NEW YORK — Wal-Mart isn’t bucking the trend of opening on Thanksgiving night and announced that its stores will open two hours earlier than last year.
The world's largest retailer said that it will begin its in-store Black Friday sales at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier than last year.
The announcement comes as no surprise after other major retailers announced they, too, will begin Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving night.
"We're always looking at what's going on in the competitive environment," said Duncan Mac Naughton, executive vice president, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walmart U.S.
The giant retailer will bring back its one-hour guarantee during events at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, followed by an 8 a.m. event on Black Friday. If customers are in a designated line within an hour of one of these sales' kickoffs, they are guaranteed to receive an item at a certain price either that night or before Christmas.
The program is expanding to 21 products this season from three last year, ranging from a Vizio 60-inch LED HDTV for $688, to a one-carat diamond and sterling silver pendant and earring set for $98. The stores will integrate wristbands so shoppers can browse the store while waiting for the events to begin.
"Our goal is to have a lot of folks come shop with us at 6 p.m.," Naughton said.
Additionally, the company said they are offering its workers extra incentives for working the holiday.
About 1 million workers will be scheduled to pick up hours on Thanksgiving.
Wal-Mart said that workers will get "a nice Thanksgiving dinner at work," as well as extra "holiday pay."
Workers scheduled to work will also get a 25% discount off one purchase, regardless of how many items they buy at the time.
NBC News contributed to this report.