labor-dayJust before Labor Day last year, in a nod to the non-traditional workers who labor to create and maintain our virtual world, I wrote a post titled “Happy Labor Day, Internet Builders!” This year I thought I’d give a shout out to the retailers of America. Why? Well, Labor Day is traditionally “dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers…a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” (U.S. Department of Labor, 2008)

However, while a lot of American workers are able to celebrate this day, the first Monday in September, by not going to work, many of the folks who staff the retail establishments of America work on this day (often at Labor Day Sales Events). As an American consumer, I appreciate them doing that.

Now, as the talking heads on the nightly news so often remind us, economic recovery from the Great Recession likely will be led by American consumers. And most of those consumers buy from American retailers. Thus, those retailers have a vital role to play in our economy, in contributing to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

In tough economic times like these, retailers work extra hard for their money and many of them don’t let up for Labor Day. Furthermore, the leading retailers are not just putting in long hours, they are digging deep to invest in new technology that improves the efficiency of the retail process. These improvements enable American consumers to find and acquire the goods and services they need, more quickly, with less effort, and at prices that are often the most affordable in the world.

So here’s to America’s retailers! And here’s hoping that all of America’s workers will participate in a recovery that arrives well before the next Labor Day.
.