Waiting all night didn't keep these Taylor Swift fans from smiling patiently early Sunday morning outside Belk's Cool Springs Galleria store. BHP photos by JODI RALL.
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First in line smell success as Belk doors open
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“The excitement in my daughter’s voice when I called to tell her that it was for sure she would be meeting Taylor was wonderful.”
TERRI PETITT,
First person in line
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Brentwood Home Page staff reports
Taylor Swift’s diehard fans began lining up Saturday for the chance to meet country music’s hottest star in Cool Springs on Friday.
People from as far away as Ohio, Mississippi, South Carolina and Alabama stood in line, and in some cases camped out overnight, for the opportunity to receive a purple ticket – after the purchase of a $153 gift package containing Swift’s new Elizabeth Arden fragrance called Wonderstruck – at Belk’s Cool Springs Galleria Store. Swift will have a personal meet-and-greet and photo op from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the store with those lucky enough to get the tickets.
Though exact numbers weren’t available on Sunday, store officials estimated that more than 400 people were waiting in line when the store opened at noon. The line formed outside the lower level fragrance entrance and wrapped around the building to the entrance into the men’s department.
Mom Terri Petitt from Whitehouse, Tenn. was the first person in line. She nabbed her spot at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
“I’m doing this for my daughter. Her name is Julianna and she is 6 years old. She is a huge Taylor Swift fan. …,” Petitt said. “The excitement in my daughter’s voice when I called to tell her that it was for sure she would be meeting Taylor was wonderful.”
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| Store manager Greg Smith greets customers and fans early Sunday |
Sarah Golian and Taylor Demonbreun got into line at 1 a.m. Sunday. Now great friends, the two young women met earlier this year at Swift’s Speak Now Hear Now concert.
“Meeting Taylor is going to change my life! Even though I’m older than Taylor she is a great role model,” Sarah exclaimed.The line wasn’t limited to women, however. Brentwood dad Mike Sheppard stood in line to get two tickets for his daughters, ages 12 and 5, who are huge Taylor Swift fans. “They will be so happy!”
Sheppard, like many others, said he was having a fun talking to others around him waiting in line.
The Belk staff and Elizabeth Arden representatives made sure those waiting stayed in good spirits. Several people mentioned how friendly and nice the staff had been to them. Greg Smith, store manager and regional vice president for Belk, went up and down the line personally greeting those waiting and thanking them for being there.
“It is exciting that we are one of three locations in the world where Taylor is doing this. Belk is thrilled that our customers get this opportunity and for those from out of state, we welcome them to Tennessee.”
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| Sarah Golian and Taylor Demonbreun met and became friends at a Taylor Swift concert |
The $153 gift bags – and purple tickets – were a quick sell out.
An unspecified number of the $153 gift bags – and purple tickets – were sold out by Sunday afternoon. Smith said a limited number of $113 Wonderstruck baskets which include a 3.4 fluid ounce spray bottle of the fragrance, as well as lotion, shower gel, a gift bag, an autographed photo box and entry into a VIP viewing area on Friday, are still available.
Local law enforcement officers as well as additional security crews will be on hand Friday to handle crowd control.
Click here to read BHP’s earlier story on Taylor’s Cool Springs’ appearance.
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