2 Pet Peeves From Your Friendly Saleslady

As you must know by now, I've been working as an ordinary saleswoman in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin, a medium-sized "clothing for the entire family store" for well over four years.

In the past I worked in stores, even in New York before I got married. But this is the first job like this since cellphones became the norm for all to carry around.

And that is "pet peeve" number one:

Please don't walk into a store shouting or even talking loudly on the phone.
It happens too often that people are in  the middle of a conversation that has nothing to do with what to buy in the store. I know that, because I can hear every word. More often than not, the telephone-talker drowns out the actual customers and staff. We can't work because of the noise. The atmosphere in the store becomes very unpleasant and is dominated by rudeness. And no doubt many of you will mention that it is also a problem when the sales staff is too busy with their own phone-calls to pay attention to customers. I agree. Now that it's the norm for people to have their cellphones with them 24/7, we all have to learn when to keep them quiet.

Please ask; don't just search through the shelves and stock.
When we, the salespeople are serious when we ask if we can help. And even if nobody offered assistance, please don't be shy, ask. We can save you time. We can help you find what you want or save you from uselessly searching. Frequently, people waste time and energy looking for what doesn't exist.

"I want this style shirt in a men's medium."
"Sorry, this is a children's model, and it only goes to size 16."

That conversation frequently is heard after the frustrated customer has made a total mess of the shirts on the shelf. And if you are in one of those stores that has awful staff, then you can take the initiative and ask for help. Hint: many labels have the "size range" printed, which is one of the ways that we salespeople know what sizes can be found.

Happy Shopping!

Looking for Work, but...

I'm not jobless, but it's no secret that I'd like a better job. There are things about my job that I love.

• Everyday is different.
• I get out and see people. 
• I don't sit still.
• I can help people. 
• I get to see all sorts of old friends, former students etc.
• I've made lots of new friends. 
• I get compliments, even by total strangers.
• It's pretty easy.
• I don't take it home with me. It's a sign-in and sign-out, not like teaching.
• There's a great variety of things I can do at work.
• It's pretty easy to get to and back.
• I can sometimes be creative.
• It's rarely boring.
• The salary is automatic; I don't have to hustle for clients or free lance jobs.

The negative:

• The salary, minimum wage.
• It's cold and rainy in the winter, since we're not in an enclosed building. 
• The upper echelons of the business don't respect the opinions of the sales staff.
• There's no real challenge left for me. 

I'm a certified EFL teacher with experience and training as a remedial teacher, too. My expertise is working with very small groups, but those jobs are hard to find. My attempts to teach in a regular classroom were disastrous, and at this stage in life, I do not need the stresses required.

Years ago, I taught women's exercise classes, both in Jerusalem, when we lived there and in Shiloh. Nobody at this stage, considering my age and how I look would pay me now for such a thing.

I have recently edited a book and an internet site. And I've also sold a few photos. In theory, and I have thought about it a lot, I could open a business of writing and editing, but there are three big disadvantages to it. 

1. I'd have to constantly hustle for work and clients.
2. I'd be home without the fun and stimulation of other people.
3. There would be constant clerical tasks, bookkeeping taxes etc to deal with.

And a number of years ago, before it was a popular field, I took a course to qualify me as a Life Coach, but working at that would also demand hustling etc, like any private service business.

At my age it's very hard to find work, especially work that deals with the public. I'm old; I'm retirement age, but I do not have a proper pension.

I've been working in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin for close to four and a half years. It's the longest I've ever had as a non-teaching job ever, and as much as I'd like a change, I'll probably staying as long as I can.

I just needed to vent; thanks for listening.

Not Just Folding Laundry

As you must know by now, I work in a clothing store. It's a job like running a home, plus, and I'm just a lowly "saleswoman." Yafiz is a medium size store. we need a few people working all shifts. I once worked in a big department store in New York, OK, just a "small" A & S which was on Northern Blvd. and Community Drive/East Shore Road, Long Island, NY. It's not there any more. But that was a much larger store. Each department had has many workers as we have in our entire store. I worked in Housewares. My boss would have me set up the display shelves. He'd tell me to give them my "special touch."

Since then, besides all the other sorts of jobs I've done, I worked in a hat store, children's clothing store, bagel place and a fruit and vegetable store.

At Yafiz, I've become the unofficial "window-dresser," even though there aren't any windows to "dress." I dress the manikins and when I open stock, I try to pay attention to colors.

I can do a better job at that than folding the clothes. Folding is not my specialty. Luckily there are lots of workers who do it better.

The Best Way to Save Money

Yes, I work in a store, Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin. Yesterday we had a great one-day sale. The Second Item Only NS10-  Lots of people bought things. There had been people waiting for this sale, knowing that we were due for a sale day. The staff knew in advance, OK, minutes before closing on Friday, so we sent out ads on community email lists and facebook before Sunday's opening.  Lots of my neighbors came in and thanked me.

There have been other sale days when I have bought lots of clothes.

I wasn't among the shoppers. I couldn't think of anything I really needed. And the two week exchange for size/color option would be over before Chanukah. So I didn't buy anything at all.

There are times when, especially in the shoe store, I've told customers that I didn't think it was worth their getting something, because it wouldn't fit right. I make it clear that I don't want them to be afraid to come shop by us, because they'll be afraid of pressure to buy what they don't need. Then they will avoid our store, and that isn't any good. The customers trust me, and they sometimes look for me to help them. A bargain that stays in the closet is no bargain!