So this is one of the hardest things you could ever do during the holidays... working retail! And it shouldn't be that hard... but it kind of is... here are some tips and things I've noticed about people that make it a little bit better.
Tip #1: Patience is Key
If you're really impatient... working retail during the holidays may not be for you. There will be customers that will ask you if you have one very specific thing in store, you will give them the closest thing your store has to what they want... they'll look at it and say "no that's not what I want" and leave the store without buying anything... even if they've taken up a lot of your time.
Where I worked our big things during the holidays were velour jumpsuits, and one woman who was actually very nice had pants for the jumpsuit, but needed a matching jacket. I showed her what we had and I think it looked a little different in the lighting or something but she said it wasn't a match. It might not have been an exact match... sometimes different stores have colors that look a hair different than ours... I think it was the lighting. I looked for the woman, she was nice and grateful for my help... but that is something where if you don't have patience you will get very frustrated very easily. So just keep your cool, be helpful.
Tip #2: If People Say "I'm in a big hurry"
This is something that really annoys me... if you're in a big hurry then don't go shopping! Lol. Its that simple! I was always pretty fast on the register... don't let people rush you. When I felt rushed I just got nervous and flustered and didn't do a good job. If you're quick on the register just go at a normal speed, don't talk to them too much or distract from the transaction, or any promotions that you're supposed to ask about and just stick to your normal speed. Same if you're slow to the register too, just don't get too nervous and you can offer to put the clothes on hold if you're taking to long.
Tip #3 Offer to help the customer find their size
In order to avoid getting a messy table make sure to ask them their size and grab the right size for them underneath everything. If you're at a store and someone asks you this, take the hint! Sometimes I was folding tables till 2am in the morning... and during the holidays sometimes you need to be in the store by 5 in the morning... so that's something to keep in mind to keep it less messy.
Tip #4: Don't be too scared of working Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is usually pretty busy... but 1) You usually get paid time and a hald 2) people are pretty nice and in a pretty good mood on Christmas Eve. People are pretty much patient... sometimes it isn't all that busy. Its usually the time people will be the nicest. Usually people are nicer around the holidays... but that being said, I've also had my worst customers around the holidays too. It isn't the worst. It kind of is because you miss out on time with your family... but it isn't as bad as you would think.
Tip #5 Appreciate Your Sleep
Just appreciate any sleep you can get if you can get it... as I mention you may be there till 2am closing and you may need to wake up at 4am to open... these have both happened to me... not 2 days in a row... I know its happened to managers, but its insane. I actually opened thanksgiving night one year and closed on Black Friday the next day... that was pretty terrible. Not something I would advise... even for time and a half. I went to bed wearing lots of layers because I was cold and it was 2am... and then I woke up sweating and I thought I was going to be sick the next day because I was so tired I couldn't wake myself up to let me know it was too hot... then I stayed up for a little bit and just fell asleep on the couch, and I'm pretty sure we had company over that day and I just didn't wake up until maybe an hour before my shift... but those were valuable sleeping hours and I enjoyed it. Lol.
Idk how I did it but when I got up at like 4am to work at 5 I then went shopping at Target and then went to a grammar school reunion where I stayed out until like 2am I think... Who was I at 21? Why can't I do that now? Could I do that now? Probably not. Lol.
Tip #6 Don't just stand there doing nothing
There is probably always something to do... and there were people who did pretty much nothing at the store... There is always something to clean, always something to fold, always a wall to straighten out or something in the fitting room. Never just stand around because that's boring and unproductive. Do whatever you can, always be on your feet and helping... and you'll probably get more hours that way and you might even get a raise when they give out raises... so that is something to really keep in mind. Also... make sure to call in for your on calls. On Calls are the worst and they ruin plans... but if they need you for your on call and you don't call in... they'll call someone else and ruin their plans... so don't be that guy. I'm happy that this is something a lot of stores are getting rid of.
Alrighty that is everything. I hope you all found this useful.
One More Tip: People get farty if they eat thanksgiving and then go shopping... its usually a stinky job.
Byeee! Happy Thanksgiving! Good Luck!
-Shannon
Tip #1: Patience is Key
If you're really impatient... working retail during the holidays may not be for you. There will be customers that will ask you if you have one very specific thing in store, you will give them the closest thing your store has to what they want... they'll look at it and say "no that's not what I want" and leave the store without buying anything... even if they've taken up a lot of your time.
Where I worked our big things during the holidays were velour jumpsuits, and one woman who was actually very nice had pants for the jumpsuit, but needed a matching jacket. I showed her what we had and I think it looked a little different in the lighting or something but she said it wasn't a match. It might not have been an exact match... sometimes different stores have colors that look a hair different than ours... I think it was the lighting. I looked for the woman, she was nice and grateful for my help... but that is something where if you don't have patience you will get very frustrated very easily. So just keep your cool, be helpful.
Tip #2: If People Say "I'm in a big hurry"
This is something that really annoys me... if you're in a big hurry then don't go shopping! Lol. Its that simple! I was always pretty fast on the register... don't let people rush you. When I felt rushed I just got nervous and flustered and didn't do a good job. If you're quick on the register just go at a normal speed, don't talk to them too much or distract from the transaction, or any promotions that you're supposed to ask about and just stick to your normal speed. Same if you're slow to the register too, just don't get too nervous and you can offer to put the clothes on hold if you're taking to long.
Tip #3 Offer to help the customer find their size
In order to avoid getting a messy table make sure to ask them their size and grab the right size for them underneath everything. If you're at a store and someone asks you this, take the hint! Sometimes I was folding tables till 2am in the morning... and during the holidays sometimes you need to be in the store by 5 in the morning... so that's something to keep in mind to keep it less messy.
Tip #4: Don't be too scared of working Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is usually pretty busy... but 1) You usually get paid time and a hald 2) people are pretty nice and in a pretty good mood on Christmas Eve. People are pretty much patient... sometimes it isn't all that busy. Its usually the time people will be the nicest. Usually people are nicer around the holidays... but that being said, I've also had my worst customers around the holidays too. It isn't the worst. It kind of is because you miss out on time with your family... but it isn't as bad as you would think.
Tip #5 Appreciate Your Sleep
Just appreciate any sleep you can get if you can get it... as I mention you may be there till 2am closing and you may need to wake up at 4am to open... these have both happened to me... not 2 days in a row... I know its happened to managers, but its insane. I actually opened thanksgiving night one year and closed on Black Friday the next day... that was pretty terrible. Not something I would advise... even for time and a half. I went to bed wearing lots of layers because I was cold and it was 2am... and then I woke up sweating and I thought I was going to be sick the next day because I was so tired I couldn't wake myself up to let me know it was too hot... then I stayed up for a little bit and just fell asleep on the couch, and I'm pretty sure we had company over that day and I just didn't wake up until maybe an hour before my shift... but those were valuable sleeping hours and I enjoyed it. Lol.
Idk how I did it but when I got up at like 4am to work at 5 I then went shopping at Target and then went to a grammar school reunion where I stayed out until like 2am I think... Who was I at 21? Why can't I do that now? Could I do that now? Probably not. Lol.
Tip #6 Don't just stand there doing nothing
There is probably always something to do... and there were people who did pretty much nothing at the store... There is always something to clean, always something to fold, always a wall to straighten out or something in the fitting room. Never just stand around because that's boring and unproductive. Do whatever you can, always be on your feet and helping... and you'll probably get more hours that way and you might even get a raise when they give out raises... so that is something to really keep in mind. Also... make sure to call in for your on calls. On Calls are the worst and they ruin plans... but if they need you for your on call and you don't call in... they'll call someone else and ruin their plans... so don't be that guy. I'm happy that this is something a lot of stores are getting rid of.
Alrighty that is everything. I hope you all found this useful.
One More Tip: People get farty if they eat thanksgiving and then go shopping... its usually a stinky job.
Byeee! Happy Thanksgiving! Good Luck!
-Shannon
Comments
Post a Comment