The very term “Black Friday” wreaks fear in the heart of anyone that has ever worked in a mall. Some people think that it is just those that work retail that suffer, but no- the employees of the food court take a beating too. Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is our busiest day of the year at Chick-fil-A of RiverGate Mall and I will be at work at four AM that day. Did you catch that? Four AM- as in four hours after midnight. Before the sun comes up. Before our local McDonald’s is even open (which leaves me to wonder where I’m gonna get food before I start my ten hour shift. I could go to Waffle House, but then again I don’t feel like getting shot or getting sick. Hmm . . . ). Yeah- it’s that early.
But I have done it before- last Black Friday I worked 6 AM to 5 PM. I mean, I’ve been at Chick-fil-A for almost three years (sad, I know) so I can handle things. How do I maintain my sanity at work during the holidays? Well typically, our manager brings in some kind of incentive on black friday- meaning food. We Chick-fil-A employees really like our food, so this helps. We’re quite fond of donuts from the Krispy Kreme across the street (um, we work at Chick-fil-A, what- did you expect us to be health nuts?) Also, everyone there has known for the past three years that they can count on me to supply the holiday tunes to play in the back of the store. Working the dreaded Black Friday becomes much easier when you’re listening to the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas cd. And lastly we all know that we can look forward to our annual Chick-fil-A Christmas party. Where my “secret Santa” last year got me a Tennessee Tech mug and keychain (Thanks Sara- and whoever has me this year, you got some stiff competition from gifts I’ve received in years past so do good ha!)
But it’s still rough. My first holiday season I worked at Chick-fil-A you know what I was? The sampler. Which meant I stood outside our storefront in the path of customers with a big tray of chicken nuggets on toothpicks saying, “Hi! Would you like to try a Chick-fil-A chicken nugget today?” Yeah it was real fun. Now, thank goodness I’m back inside the store. If you come to RiverGate Mall on Black Friday- come say hi to me!- And pity me. Oh, and if you insist on coming by and making a purchase at our humble store KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Oh, and one more thing . . .
HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY MUSINGS!
Tomorrow this humble blog celebrates it’s one year anniversary! What started on a complete whim, has now- one year, almost 5,000 views, 61 posts, 156 comments, 468 tags, and 165 hits on a single day (11/6/08) later, become a really fun project for me to just share my thoughts and opinions with you, and I appreciate you all so much for reading!
oo that seems like a scary day to work!
Yeah, it’s the worst- and the sales tax holidays come in a close second. haha
Hahahaha. Reading this makes me so glad to not be at joanns anymore! I might just come bye and order something REALLY complicated!
Jk I would never do that. I know how much black friday sucks.
Could you at least insist that they serve the breakfast menu this year? When I stop by at 8:00 am, I’m not really wanting lunch — but we’ll still stop by and say hi to cousin Jonathan!
Well I remember one year we didn’t serve breakfast at all, and then another year we just served chicken biscuits and nothing else during breakfast, but then this past Black Friday I think we served our full menu. But now we have a different manager from this time last year, so who knows what she’ll decide, but I’ll push for the full breakfast menu. Unless I’m cooking, then I’ll recommend that we don’t serve breakfast at all! — just kiddin’.
I used to love Black Friday! 4 years at the GAP and that day was awesome. Good exercise, the day FLEW by, and plenty of people to look at and make fun of for shopping on Black Friday.
I might just go back and work in reatil just for that day.