Stores to Stay Open Around-the-Clock for Christmas Shoppers

By Marc Fortier


For all of you who have put off your Christmas shopping, Kohl’s and Toys ‘R’ Us will be open through Christmas Eve.

Toys ‘R’ Us plans to be open around-the-clock — 87 straight hours — from 6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reports the Baltimore Business Journal.

Kohl’s has said it planned to stay open for 100 straight hours starting at 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, and running through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The nonstop shopping hours are part of the final stretch of a heated competition between retailers to attract shoppers in the key holiday season, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"With only eight shopping days remaining until Christmas, we are offering customers extended, uninterrupted time in stores, providing them the opportunity to shop whenever is most convenient for them — whether early in the morning or late at night," said Troy Rice, executive vice president of stores and services for Toys ‘R’ Us, in the Business Journal story.

Kohl's was among a growing number of retailers that opened some or all of its stores on Thanksgiving Day to extend the flurry of Black Friday shopping.

Like other middle-market retailers, Kohl's has been squeezed between off-price stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls chains, and higher end department stores like Macy's Inc., according to the Wall Street Journal. Kohl's has moved to address those problems by adding more national brands, beefing up its beauty departments and revamping its marketing, retail analysts say.

Toys 'R' Us, Kohl's and the others that will likely follow their lead are prepared to go to the wall to move merchandise this year, says the Business Journal. Others have said that extensive promotions are a sign retailers are hitting the panic button.

What do you think of the move? Will it help shoppers? Will it tax store employees? Tell us in comments below.