working retail

15Nov07

before taking this job in retail, I always thought how mind-numbing working in retail was. It was mostly a game of patience and chance played according to the rules of a customer who could never be wrong. It was something people did as a step to something bigger and better. working retail was something to be avoided at all costs if your career was important to you.

and after my first month in the luxury retail business, i find it to be the truth. but, only partially. like my coworker once said, “anyone has the qualifications to work in retail. yet, only a few are capable of being able to excel at it.” And so far, i’ve found my coworkers to be lovers of literature and people who own their own business on the side. they are incredibly intelligent and well educated. I’ve also realized that though it may not be as mathematically challenging as forecasting trends through data mining like i’ve done for the past few years, it still does require a great deal of analysis and being able to determine the right goods to be delivered at the right time.

today was the first day that i cried from something that happened at work.

and at that instant i grew a even larger respect for people who have done this particular line of work exceptionally for more than ten years. it is emotionally taxing. it is physically exhausting.  and even with all the sacrifices you make to help provide the best level of customer service money can buy, they are going to be people who will discount your work ethic simply because they feel that they have the right too.

it angers me when people complain about how luxury specialists are forced to “profile” people and how they are subsequently “mistreated.” unfortunately, i can see validity in those allegations. however, everyone needs money to survive.  one of the first few lessons anyone learns in any job is to prioritize. a person is not physically capable of extending equal service to all patrons. he or she must decide which sales will be the most beneficial. occasionally these judgements can be erroneous. yet, it does not allow people to take place of the generosity of sales associates. i hear stories of how people try things on for fun or how they like to hassle sales associates to prove their own worth.

yes, money is money. but though a retail store is an institution to purchase goods for many people, it is also a work place for others. if someone came into my old corporate office and asked to see a barrage of sales reporting simply for “fun” or “try some things”, it would almost be considered harassment. civility is bidirectional.

and it’s not uncommon for sales associates to memorize problem customers who are known to simply waste time for their own enjoyment (this is differentiated from simply browsing) . and so when the time comes when you actually intend to purchase something with your hard-earned money, it will only lead you to sub-par service for yourself.

in the end, respect is not a right but something that is earned mutually.

Filed under: too much thinking, work   |  1 Comment
Tags: job, luxury, problem customers, retail, work