I have been working in retail for the past 4 months now, and even if I have not hit the 1 year + mark, I can pretty much say, the retail life, is not what you expect to be. It's actually much more complicated but interesting. Here are thoughts retail workers have.
1. "I hate hangers."
When you are hanging clothes and they fall off the hangers, it's literally the biggest pet peeve of any retail worker. So much so, the sight of a hanger gives you PTSD.
2. "Why are people so rude?"
When rude customers leave and you actually don't feel bothered, you have passed the retail tolerance test.
3. "Wait, how many boxes are there?"
When the daily delivery comes in and you see a tower of boxes you have to unpack and either replenish or back-stock, you feel it in your chest the exhaustion.
4. "This is definitely my workout for the day."
Why go to the gym when you can carry boxes and hold 30 hangers on each arm with clothes on them each shift? That is literally 6+ hours of leg-day, arms, and ab workouts.
5. "Why does time go so slow???"
When you just clocked in, and you go straight to work. Then you feel you have worked 2 hours and when you check the clock, it's only been 30 minutes.
6. "I am so nervous for ______ to come."
Work has been so passive, that when someone from the top comes to visit, that entire week becomes hectic trying to organize everything, hoping everything is pristine for the visit.
7. "How much more time do I have?"
We all love break, but when you only have 30 minutes to do so, and you forget you ONLY have 30 minutes, while enjoying your food, playing on your phone etc. you feel that panic that you went over 30 minutes. Indeed it is a good wake-up kick we need to get through the rest of the day.
8. "Ugh... not again."
When you just organized a shelf and 10 minutes later, everything is out of place and so you call that shelf your second home basically.
9. "It really is all worth it in the end."
Throughout all the hard work, and sweat, and exhaustion, when you get that direct deposit, and you know you have earned it, it's a feeling that no one can take from you. Even if its just retail, you learn lifelong skills and you get to treat yourself here and there with benefits. So be proud and keep up the work.
10. "Did that shirt just fell off the hanger again?"
Ugh. Back to work.
