I know what you're thinking. "Retail? This girl loves her job and wants to convince me to work in retail. She's probably one of those really preppy, peppy girls who wears a ton of makeup and blows her paychecks on clothes and Starbucks." That's not true. Well, maybe except for the Starbucks part.
Everyone should have a retail job for at least three months sometime in his or her life. I never thought I would be a retail person. Or that I would like it. There are definitely days where I've had sweet customers, made a little girl feel great about herself, and doubt my career in healthcare. But then there are days where nothing goes right. I don't know how to process this customer's online order, we're out of the shirt she wanted, or I get yelled at because of a price I didn't choose.
The truth is, retail is hard. When you go shopping at your favorite store, you love it. That's why it's your favorite store. The associates are kind and helpful, they help you find exactly what you're looking for. The store is clean and stocked with every size. You have a pleasant time from entering to checkout, then going home and wearing what you bought over and over again, and telling your friends about your great experience.
But what if those retail associates weren't nice? What if the store wasn't stocked? What if the store was a mess? It wouldn't be your favorite store anymore, would it?
I've learned a few things with my experience in retail.
1. Retail is an opportunity to bless and serve others.
Like everything else in life, I could view my job as a chore. But instead, I see it as an opportunity to make a little girl feel good about herself inside and out, to smile and show the love of Christ to each and every person that walks into the store.
2. Retail is hard.
Who folds all the clothes, redoes the pile when your child wrecks it up, puts everything away from your fitting room, deals with sass from customers about pricing or whatever the issue may be? Who tears apart the walls and puts them back together with new merchandise?
3. We take salespeople for granted.
I know, I just said we take salespeople for granted. Salespeople are often annoying, nagging us to buy something, or pressing us for more information when we say we're "just looking." But sales associates are people, too. They're just doing their best to make sure they can keep their job so they can provide for their families, or, in my case, pay back school loans. Think twice the next time you want to sass a sales associate.
4. Retail is an opportunity to minister to my coworkers.
When you spend a lot of time with people, you get to know them. When the day is slow and all that there is to do is refold clothes, we chat. I get to know the ins and outs of their lives, what they're struggling with, what they're happy about. And then I pray for them!
5. There are different types of shoppers.
The "I'm just looking" folks, the "We're looking for shorts, show me what you have," type, and then there's the "Excuse me, do you have black and yellow bumblebee fleece-lined tights that I can match with this skirt in a size 7?"
6. There are different types of parents.
Ranging from those who cuss in a children's store, to those who give in to whatever their children want and scream for, to those who yell at their kids in the store for misbehaving, to those who have their kids steal stuff. I've seen it all.
7. When a sales associate asks you if they can help you get a size...
They really just don't want you to mess up the pile they just refolded. Just accept the help. Both of you will benefit in the end.
8. Floor sets are the devil.
They take forever, I get so tired by the end of the night that I can't think straight, I'm covered in dust and I smell like metal from touching a bunch of hardware and hangers.
9. When a sales associate asks to help you pick out an outfit, we want to.
We get bored at work sometimes, so yes, we really do want to help you pick out five perfect outfits because it gives us something fun and productive to do!
10. The power of a smile.
Whether it's a customer smiling at me, or me smiling at a customer, a smile speaks a thousand words.
