The Reality of Retail

By Retail_Realist - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Opinion

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Story of My Burning Balls

While mental wear and tear on the brain is an indicator that you might work in retail, nothing can give the job away like the signs of trauma to the feet. Now I know many other professions have to stand on their feet for the job. I am certainly sympathetic to people who stand behind counters and... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 7:32 PM | add or view comments (1) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Sunday, November 9, 2008

and now...a few words about shoplifting...

Retail employees know a little something about shoplifting. Customers are also well educated on the subject. Maybe you've even done it yourself. If you have, I'm not here to condemn you to shoplifter hell, but I do have some things I need to say on the subject. I realize there are many different... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 9:16 PM | add or view comments (4) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Saturday, November 8, 2008

My Two Faces

In my retail world I wear two hats. I am a manager. I am a sales person. Sometimes I try to wear both hats at the same time. When this happens, I struggle to be successful in either position. Wearing two different hats at the same time is not fashionable. If I focus on selling I can be a selling... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 8:23 AM | add or view comments (1) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Friday, November 7, 2008

My Cheese and Whine

I know I am not alone in the world when I have one of those days. Like the day you had yesterday. When you didn't want to play nicely with the other children. Like the day you ran and hid when a customer came in asking to speak with you because you were sooo nice the last time she came in. Why do I... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 8:48 PM | add or view comments (1) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Interviewing Retail Hopefuls

In addition to retail selling, I am also in retail management. Several years ago, one of my primary responsibilities was interviewing and hiring sales associates. It was during this time that I sharpened my ability to recognize a bad hire from a good hire. If I could give any advice to the ones who... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 7:15 PM | add or view comments (4) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Ventilation Systems for Retailers

May I just vent a little bit? Without being too specific, I have to let my blood pressure rise for a moment about customers who make me wish I had joined the military for a career instead of my choice of continued crazed customer interactions. What makes it OK for customers to demand all of my time... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 2:18 PM | add or view comments (1) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

The Dark Side of Retail

Who knew that beyond the bright banners and colorful clothes lurked a darker side of retail? This truth can be spoken out loud behind stockroom doors where shipment boxes are stacked to the ceiling as exhausted shipping and receiving associates struggle to climb out of the plastic and tissue they... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 1:20 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

"Does this make me look fat?"

In addition to being a loaded question for dazed husbands, this question about size and proportion is equally disturbing to sales associates. I often wonder why a woman feels victorious about squeezing into a size 8 but looks like a size 14 when she stands in front of the 3-way mirror. Now if I say... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Retail_Realist at 12:32 PM | add or view comments (2) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

About this Blog

The World of Retail... Where customers kick and scream... Where employees laugh and point fingers... Where everyone justs wants a sale and a discount... This is my world. Feel for me.

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