Times are lean, but the holiday gifts people really want can be pricey. Everyone's tired of scrimping. People want to enjoy the holiday spirit of abundance; feel richer without spending more richly. Best Buy Gift Squad reminds people of the thrill of good gifting by helping them gift better with the coolest technology and entertainment stuff from Best Buy. The promotion comes to life through live, "surprise" events posted online and in social media. House Crashing/Blue Thursday On Thanksgiving Day ("Blue Thursday"), select households from the Reward Zone database get a surprise visit from the Best Buy Gift Squad. The Squad gives a high-value gift, and a camera crew captures the stunned, frenetic reactions. The film is posted online and used for ongoing program promotion. Check-Out Surprise When customers are checking out, some are randomly selected for the Gift Squad to cover or upgrade their purchase. The spectacle of the event is captured on video for posting online. Pimp Your List A la "House Crashers," customers are randomly selected for shopping help so they can gift better or "pimp their list" by selecting the most spectacular gifts, courtesy of Best Buy. The encounter will be captured on video then posted online. Black Friday When customers are lining up early outside stores, the Gift Squad is there giving away surprise gifts and pumping up the crowd, which is captured in video and posted. Social media presents the perfect opportunity to bring people together around the goal of "gifting better." It can turn a half-dozen "thanks" gifts into one incredible "WOW!" gift. It can surprise and delight people with the thoughtfulness of their loved ones and that they got something they really wanted rather than a bunch of stuff they cared little for. Group Gifting People form private Gift Squads and pool resources to give someone a "WOW" gift from Best Buy. Someone starts the squad through Best Buy's Facebook application, and then invites others to contribute. Once enough funds are pooled, the "giftee" is surprised with a message that their friends or family have purchased them a fantastic gift from Best Buy. Smarter Receiving Private Gift Squads work great for receiving gifts, too. In the Facebook app, customers simply identify a Best Buy gift they'd like to receive, then indicate the people they'd like to participate. Those people receive a message that says "Hi. I've got my eye on (Product) from Best Buy this holiday season. Rather than buying me a gift, please join my Gift Squad and contribute whatever you’d like." Helping Those in Need Finally, private Gift Squads help those less fortunate around the holidays. Squads are formed and funded the usual way, but the funds ultimately go to useful Best Buy merchandise or gift cards for families or not-for-profit organizations who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.