eeeeeee ooooooo aaaaaaaahhh OUCH!
So last night was my first shift in retail. I worked at Northland Gifts from 5-9pm.
First let me say that I work with some really nice people. They were guiding me through things and saying "don't worry, you'll never remember all of this, just do as much as you can and never feel bad if you have to ask for help." All the woman are older than me. They have grand and great-grand children. But they are soooooooo nice.
I have to go by CC because there is already a Cindy. And she is just the sweetest person. So I do not mind.
There is a young man, younger than me. Nice. (Who ever is going there, just stop right now. The answer is with out a doubt, NO.)
So I was thinking to myself before going in "This shouldn't be too hard. We sell pretty little glass stuff. They don't have a computer, so everything is logged by hand. Not rocket science." I was right. Not rocket science. But some parts are freaking hard.
the biggest challenge is the fact that we carry a fine line of gifts (glass figurines smaller than the size of my big toe, that cost over $200.00.) But although some are very very very similar in appearance and style, they can be from different lines. So this poses a deer in the head lights look when:
1. A customer asks if we carry Department 56 Christmas Villages because all she saw was the Dickens Villages. (Yes we do)
2. Looking towards the Village section (past all the crystal with all the bright light reflecting everywhere) I have to figure out which display (each about 10 x 4 feet) is Dept. 56
3. They bring the model to the desk and you have to go find it in the storeroom.
4. You take each item out of its box, show it to assure quality, and place it back in the box. (I am getting pretty darn good at getting those things back into those form fitting packages.)
5. Here is the really really tricky part. Although I know the cash register, I have to find the right button with the correct line/category to ring it under. Which sounds easy enough, except it isn't. Because I really don't know the lines. Precious moments and Disney I got. But the difference between the Big Sky and the Blue Sky lines, no clue.
7. Then you have to log it into the book under the right category.
6. The customers know their stuff. They will ask things about specific lines. Can you special order this, when did they retire that, there is a new one being issued next week can we pre-purchase. And we are not talking the Nemo movie here folks. We are talking tree ornaments that cost over $20.00 or collectibles that do not have Nascar on the side, or do not come in bobble head form.
And the genius that I am, wore my sleek, high 2 + inch black boots. Long story as to why, but I talked myself into believing that it would be no different than going out dancing in them. It never occurred to me that while out dancing, I do a lot of sitting and there is usually alcohol involved, which numbs the pain.
So needless to say, I was in a lot of pain by 9:00. I don't know if any man could possibly relate to this, but I am sure a couple of woman could. My feet hurt so bad that while walking to my car, I almost threw-up. No exaggeration. With that kind of pain, you tighten every muscle in your body. I took the boots off the second I got in the car. I couldn't even touch my feet. Then when I got home, my feet were so puffy, I could not get them back into the boots, so I limped in the rain and puddles to my door. I sat on the couch and only got up to go to bed.
Today I can walk with out whimpering. That is a good sign. I will not ever wear those boots to work again. In fact, I will wear ugly black nursing shoes first.
Ok, so there is my story. Bottom line, I like my new job.
Another update:
I was begged to work for Bath and Body, but had to turn them down because I was already committed for nights and weekends to Northland Gifts. And Hallmark wants me during the day after the 16th. So retail is my new industry. And I think I may stick with it after the holidays, if I can find enough hours in the day sift to pay the bills.
First let me say that I work with some really nice people. They were guiding me through things and saying "don't worry, you'll never remember all of this, just do as much as you can and never feel bad if you have to ask for help." All the woman are older than me. They have grand and great-grand children. But they are soooooooo nice.
I have to go by CC because there is already a Cindy. And she is just the sweetest person. So I do not mind.
There is a young man, younger than me. Nice. (Who ever is going there, just stop right now. The answer is with out a doubt, NO.)
So I was thinking to myself before going in "This shouldn't be too hard. We sell pretty little glass stuff. They don't have a computer, so everything is logged by hand. Not rocket science." I was right. Not rocket science. But some parts are freaking hard.
the biggest challenge is the fact that we carry a fine line of gifts (glass figurines smaller than the size of my big toe, that cost over $200.00.) But although some are very very very similar in appearance and style, they can be from different lines. So this poses a deer in the head lights look when:
1. A customer asks if we carry Department 56 Christmas Villages because all she saw was the Dickens Villages. (Yes we do)
2. Looking towards the Village section (past all the crystal with all the bright light reflecting everywhere) I have to figure out which display (each about 10 x 4 feet) is Dept. 56
3. They bring the model to the desk and you have to go find it in the storeroom.
4. You take each item out of its box, show it to assure quality, and place it back in the box. (I am getting pretty darn good at getting those things back into those form fitting packages.)
5. Here is the really really tricky part. Although I know the cash register, I have to find the right button with the correct line/category to ring it under. Which sounds easy enough, except it isn't. Because I really don't know the lines. Precious moments and Disney I got. But the difference between the Big Sky and the Blue Sky lines, no clue.
7. Then you have to log it into the book under the right category.
6. The customers know their stuff. They will ask things about specific lines. Can you special order this, when did they retire that, there is a new one being issued next week can we pre-purchase. And we are not talking the Nemo movie here folks. We are talking tree ornaments that cost over $20.00 or collectibles that do not have Nascar on the side, or do not come in bobble head form.
And the genius that I am, wore my sleek, high 2 + inch black boots. Long story as to why, but I talked myself into believing that it would be no different than going out dancing in them. It never occurred to me that while out dancing, I do a lot of sitting and there is usually alcohol involved, which numbs the pain.
So needless to say, I was in a lot of pain by 9:00. I don't know if any man could possibly relate to this, but I am sure a couple of woman could. My feet hurt so bad that while walking to my car, I almost threw-up. No exaggeration. With that kind of pain, you tighten every muscle in your body. I took the boots off the second I got in the car. I couldn't even touch my feet. Then when I got home, my feet were so puffy, I could not get them back into the boots, so I limped in the rain and puddles to my door. I sat on the couch and only got up to go to bed.
Today I can walk with out whimpering. That is a good sign. I will not ever wear those boots to work again. In fact, I will wear ugly black nursing shoes first.
Ok, so there is my story. Bottom line, I like my new job.
Another update:
I was begged to work for Bath and Body, but had to turn them down because I was already committed for nights and weekends to Northland Gifts. And Hallmark wants me during the day after the 16th. So retail is my new industry. And I think I may stick with it after the holidays, if I can find enough hours in the day sift to pay the bills.
posted by Cindy at 9:27 AM
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