CityView Magazine

60 | November/December • 2014 As for the horrifying stories that are portrayed in the me- dia about the Black Friday craziness, Brianna doesn't think it's nearly that bad. "It's always too crowded. It's the one day of the year when you will see the parking lot COMPLETELY packed. So full you can't even park in the last row in the last corner because it's jammed packed. I've seen people get an- gry over the last item, but it never escalated like the stories we hear on the news." "I've absolutely been shoved and elbowed, but that's just part of the madness! If anything, the happiness and sense of community I experience during Black Friday outshines all the negative press." When describing Black Friday in three words, Brianna chose 'crazy, exhilarating and fun.' Brianna spilled the details on the best deals and where to find them in Fayetteville. "My number one rule was that I HAD to be there when Target opened, Best Buy is great for movies and CDs, the best deals are the $3 movies! Ulta has great stuffing stockers and Walgreens is great for smaller stuff like perfumes." Other stores on her hit list were Kmart, Kohl's, Wal- Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond and JC Penney. As for hot items that are popular on Black Friday, Brianna explains, "the TV's and game consoles are big-ticket items. ese beauti- ful and warm fleece blankets (from Target that went from $80 to $20) and holiday pajamas are also very popular." Every super hero needs a plan of action. From blueprints of city streets to knowing the back roads into the Cross Creek Mall parking lot, Brianna explained her game plan she would follow every year. "We would always plan an itinerary. We would choose stores opening at certain times, for example, Target opens at 8:00 a.m. and Wal-Mart at 10:00 a.m. I knew we would only have about 30 minutes in each store. We would plan one hour between each location since the line would take 45 minutes and it would take 15 minutes to drive there. You always need to use your time in each store sparingly." "We didn't go to sleep – we stayed up aer anksgiving. at's when we would game plan and strategize. I am proud to say we were always the first ones in line. My personal goal was to make it to Ulta, the beauty store, at 9:00 a.m. When I walked through the beauty store's doors I knew my Black Friday was accomplished." Aer that, it was time for Brianna to go home and get some rest. Until next year, the Black Friday excitement was over. Even though Brianna and her best friend currently live on opposite sides of the country, they still practice the tradition. "My best friend has even introduced her 6-year-old daughter to our tradition. It's really cute and a special opportunity to see her learn about the values of giving." Brianna has con- tinued her tradition in the All-America City with another group of friends. She hits up all the Black Friday sales from Target to Charlotte, North Carolina based department store, Belk. Brianna loves to connect with the locals in line and spread holiday cheer through the gi of giving. Brianna shared that since she moved to Fayetteville, there has been an ultimate plot twist to her Black Friday Brianna shared four of her most important tips for a successful Black Friday adventure: 1 Devise a Plan. the more details you put in, the better – locations, items and time schedule. 2 Dress for the occasion: warmly, comfortably and layering is always best - oh and don't forget comfortable shoes! 3 Be friendly and neighborly to those you may meet. Spread good holiday cheer and be polite to the people you encounter. A small conversation can go a long way! 4 Don't let stress or the crowds overwhelm you. take your time and have fun!

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