Shopping on Labor Day? Skip it.
🇺🇸 Sorry Labor Day, you suck
Labor Day is fast approaching in America. It’s a three-day holiday weekend; people like to grill, be outside, and generally forget about work.
The holiday was created to honor those who campaigned for workers’ rights, like a 40-hour work week, safe work conditions, and paid time off.
Whatever you do, don’t go shopping.
Hooray! Paid time off!
Please, don’t go shopping.
I spent more than twenty years running retail buildings. After two decades of working this holiday, let me tell you why you can skip the mall this weekend.
I know you think shopping may sound fun, but believe me, it’s not a good idea. You’re better off heading to the woods.
It will be busy but not in a good way
Sometimes the hustle of a holiday weekend out shopping is fun. Christmas is kind of like that. There’s a buzz about it. Even though stores are packed, it’s a fun atmosphere.
It can be stressful, but it somehow feels collaborative. Like, we’re all in this together.
In winter, the season has changed. People are getting hot chocolate and putting on their walking shoes. A crowded mall can be exciting.
Labor Day is not like this.
It’s busy, but it’s all people hanging out. Going nowhere. They’ve already shopped for back-to-school, they didn’t want to get out of town because summer just ended, and they’re probably waiting for a movie to start.
No one is really shopping for anything specific. This is probably a good thing because the items stores have to offer aren’t the best.
The product assortment is terrible
Take it from me. I merchandised stores for almost half my life. The product assortment on Labor Day is terrible.
All the summer stuff has already been marked down. By now, it’s on a second markdown, so there will be a size zero and a size thirteen left. Nothing in between.
The clearance racks will be piecy and hodgepodge. So will the rest of the sales floor. Meanwhile, heavy shipments of fall and winter items are landing, and merchandisers are trying to make room and make it all look like it goes together.
Also, it’s still hot.
I know it’s 90 degrees outside
The stores are already getting shipments of jackets, flannels, and beanies. But the collections arriving are incomplete.
As you cruise through the store, you’ll notice summer clothing merchandised with the fall collection. It’s a weird time on a salesfloor. The teams are trying to make the most of what summer apparel is left but make room for the fall items.
Most of my conversations went like this around Labor Day —
“Excuse me, do you have any more shorts?”
“No, this is all, unfortunately.”
“Will you get any more in?”
“No, that was the last order of the season.”
“What? It’s 90 degrees outside! My kids wear shorts until November!”
“Yes, I know it’s 90 degrees outside. I tell our buyers this every year.”
I’ve had that conversation so many times. The odd thing was, most of our customers were regulars. They shopped there all year round, so you figure they’d get it after a while.
Once in a while, I’d overhear, “We’re shopping early because we missed out last year!”
Perfect! That’s a savvy customer right there.
Do something else this weekend
Only run to the stores if you have to. It’s really not an ideal time to go shopping.
It will be busy, with people hanging out. The product assortment will feel weird as everyone tries to cram sweaters on tables but also make the last pair of shorts look good with a puffy jacket.
It’s also 90 degrees outside.
If you need shorts, you’re too late, and if you need a hoodie, you’re too early.
Sorry Labor Day, you’re probably the worst shopping day of the year.
Kit Campoy is a freelance writer based in Southern California. She covers Web3, travel, leadership, retail, writing, and more. She also writes personal essays on Medium. Connect with Kit on LinkedIn, DeSo, and Twitter. Give yourself a break, and join her weekly newsletter.
Anymore, shorts-and-a-hoodie is peak fashion for me.
IMO, Labor Day sales are in the same camp as Thanksgiving Night; a novelty for people who don't realize (or care) that it means other people having to work.
P.S. We're of one-mind on the the run up to Christmas. That was easily, my favorite time to work retail.
Never thought of this before but it makes total sense!!!!