You'll Meet Extraordinary People in Retail
A little dose of gratitude
She Had Confidence Beyond Our Solar System.
"Hey, how are those board shorts fitting, man?" She asked as she knocked on the fitting room door. (We were required to check on our customers while they were trying on so we could get extra sizes if needed.)
"Why don't you come in here and help me?" He asked.
"Because I don't get paid enough," she replied without hesitation and walked away.
I stood there, awestruck by her awesomeness.
That woman has been one of my closest friends for twenty years.
We met in retail.
There is something inexplicable about customer-facing work. After you do it for years, almost nothing throws you off your game. You're able to come up with these zingers - these one-liners that leave people stunned.
We see so much outrageous behavior, but it's just another day for us. We need to help people quickly because we have a to-do list that's twenty-four miles long.
So, do you need another size, or are you good, man? And no, I won't be making out with you, so get out of my store.
The Brutally Honest Co-Manager
One year, my co-manager and I worked with a merchandiser who needed help getting all his work done. His team wasn't great, and one guy in particular really sucked. But for whatever reason, the merchandiser liked him.
We were talking through the people, and his name came up.
"I like him!" The merchandiser exclaimed.
"He's garbage," my co-manager stated flatly. "He calls out sick all the time, he's slow, and he messes up the shoe room whenever he puts new styles away."
The merchandiser was shocked and left speechless, his mouth agape.
She was right.
I was so grateful to her because someone said it, and it wasn't me this time.
She worked harder than almost anyone I ever worked with. I adored working with her. She moved away, but every time I think about her, I'm like, "Damn. I'm so glad I worked with her as long as I did."
Working side-by-side with people for years, you learn to appreciate small things about them.
In her case, it was her work ethic and her unmatched ability to cut the crap.
She was operationally excellent and could see inefficiencies from far away. I had zero worries when she was part of my team.
I only wish she still lived near me so we could grab a drink sometime.
The Awkward Sensor Removal
A few years ago, on a busy afternoon, a guy came into our store and needed a new pair of pants - asap. He was maybe twenty years old. He was a little off. My first thought was that he was on drugs.
His behavior was a bit erratic, and he was rather sweaty.
Anyway, he tried some clothes on, chose a pair of pants, and headed to the registers with the new pants on. He was also in a hurry like he had to get to work or something.
I'd made my way up to the cash wrap to help ring. The line had gotten long, so I ran up there. I saw him in line and was anticipating some shenanigans. I didn't know what kind, but I was sure the purchase would not be smooth.
The pants he was wearing had a sensor in the waistband. The sensor remover was set into the cash wrap counter, and it was high.
It was not easy to get to if a person was wearing a garment.
We let him know this, but he ignored our advice.
I luckily got caught up helping a mom and daughter who were choosing some stickers out of the case. The cashier next to me got the guy. She had him come around the counter to get the sensor off his waistband.
He couldn't jump high enough to reach the sensor detacher. She was looking at me, but I was busy. The guy kept jumping like an Atlantic Salmon, utterly undeterred by the height of the counter or by the gaze of the people in line. It was like he thought that if he just kept jumping, he’d get it eventually. It wasn’t working.
My other co-manager ran over to help.
She was so kind and patient with him. She brought a step ladder over for him and walked him through the process. By this time, the cashier was squatting down behind the counter because she was laughing so hard that tears were welling up.
This massive line of people stood there, staring during this whole fiasco.
I continued with my customer and tried to ignore this very large guy jumping next to me.
* This is fine. This is totally normal. *
That dog sticker? SO CUTE! Great choice!
I could not have done what my co-manager did. I did not have the empathy or patience she had that day. I would've had the guy quickly change so we could remove the sensor, but she understood that this guy needed more help, and she was right there to support him no matter how crazy the whole thing looked.
She and I made the best team.
My weaknesses were her strengths. Her weaknesses were my strengths.
We will be friends forever.
Retail connected me with the most extraordinary people.
Down to earth.
Sincere.
No bullshit.
Giving.
Someone recently asked me: "What's the path not taken?"
I couldn't think of one. I've left it all on the field.
To all the retail people I've worked with or met online -
Thank you for your generosity, your intelligence, and your badass attitude.
Today, I raise my glass to all of you.
Stay rad,
Kit
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You're the absolute best.
Forever friends indeed. Love you!
What great stories!!! Work connections are forever and you brought back those memories.