I know what you’re thinking: “You’re just working a retail job. What makes you think it’s so special?”
Well, let me tell you.
While retail isn’t the most glamorous field in the workforce, it is one that many people consider to be their niche. Whether they’re working on the floor, in management, or even in corporate offices, many people find their retail company to be their home. I am one of those people.
My home is Ann Taylor LOFT, store #811. It took me nearly six months of job-hopping to find my home. When I found it, I never looked back or doubted my decision. I’d been working in a department store when I applied for a Sales Associate job at LOFT, and I was overjoyed to not only score an interview, but to be hired on the spot as well.
On my first day on the job, I felt welcomed by the team and I was so excited to be there. It was only a matter of time before I started buying new clothes every week and labelling myself as a #LOFTgirl (and using that very hashtag in all of my Instagram captions). I’ve been with the company for just over a year now, and I still love every moment of it.
What I think sets LOFT apart from the other stores in Park City is the staff. Our team is made up of 15-20 women (depending on the time of year), and we all get along. We work hard to keep the store up to par, tend to clients, and reach our daily goals. However, we’ve also developed close bonds that last for years.
We’ve attended each other’s weddings, baby showers, and helped each other through some of life’s biggest challenges. We tell each other about our daily woes and giggle at inside jokes. We discuss life changes and ask each other for advice. Some of us even go to Millersville together. It’s clear that we’re not just a team, we’re a family. That means more to me than an hourly wage.
So yeah, maybe folding clothes, cleaning out fitting rooms, and taking care of rude customers aren’t a part of the ideal job description. But they’re a part of my job description, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.