A lot of people go into retail during the holidays, especially college kids trying to make some money between semesters. I've been lucky to work at the same store for every winter break since my freshman year of college so this is my fourth go-around of seasonal retail (what's up, American Girl?). Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it makes you feel like you're going to lose your mind. Even if it's a tough day, helping people find what they want can be really rewarding. Seeing little girls get excited about their new doll and accessories is adorable. Here are 11 things every retail worker knows to be true about working the holiday season.
1. You don’t learn coworkers’ names. You really only work with them for a few weeks so you just hope their name tag is visible.
2. You’re never a jerk to retail employees because you know the struggle. You know how insane retail can be so you have far more patience in other stores now that you’ve been on the other end.
3. The sales floor is a mess the second you turn around. Seriously, you left it alone for 30 seconds and you come back to find it worse than before you fixed it. It isn't going to stay fixed and decent looking until you fix it after the store closes.
4. You’re out of everything customers are asking for even if you get a shipment like every day the week before Christmas. Because why would the warehouse ship you want you have high-demand for? Did anyone at HQ look at last year's numbers to guesstimate a little better?
5. Customers are mad at you because they waited until the last minute to shop and you don’t have what they wanted. Because it’s our fault we’re out of the item you wanted that you could’ve bought weeks ago before the insane rush. Maybe don’t wait until the last minute?
6. Your store hours are all out of whack for the holidays so you never know what time you close unless you have a closing shift. You end up asking half a dozen coworkers because no one has any idea.
7. Closing shifts are the hardest because you can’t restock the floor with nothing left to stock. Time to fake-front EVERYTHING!
8. When asked to stay later by a manager, you have a real internal debate, deciding between more money or time off. You don’t want to ditch them and make it difficult for them butttt you also want to get off your aching feet and maybe have some time to yourself or to see friends.
9. You know exactly when all hell is going to break loose in your store like clockwork; people everywhere, children who should be taking their naps having meltdowns, the shelves and displays are wrecked, people come up to you one after another needing to be helped immediately. You dread that time.
10. You hear the same few Christmas songs over and over and if you hear any of them one more time, you might slam your head into the register. It feels like the same five songs over and over and if you hear them outside of work you change the station or leave ASAP.
11. Seeing customers’ faces light up when you help them get the perfect gift is the best part of working retail. Although you disappoint a lot of people because you’re out of stock of their item during the holidays, seeing a customer (especially the kids) get excited for their stuff is really cute.
To all my retail workers - seasonal and regular alike:
