Kari Joyner and The Gap share the same birth year -- 1969. She laughs when she says “it was meant to be” that she grew up to become the manager of a Gap store.

Joyner has managed the Peachtree Mall Gap store for the past 18 years. She said her son, whom she hires for seasonal work during the holidays, is a true Gap baby, since she was pregnant with him when she first started working at the store.

But her life isn’t all about the Gap ... except during the holidays that is. Starting today, she’ll spend many hours at the store. She’ll be there at midnight Thanksgiving night when the store opens and she’ll stay until about 1 p.m. Friday when the initial Doorbusters sale ends.

Then it’s time to head home for a nap with Paco, her 8-year-old Chihuahua.

“One day, he was in our yard,” she said. “He wouldn’t eat and he wouldn’t come, but he stayed in our back yard. Finally, I went to the middle of the yard and sat down and talked to him until he came and sat in my lap. We’ve been cuddling ever since.”

We spoke to Joyner last week as she was getting the staff and store ready for the onslaught of customers sure to arrive on Black Friday.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

How many employees do you have and how many will work on Black Friday?

25. And 23 of them will work. I’ll be there since we’ll be opening at midnight. Fourteen of the stores in the mall will open at midnight.

How many hours straight will the store be open?

We open at midnight and will close at 10 p.m. Friday. Almost a full day. I’ll get here at 11:30 p.m. to get ready to open. I’ll be here at least until noon or 1 p.m. I’ll go home and take a nap and then come back to work Saturday afternoon. I love it. I love working on Black Friday.

Besides the extended hours is anything special planned for Black Friday?

We’ll have our Doorbusters sale from midnight to noon. That will give customers a longer time to shop.

What sort of training and preparation is necessary to be successful on such a busy shopping day?

It takes a lot. We had a Black Friday party where we (the whole staff) came dressed in Christmas pajamas and we had food. We talked about what to expect. It’s taken about 100 hours to decorate the store to kick off the holiday season.

Do you get to squeeze in any shopping yourself on Black Friday? If you weren’t working would you shop?

Not really. I used to, but this year, since we’re open at midnight ...

Was it your idea to open at midnight, or was it a corporate decision?

I got to set it and I partnered with my boss (the district manager).

Do you anticipate a large crowd at the door when you open at midnight Friday?

Yes. It’s hard to judge, but I think we had 30 to 50 waiting at the door last year.

What deals will entice people to shop at midnight?

I don’t have the finalized list, but it will be some kind of $19 deal on select jeans and sweaters.

Recent research indicates that more people shop the weekend of or prior to Christmas than Black Friday. What day of the year seems like the busiest?

The week starting with Saturday, before Christmas. It’s pretty steady that week. Black Friday is really busy, but Saturday and Sunday are really quiet.

This year, Christmas is on a Sunday. Will Christmas Eve be busy?

Christmas Eve is generally very busy. In fact, it’s a jam-packed day.

Are most shoppers cheery or grinchy on Black Friday?

I would say cheery. We don’t have grinchy customers. They expect lines and they expect to wait to pay.

How do shoppers’ moods change as Christmas gets closer?

They feel more rushed about getting things. They take less time picking out gifts and will grab the first thing they see.

What etiquette tips would you like shoppers to keep in mind on Friday?

The main is not to cut in front of others. That’s when they get upset. Be thoughtful of others.

What shopper horror stories can you share with us?

I really don’t have any. I’ve never had a bad Black Friday incident. I’ve never had any issues with customers. Now, I’ve seen things happen at other stores, but never here.

Any idea how many shoppers will enter the Gap on Friday?

We have a traffic counter. Last year we had over 500 transactions and had about 5,500 customers come in through the door.

How will you keep the store looking neat with all the shoppers?

We have people in zones through the store. They assist customers and straighten up the merchandise. After noon (after the Doorbusters sale), I have a crew that comes in to straighten up.

Have you taught your children to fold “The Gap way”?

When they were younger I brought home a folding board and showed them how to fold shirts and sweaters.

Do you ever dream of doing that in your sleep?

Yes, but I dream about the store sometimes -- see what the store can look like, and I’ll wake up and think, “That’s a good idea.”

Besides the Gap, where do you do a lot of Christmas shopping?

Target and Best Buy. I usually buy electronics because clothes come from here.

What do Gap employees think about the Saturday Night Live skit “Gap girls”?

They think it’s hilarious. I always say if someone makes fun of you, you’ve made it big.