Who's Down for a Little Gift Giving?

YPSILANTI, Mich. --Thanksgiving and Black Friday are right around the corner and the short check out lanes at one Meijer store worries some.

“Lately they have been sending us home early so I might not be able to afford gifts this year,” said Michele Gray, who has been a cashier for 10 years and adds she needs her 40 hours to stay on top of her finances.

James Stubbs is one of Meijer’s newest baggers and is responsible for keeping carts available to Meijer visitors. He explained you can always tell if it is busy in the store by how many carts are in the corral on the north entrance, which is most popular at the Ypsilanti? store.

“Normally, I struggle to keep the corral full on a Saturday, but lately I have had to find other jobs to occupy my time. Getting sent home early isn’t ideal for me. I need my hours,” Stubbs said. “So people need to continue to come in.”

Shelly McKinney a mother of one with another on the way said, customers are biding their time for better deals.

“I think business has been slower this past October because people are spending wisely to be able to have a decent Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said McKinney, who has only been working at Meijer for about seven months and used to shop at Meijer before she worked there.

Ashley Ivory said she can't wait for the promotions that the Michigan-based grocer and retailer will offer during the holidays.

“I have been working as a cashier at Meijer for two years and every year I wait for those promotions,” Ivory said, “Santa Bucks are right around the corner and I will be putting them to good use.”

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The best bargains are available and it’s a good time to be thrifty. Until that day comes and extra hands aren’t needed to guide the ship, employees working on an hourly salary continue to feel the ripples of the water.

As seasonal workers are hired to prepare for a busy November and December, customers remain minimal.

“A few months ago it would take me a while just to get through the store while I shopped let alone the waiting my turn at a checkout lane. The last few weeks it’s been in-and-out,” said an Ypsilanti resident.

This season family and friends may be enough for some and a bargain perfect for others.





Meijer Christmas Commercial: The company applies humor and everyday living to reach it's customers. This commercial is a prime example of their strategy to get parents shopping at Meijer. This particular commercial geared toward holiday spending.