In the brilliant 1988 movie Rain Man, the character of Raymond Babbit says, “Kmart sucks”. Raymond might have a bit more support for his statement now that Kmart in Australia has applied to open their doors early on ANZAC Day.
For those outside Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand observed on the 25th of April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Over the years it has broadened its purpose, becoming a day that commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.
News.com.au is now reporting that Kmart has applied to the New South Wales government for permission to trade before the traditional opening time on ANZAC Day of 1:00 p.m. (Thankfully shops in Perth don’t open at all on ANZAC Day.)
Their submission contends that staying closed for a morning to remember those who fought and died for our countries may inconvenience their shoppers.
Kmart submits that there is a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on ANZAC Day.
Customers who are used to being able to shop at any time would potentially be severely inconvenienced by our closure. In short, they would not be able to obtain necessity items when they want.
Seriously? Your customers would potentially be severely inconvenienced by your closure for one morning? Do you think that the men and women who travelled overseas to protect our country, many of whom never returned, weren’t just a little more inconvenienced than not being able to shop for a few hours one morning a year? They were prepared to risk their lives and you’re not even prepared to give up a few hours profit? Do you think that your customers are really so stupid that they can’t plan a day ahead to buy ‘necessity items’?
War is never a good thing but surely those who gave their lives for our freedom didn’t do it only to give us freedom of shopping hours.
The application claims that shopping is “an important leisure activity” and that it “provides for the opportunity for families to come together . . . and gives them reason to spend special time with one another.”
Has shopping become that much of a god to us? Are our lives so empty that we consider a visit to the shopping centre as ‘family time’?
I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.
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Rodney – this is old news here in the U.S.
Not only are the stores open on our Memorial Day (I think it’s the equivalent of your ANZAC), they are open with huge “Sales” promoted weeks in advance, and not only Memorial day, but Christmas, New Years, and every other holiday we hold dear.
My son is young, he is working in retail, and he works nights, days, holidays…it’s heartbreaking to me as a mom, to have family all around, a lovely dinner at the table, his favorite dishes served, and knowing he missing it all, working for some notion that the people “have to have the shop open to get the forgotten necessities” for that day.
If he were a doctor, policeman, fireman, or other such thing, I’d understand…
But this is how it is, and has been for ages now.
.-= Barbara (Xerraire)´s last blog ..Gold Medals, Beer, Champagne, Cigars, Condoms =-.
It’s been creeping in here for a while too.
I don’t know why we need to have all our shops open at all hours of the day. I’m tired of hearing about ‘retail therapy’. I think a lot of people need therapy to help them understand that spending only brings a very short lived pleasure.
Yes KMART SUCKS! When will it stop? Christmas next? Easter Friday? People could do with a day off from shopping.
I hope that the government is smart and they reject the submission.
When will it stop? I don’t think it will. They’re also applying for Easter Sunday.
That is unbelievable that they want to do this, I’ll ceriously only start going to Target then!!! 🙁
.-= Flea´s last blog ..FACEBOOK! =-.
I just can’t believe they would seriously put up the kind of arguments they have. They try to make it sound like they’re doing us a massive favour.
I know that they need to make money but to try to make it sound like they offer a vital service that needs to be available every hour of every day is taking it a bit far.
I totally understand the anger behind this thing.
But it is a telling sign when there seems to be more anger at this request by Kmart than by shops who get permission to be open on Sundays.
Is Anzac Day more sacred than Sundays now?
Perhaps it always has been in Australia.
It’s unfortunate that Sunday has become ‘just another day’ for so many people.
We wonder why there’s so much stress around and yet we fill our lives with ‘stuff’ and activities.
Surely even those who aren’t Christians can see the value in taking time out. God didn’t tell us to set a day aside every week as purely a religious exercise, it’s for our own good. Our minds, bodies and spirits need to time out.
Good post! Really… how important can Kmart be after all?! Or shopping, for that matter…
.-= Iris´s last blog ..German Dream =-.
Good post Rodney. As someone who has served in Australia’s Defence Force (and injured on duty), I find their statement about Anzac Day inconveniencing their customers outright disgusting.
I think it’s more about the almighty dollar. Surely their customers are not that stupid to not stock up on things that they may require whilst the shops are closed as a mark of respect for ANZAC day.
Surely though, if they fail this year, they will try again next year and each year until they are successful.