Outdoor sporting-goods chain REI will forgo its usual Black Friday sales this year and shutter its stores for the day after Thanksgiving. The Washington state-based retailer told its employees in a Monday email that instead of being asked to work as usual on Nov. 27, they will be paid to be outside. The company created a promotional website and a hashtag, #optoutside, where fans can share their outdoor plans for what has become the opening day of holiday shopping season.