Retail is job that everyone should have, at least once in their lives. Selling clothes can’t be that bad, right? And getting clothes cheaper has to be a great perk, right? C’mon, what could be bad about this?

Well, working retail is about a lot more than selling clothes. In fact, that’s usually the smallest part of our jobs. There’s a ton of “behind the scenes” tasks we do in order to keep the store running properly. And sometimes, it isn’t pretty.

Here are 6 things that retail workers won’t tell you.

1. Your co-workers can become your best friends or your worst nightmares very, very quickly.
   1. Just like life, there are people you will instantly click with, and feel connected to on another level of friendship that just can’t compete with others. In retail, connection seems to be emphasized. Sharing a love for helping people is something hard to compete with. However, there are the rarities of butting heads at work, and I say rarities very lightly. Usually, this happens when two stubborn people work alongside each other, stuck in their ways, not wanting to change. Just like good relationships are emphasized, difficult relationships are also emphasized, usually to an uncomfortable level. In order to create a functional place of work, two people must learn to work together, setting aside differences and focusing on the needs of the customer.
2. The discount is so nice, but being surrounded by clothes all day basically makes it impossible to keep any money on hand.
   1. Let me tell you that there have been several paychecks that have gone straight back back to the company, in terms of me purchasing about one of everything in the store. Working retail is definitely challenging in that aspect. But, it’s hard to see this as a downside, especially when your job is to present and sell the clothes in your store. If you feel good in what you are wearing, and have an abundance of choices, it’s hard to feel bad about the money you’re spending. Besides, who doesn’t love to put on new clothes?
3. When our shift ends at 8, we usually aren’t home until 8:30-9ish.
   1. Closing the store isn’t as easy as walking out at the end of the night. No-there’s a lot more to it than that. Closing the register, counting the till, filling out paperwork and cleaning the store, which usually includes vacuuming, dusting and even soaking up spilled ice cream on carpet (yes, that’s happened to me). By the time we drop the deposit off and drive off, it’s usually much later than the expected “shift end.”
4. When it’s holiday time, we can sing just about every Christmas song ever invented in our sleep.
   1. And trust me, it’s not always so exciting. Justin Bieber’s christmas tunes will forever be engraved into my memory. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” will never sound the same when you hear it played every hour of your 9 hour shift. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas music is amazing. But when “Mistletoe” is keeping you awake at night, you’ll think differently, I promise.
5. We’ve perfected the “I’m going to smile, even though you’re not a nice person” face.
   1. Believe it or not, some people don’t treat retail workers like actual people. And it’s horrible. No one should ever be treated differently for their job. No one should ever be told to clean up the mess they deliberately made because “that’s their job.” And no one, and I mean NO ONE, should ever apologize for who they are, simply for demonstrating company policy. The smile you see on retail worker’s faces are sometimes forced, because that’s what they’re trained to do.
6. We love what we do.
   1. But in the end, helping someone find the perfect pair of jeans they’ve been searching for after an entire day of shopping is priceless. Helping a girl find an outfit for her first date warms your heart. Helping someone feel so good in what they’re wearing is remarkable. Learning about people’s struggles, their highs, and even their lows is the coolest part of our job. And it’s because of those moments that we love our jobs, even if they don’t come around very often.

Keep on keepin’ on, fellow retail workers.