A few weeks ago, we posted a commentary about retailers opening their doors on Thanksgiving and how brand damaging it was proving.

With T minus four days until the start of the holiday season, photos of a Walmart food drive for associates in need have surfaced, Ashton Kutcher has called Walmart out on its profit margin and low wages via Twitter, Black Friday circulars and deals have been released, shoppers are already lining up outside stores and our email inboxes have been spammed with Black Friday pre-sale promotions.

We agree with Yahoo Finance that this shopping weekend is a transitional one given the early release of sales and Black Friday details, as well as brick-and-mortar competing with online-only retailers such as Amazon.

Many retailers and brands have seen some sort of backlash for opening on Thanksgiving and low wages for their employees. Surveys given by companies such as Visa offer an obscured view of what this weekend holds: some indicate a declining interest in Black Friday. Others indicate that shopping crowds will be the largest yet and some predict that online sales will be the driving force behind it all.

One thing is certain, however: Walmart and other pre-Black Friday participants have a lot of ground to make up for with their recent PR disasters – and giant flat screen TVs priced at $99 may not do the trick. The brand damage is already done and Black Friday protests and boycotts are looking to be larger than in recent years.

What’s your take on this year’s Thanksgiving and Black Friday phenomenon? Are you refusing to shop anywhere in particular? Let us know by commenting or tweeting to us – and in the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving from us here at Magneto.

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