Bring on the Daddy's

Most days I am used to watching mom's rush in and out of the toy store; and they typically know exactly what they want. It is the dad's who keep us going. Fortunately the men who come into our store are usually good looking, and if they weren't blessed with good looks, they tend to be very friendly. It is the cutest thing to watch a dad/man wonder through the store. They look so lost and confused. It is my job to come to their rescue and tell them exactly what it is they need to purchase. I never understood why their wives/girlfriends, or any female figure int heir life would send them by themselves to pick out a baby gift. Note to all women...never send your man to buy the gift! As much as they may love you and will tell you it's no big deal, they have no idea what they're doing. They will not know the difference between a burpie and a bib; so unless you send them off with the exact name or purpose of the item, he is doomed. It is our job and pleasure to help these lost souls so no worries on our end. Personally I think they enjoy the opportunity to be rescued by a female, especially when it comes to something they feel they should know nothing about.

There was this one dad who came in last week who I had every intention of helping out until he revealed his true colors...or should I say, his lack of. First, I approached him like I typically do to customers, then asked him if he needed any assistance. Without even acknowledging me, he just turns the opposite direction and continues to appear very important on his blackberry. I figured maybe he didn't hear me so I shrug it off and continue to clean up after his children's mess that they had left for me (lucky me!). Twenty minutes later,after his kids had successfully beaten the shit out of the store, he is ready to check out. Still nose deep in his blackberry, he tosses the gift onto the counter. "Hello sir, would you like this wrapped?" I asked. "Sure" he replied. I handed the gift to my co-worker to be wrapped while I ring him out. "That will be $21.25 please" I tell him. He hands me his card; still no eye contact! "Would you like debit or credit?" I ask. "Ahhh...it's debit?" Now another note to customers; if you hand me a debit card, typically you have the option of using it as credit as well as debit, so please don't give me attitude when I ask...after. I'm only trying to be polite. So I ring it through (as debit) and hand him his card back. As he waits for his gift to be wrapped, I notice his kids are continuing to mess shit up. I walk over to the mess/kids and start cleaning up, advising that they be careful. STILL NO EYE CONTACT or acknowledgment from their father. I was so disgusted by his behavior. He didn't even have the curtsey to thank us for our help.

A continuation of those Monday blues and Christmas hues

So I wasn't able to write again after my post on Monday, but I will say that it was such a long day. What made it so very long and unbearable was the fact that nobody was around because of the long weekend. It was gorgeous out...who would blame them? From what I can remember, I think there was a total of ten customers all day. We still managed to make a little more than $500, which for the toy store is not that much. On the weekends, we typically make between $3,000-5,000 each day. There is one loyal customer, Anne, who occassionally comes in to shop for her twenty grand-kids(exhaggeration), and has no problem spending over $500. She is one customer we have no issue dedicating our entire work day to.

Now that the holidays are approaching, slowly but surely, it is important in retail that you remind customers of this. The sooner a store starts decorating their area from head to toe in holiday decore, the sooner customers start buying our merchandise. Christmas used to be my favorite holiday but since I have been working in retail that has changed. On Wednesday I walked into the toy store to find Christmas clothing everywhere!!! Cute holidays dresses, boys red and green plaid vests, and baby's first Christmas bibs...it was depressing. We haven't even sold the rest of our Halloween costumes! I swear, if the radio and our store begin to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving, I will take the longest holiday vacation.

Serious case of the Mondays...

How can it be Monday already? I feel like this weekend dragged but was way too short at the same time. Unfortunately these past four days were filled with unnecessary drama. Now I am sitting at my other job, at a gym, where I check people in and greet them. My day started at 5:30 this morning, which is not a huge struggle for me; I don't mind mornings. It's just the fact that I don't enjoy working here. I deal with the same customers from the toy store. Who in their right mind (besides my mother) would voluntarily wake up this early, especially on a long weekend?! After working here, I have the pleasure of walking over to the toy store where I will be working for another four hours after I get out of here at 12:30...what a drag! Unfortunately I have to cut this blog short because my boss just wrapped up her aerobics class, and she does not allow this sort of activity on the computer. I'll be adding on later...ciao, for now.