Retail workers: the people who take crap from customers at all times of the year, work weekends, cover shifts unexpectedly and do everything in their power to get you the product you want. Christmas: a busy busy busy time of year for those in retail. So let’s try our best to be kind to them.
I’ve worked in various different retail jobs, most recently at Waterstones, a UK bookshop. I loved this job and I really enjoyed working around the Christmas period because mostly everyone is very jolly, everyone wishes you a Merry Christmas and a lot of people were asking for tips for present ideas. The busy days went very fast and I felt well and truly in the Christmas spirit.
But not every customer has a smile on their face. If a customer gets frustrated whilst doing their Christmas shopping, especially last-minute shopping, they can take it out on the shop employees. This is not fair! If a shop doesn’t have what you want in stock and Christmas is in a few days, that’s not the employee’s fault. You have arguably had all year to buy a gift, it is not down to the employee to be able to work magic.
Things that it is not okay to shop employees (I may have taken some creative license with these):
- You are rubbish. I hate this shop. I will never ever shop here again. GOOD DAY TO YOU.
- I need this item now. I see it isn’t in stock. But if you don’t get it for me now, you will ruin my Christmas.
- My last-minute shopping is your fault.
- This shop shouldn’t exist.
- Why do you even work here?
- Ba-humbug!
A very accurate list of things customers may say I’m sure you’ll agree…
Point being. We’re all human. Do you think all shop employees want to be there listening to you moaning on Christmas Eve? I’m sure they’d rather be at home with their families. So put a sock in it and don’t say anything at all if you can’t say something nice.
Ways to be nice to retail workers:
If you want to do something lovely for your favourite shop, why not bring them in a box of yummies to cheer them up? I guarantee it’ll put a big smile on the employee’s face and make them feel very happy!
Another way of just being a generally nice human is to tell the employee what a fab job they’re doing and show them you appreciate them. I will always remember a customer who brought me a book; I helped her shift through travel guides for an urgent job she has just received and we talked for about an hour about them all and life. Anyway, she came back after the work trip and was so thankful for my time and effort to help her that she said she wanted to buy me a book. I will always remember that lovely lady.
Smile. And talk. I will always try to have a friendly conversation with whoever is serving me in a shop. My mum jokes I could be best friends with everyone because I’m always talking in shops to the employees. But you know what? That goes a damn sight further than the people that stare at their phones or can’t wait to leave the shop.
I know this blog post could have just been a tweet, but hey, the retail workers deserve their own blog post.
Be kind, and say Merry Christmas!
I’ve worked retail during the holiday seasons before and it’s terrible. But then sometimes a wonderful customer comes in and lets you do your job while having a smile on their face and being friendly and chat with you just makes your day. Everyone, please remember that retail workers are people too just trying to do their jobs. Be nice because they would love to be able to be home with their families but instead are at work helping all the shoppers
Wonderful post! You should always be kind to everyone, but especially retail employees during this time of year. They are trying their best to help you out and they are working more hours than usual to help with the demand of customers shopping for the holidays.