Yes, you read that title right. Based off of my experiences in working at Anthropologie for the last year over holidays and summers, I have found that there is a silver lining in the world of retail. 

For all the awful customer horror stories and the disastrous fitting rooms entitled shoppers leave behind, there are benefits to working in retail that can help you grow as a person and make you stronger – and I’m not just talking physically (although carrying piles of hangers does build muscle). 

1. The discount. 

Okay, this one is obvious. If you work at a place you love, you just scored clothes that are a lot cheaper or cute shoes for a fraction of the price. If I didn’t work at Anthropologie, I could never buy things there full price because of how expensive they are. My discount makes the merchandise affordable, and gives me an easy way to dress for work when I’m feeling uninspired. 

2. Your co-workers are a constant source of inspiration.

The women I work with have incredible style, are always poised and polite to customers, and never let their smiles fade when they are on the clock. I admire each and every one of them, and they have all helped shape my personal style, as well as helped me become the best sales associate I can be. 

3. You become a more gracious and respectful individual.

After seeing how some customers act, you become very conscious of the kind of customer you are when you shop. You become more patient waiting in lines, you hang your clothes up correctly when you leave a fitting room, and you always greet the staff at other retail establishments with encouraging smiles. You know it sucks when people are rude, and you don’t want to be the kind of person who makes an employee want to breathe a sigh of relief the second you leave the store. 

4. You make great friends. 

There’s something about bonding over 7 AM opening shifts that makes your friends from work special. When you complain to others about the hard parts of your job, they might not get it. I often get comments like, “Why do you have to be there til 11 PM?” and “You had to spend how long on the phone with a store in Florida?!” But all it takes is one text to a work friend about your hellacious closing shift and they instantly get it. There’s something comforting about knowing that when the fun part ends and the tough part begins, there are always awesome people by your side. 

5. You learn to be on your feet for 9+ hours without collapsing. 

Yes, the first few weeks are hard, but eventually a 9-hour shift becomes something you can handle like a pro instead of something you dread. Bonus points: it helps with recruitment, a lot. Especially when you’re in heels for hours. 

6. The nice people! 

There are always those customers who are cheerful, patient, and just so darn happy to be in the store. We have regular customers who light up like kids on Christmas morning when they walk into Anthropologie and see all the beautiful new clothes that have come in since they shopped last, or the beautiful new decorations that were hung earlier that morning . They are the people who make fun conversation with you at the register, ask for your advice on gifts, and always beat you to the punch when delivering a “Have a great day!” sendoff when you hand them their receipt. Even one customer like that can make 5 terrible customers worth it. And sometimes, they bring their adorable babies or equally cute dogs with them! 

7. It’s good real world practice. 

Just like you learn how to be more respectful, you learn how to treat all types of people and how to handle yourself in a variety of situations. Even when a customer makes you want to hit something, you always take the high road (even if you complain about them to your co-workers afterwards). The more you take the high road at work, the more you will learn to take it in your personal life. 

8. You have a front row seat to the hottest trends of the season, cool new designers, and how to wear that pencil skirt with a crazy print that you thought you could never pull off. 

If a friend is trying to find the perfect dress for her semi-formal, you have the knowledge and expertise to say to her, “You know, wine is really coming back for fall. Try a dark red dress, instead of that typical LBD.” 

9. You’re doing more every day than just giving people change and clearing fitting rooms. 

You can learn so much about the behind the scenes part of a company just by being on the sales floor. People in the corporate offices choose how to put together the catalogs, how to style the website, and what pieces to order from which manufacturers, and you see it all come to life in a store. After a while, you really start to understand the business side of retail, and why that a certain print might come in a top and skirt, but not a jacket. 

10. It’s a great stepping-stone for future careers.

Whether you want to work in the world of fashion or not, a job in retail teaches you all of the above, and those are valuable lessons that you can carry with you for the rest of your life.