Should all shops be closed on Boxing Day?

Proxima_Centauri

LilElvis wrote: »

Does it actually matter if any/some/all shops opened on Boxing Day 10, 20 or 30 years ago? The fact is that they do open and hundreds of thousands of people clearly want them to - a far greater number than the retail workers who are working on that day. With a far from stable trading climate no major retailer is going to risk losing out on a high worth day of sales to take some perceived moral high ground and the government needs to negotiate new international trade agreements before it starts pondering whether shops should close for one day.

The disgruntled can huff and puff as much as they like because nothing is going to change any time soon - if ever.

There's actually talk now of Boxing Week... :eek: Another import from over the pond, I expect.

I don't think it's about being disgruntled, it's more a critique of what our society has become when people can't or won't manage to stop shopping even for two days.

My post in any case was in response to somebody who tried to deny that shops opening on Boxing Day is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Loz01

In my world going to football is a Boxing Day tradition and has been since I was first taken aged 5, I'm still going now. When I was younger I didn't give it a second thought that the stewards, people in the food bar, people on the turnstiles, in the club shop etc had all given up their day. Now Im an adult, I appreciate it, a lot!!

I do think that if they asked staff if they want to work Boxing Dy and the majority said no, then that should mean the football is moved to the 27th or something. I just couldnt ever see it actually happening.

duchy

Actually there is, if enough people boycotted Boxing Day shopping it'd not be worth opening. Really it's a case if you value society and family above or below your bargain handbag though.

LilElvis wrote: »

Does it actually matter if any/some/all shops opened on Boxing Day 10, 20 or 30 years ago? The fact is that they do open and hundreds of thousands of people clearly want them to - a far greater number than the retail workers who are working on that day. With a far from stable trading climate no major retailer is going to risk losing out on a high worth day of sales to take some perceived moral high ground and the government needs to negotiate new international trade agreements before it starts pondering whether shops should close for one day.

The disgruntled can huff and puff as much as they like because nothing is going to change any time soon - if ever.

Gloomendoom

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

There's actually talk now of Boxing Week... :eek: Another import from over the pond, I expect.

I doubt it. Most, if not all, Americans I have met have no idea what Boxing Day is.

They call it "the day after Christmas day"

Proxima_Centauri

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I doubt it. Most, if not all, Americans I have met have no idea what Boxing Day is.

They call it "the day after Christmas day"

You are right, Boxing day is a tradition in Commonwealth countries, so Canada, but not the U.S.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Week

Boxing Day is a national holiday in Great Britain. It is the time where British families spend time with each other, if they were not able to bond during Christmas Day.

mumps

duchy wrote: »

I remember when the department stores started Sunday opening around Christmas was early eighties and the store director of my local Debenhams telling me what rubbish he thought it was as it actually made no difference to total weekly sales just added to the costs with wages and running costs (heat/light etc).

With business decisions like that I'm surprised they are still operating. Most businesses work out the cost/benefit and make a decision.

mumps

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

Unsure as to why you keep on labouring a point that's been discussed and explained already. Virtually no shops were open on Boxing Day prior to the last few years.

Tradition = a custom that's been passed on, down the years.

Plenty of shops opened on boxing day 50 years ago. Don't know why you can't get that. You look at the shops that closed and say that was a tradition, I look at the fact that they didn't all close and say there was no tradition.

LilElvis

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Yes, it's not even a holiday.

Actually Thanksgiving is the bigger day for families.
That's their turkey day, not Christmas.

And their equivalent of Boxing Day is ........ Black Friday! A day dedicated to queuing to get into shopping malls.

Proxima_Centauri

mumps wrote: »

Plenty of shops opened on boxing day 50 years ago. Don't know why you can't get that. You look at the shops that closed and say that was a tradition, I look at the fact that they didn't all close and say there was no tradition.

The article was quite unambiguous.
What you personally did on Boxing day doesn't change the facts stated therein.

bluebear36

Are you in Scotland by any chance Mumps?

I only ask because we've had boxing day sales for decades. I remember going to them as a child over 30 years ago, pretty much all the shops are open