Walmart To Turn Thanksgiving Day into "Black Thursday" - FAIL

The Chain Will Begin Its Post-Thanksgiving Day Sale on Thanksgiving Evening This Year

If you plan to get your post-holiday shopping on as early as possible this year, don't wait 'til Thanksgiving evening to eat your pumpkin pie, because by that time, you'll need to be in line at Walmart. The retailer is officially kicking off its "Black Friday" sale even earlier this year, at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The world's largest retailer makes a quarter of its profits during the holiday season, so, instead of waiting until midnight to open, Walmart is getting an extra jump on its competition for those holiday gift buying dollars.

"We bought deep, very deep, and we bought deep on items that matter to our customers," Walmart U.S. Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Duncan Mac Naughton told Reuters (via Mommyish.com). "We got customer feedback that says 'I like to shop earlier so I can go to bed earlier.'"

Read: Walmart Is No Longer America's Favorite Cheap Shopping Destination

And Walmart isn't the only retailer treating Thanksgiving like it's just any other shopping day.

Kmart, Mommyish reports, has been open all day on Thanksgiving for years, and this year Sears will also open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and stay open until 10 p.m. on Friday.

Gap company stores, including The Gap, Old Navy, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic and Banana Republic Factory will also open select stores on Thanksgiving Day.

What's next, The Charlie Brown Black Friday Holiday Special?