3 Major Things I Learned Working in Retail

Let's be honest. Working retail is no easy task for most people. People working in retail are usually bottom chain workers. Meaning, we end up doing the heavy lifting; the hard work and dirty work that no one wants to. Often, this type of work includes cleaning floors, organizing the clothes, refolding, making everything look neat and tidy as well as working the register AND on top of that running back and forth checking on customers and making sure EVERYONE is happy. As mentioned earlier, working in retail is difficult and not meant for the sensitive. Take it from someone who is sensitive and has many anxieties... it is not easy.

1. Don't take things personally.

Much of the time, your going to be busy. If your not, you better get busy. There is always something to do and not enough hours in a day to finish all the tasks that need to be done. Ever. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to finish a task continuously without checking on customers. I can guarantee you that there will be customers who will get upset that you don't come running to say hello to them from your endless piles of clothes that need to be folded and put away. Or if you take more than a few minutes to help them when your already helping a bunch in line plus doing 20+ tasks. It is fair to say that you will always encounter good customers and bad ones. IT IS INEVITABLE. I once had a customer yell at me Just because I was closed. He swore up and down at me because, since I already closed for about 10-15 minutes and was cleaning up the food stand, I could not sell him anything. Most people would say just sell him one even past closing. Well, There are also good, moderate, and bad bosses too (what a surprise)! My boss was a nice lady, but strict. She 100% did not want anything sold once the register was closed and the deposit was made. This is because all the numbers in the report will get messed up which is understandable. none of the less, sometimes employees will get yelled at by customers (just because it is inconvenient for them) just for following the rules. Also you will for sure make mistakes on the job. We are all HUMAN! however, that doesn't mean your boss won't correct you; and sometimes not in a necessarily likable way either. But don't sweat it! You got this!

2. You learn to appreciate the little things.

Have you ever walked in a fitting room and walk out leaving the clothes for the employees to pick up? (This happens a lot more than people think.) Yes, it is our job to pick up after you. Well, those working in retail will learn real quick to appreciate when a customer offers to give you their clothes. What is even better is when you see a customer putting the clothes back THEMSELVES in the THE CORRECT SPOT, even though they may be folding them wrong (at least they helped!). Like I said, we are all human!

3. In the end, you come out stronger.

Even though working in retail is tiring (because you will literally be on your feet 24/7), people who work in retail learn to problem solve quickly and develop better communicative skills (SUPER IMPORTANT TO HAVE). Another major skill, is that those who work in retail learn how to SELL. We quickly discover what does and doesn't make a purchase go through. We learn how to PERSUADE others to buy our merchandise and NEGOTIATE. People in these types of jobs also learn how to keep people happy and keep the balance. These are the type of people who do the dirty stuff and do the hard work. These are the type of people who, without them the business would not be possible. They keep everything running all at once. They do the nitty gritty. Without us, nothing would be possible!