This is the time of year everyone loves. It is filled with hot cocoa, family, and love. For retail workers this is the most dreaded time of year. Don’t get me wrong, we aren’t grinches by any means and we won’t “Bah hum bug! you.” This is my fourth holiday season with the same company and I have yet to enjoy it. Some times are harder than others especially during the summer time when I’m working a lot, taking classes and trying to make time to spend with my friends and family. Retail isn’t as easy as a lot of people would think it is and it’s a job that doesn’t get a lot of appreciation or respect. This really comes out, ironically, during the holiday season when everyone’s supposed to be happy. As I’m sitting in my apartment writing this, I realize that I have two more weeks until I go back to my job at home to work my fourth holiday season in retail. I’m taking this time to mentally prepare myself for what lies ahead. So, why does this magical time of year not get us as excited as the rest of you?
Black Friday. If you work in retail, there is a good chance that you shuddered reading those two words. This year many stores, including my own, opened on Thanksgiving. You heard me. ON THANKSGIVING. Thanks to the people who needed to come out on this night, a lot of people including me were not able to celebrate with their families. Oh, and forget about sleep this weekend. You’re guaranteed at least 30 hours and this is just the beginning.
The traffic in the store is ridiculous. Starting on Black Friday, there are so many people in the store that there is almost no time to breathe between customers. There is constantly something to do and people will always stop you before and after your shift to ask for help.
People are rude. Everyone is so concerned with getting people the perfect gifts they forget that retail workers are people too and actually, ya know, have feelings. You’d think that this wouldn’t happen because it’s a time for love and appreciation for others, but a lot of people forget about us too. Not all customers are this horrible though. I have encountered some really sweet people but the rude ones far outweigh them.
“You ruined my kid’s Christmas!” If you work retail, then I’m sure you’ve heard this before especially in the days before Christmas. It’s not our fault you waited so long to get what you needed, so don’t try and blame us for something that is clearly your own doing.
The folds. Whether it’s t-shirts, hoodies, or sweat pants that are folded on a table, everything will be destroyed. E V E R Y T H I N G. No matter how many times you refold them, it’s pointless. You’re a hamster running on a wheel- You think you’re getting a lot accomplished but in reality you’re not going anywhere. It’s as if a line of customers are following you just undoing everything you’ve just done.
The inevitable mountain of returns in your immediate future. Whether you’re a cashier or an apparel person, you know exactly what awaits you the day after Christmas. Expect a mountain as big as you are or perhaps even bigger. If this thought doesn’t make you want to cry, then you clearly don’t work retail.
These things may not all be true for some people and their respective work places, but I know what I am going to have to deal with this coming holiday season. So, what’s the moral of this article? Treat everyone (not just retail workers) with the respect that you would want your loved ones treated with and remember that we want to be happy and enjoy this season too!