adulterated.”

The campaign will continue - but Hardwick says he will show up for his Thanksgiving shift regardless of the campaign.