Why working retail is hard

So how can retailers push the envelope here to engage the consumer even more? An example of a company capitalizing on this trend is Walgreens. Their mobile app includes services such as prescription transfers and Quick Print. Technology is continuously changing the way consumers shop. There are five stages consumers go through whenever purchasing a product.

These are:. You have probably experienced this yourself in your own consumption experiences. First there is a recognized need for an item. Then you look for products that fulfill your need.

Social media sites such as Facebook, and Instagram have revolutionized how fast and to what extent consumers can receive information about a product which, in turn, helps fulfill the information search stage.

Consumers can rate products and share with their friend base on these sites allowing for more information search as well as evaluation of alternatives.

They are also able to communicate directly with the company via these social platforms creating an opportunity for them to offer post-purchase evaluation. Yes, you are front-facing to the general public so make sure you wash your hands, don't touch your face, maintain social distancing, and wear a mask when it is required. As you can tell, I love retail, and believe it's a good career for those who choose to do it, and choose to do it well.

Regular readers will know it's where I got my start and I've stuck with it for decades. Maybe that's why it was easier to come up with these examples why working retail is bad Don't let retail stress stop you from enjoying the many benefits of a career in retail.

These are some of the ways working in retail can improve your physical, emotional, and economic health. Whatever you can say about retail salespeople, they aren't lazy - walking the floor, stocking shelves, and moving merchandise all take effort.

Stretching, reaching overhead, and bending down all help burn calories and keep bodies in motion. From bosses and co-workers to customers, salespeople interact with a variety of people.

Getting out of your head and phone helps you feel connected and less alone. Once you know how to set, and meet, your sales goals , setting personal goals becomes that much easier. Without a goal, many people say life can feel pointless.

Achieving goals, even small ones, brings about a sense of accomplishment. If you make it through your day retail sales training, you'll have a more positive outlook. Customers don't buy from negative salespeople so, if you're still there, you've learned something. Make sure to cultivate that sense of accomplishment so you remain someone who looks forward to meeting people. A good company and good team members can give you a sense of purpose and belonging that is usually reserved for families.

There's no better feeling than walking into work and knowing that people are happy you're there. Retail sales training will teach you to work with other people as a team, even if you don't see eye to eye. This skill will translate to your life as a whole. Whether it's a merchandise problem, a customer problem, or a team problem, you'll be involved in finding and implementing the solution.

The more your brain is confronted with change, the more elastic you can be as life throws things at you. A skill to last a lifetime. Retail teaches you what your time is worth, and how to use it. Show up on time, do your work, and be productive - managing your time will carry on no matter what else you do in your personal or professional life. You're going to encounter people of all races, creeds, cultures, sexual orientations, and attitudes.

It takes patience, diligence, and depending on your shift, a lot of caffeine. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, really. Here are some of the biggest hurdles retail workers face and advice on how to handle from retail employees - with experience from eight months to eight years or more - who have been there and done it.

Meet Our Industry Insiders. Alex Corrado is a marketing and sales coordinator with more than three years of past retail seasonal experience as a sales associate at Nordstrom. Caroline Sullivan, too, is a sales associate at a specialty boutique and has worked at women's and children's clothing stores over the past three years. Naser Mahmoud, a major sales assistant at Costco , worked as a food service assistant at the chain for more than seven years and Mandi Hinrichs worked as a service desk associate for Bob's Stores and briefly as a sales associate at Hollister.

Ariana Colozzo has worked more than three years at Marshalls and a year-and-a-half at an Eddie Bauer outlet. Savannah Hughes has eight months of past retail experience working at Banana Republic in men's clothing and Lynn Tran has worked at various retail stores, including Forever 21 , Abercrombie and J.

Q: How do you deal with difficult customers during the holiday season or in general? Corrado: Listen to what they want and ask questions - be attentive. Show them all of their options based on what they told you, above, below and within their budget. Hughes: You have to tell them that they cannot use their six-month-old coupon, and no, you cannot use my employee discount. And you have to do it with a smile. Experiences like these are a lot easier when you're friends with everyone on the floor and you've had a solid dose of caffeine.

Hinrichs: The holidays can be especially stressful. Despite the long hours and sometimes overwhelming customers, try to maintain a good attitude. Employers appreciate employees who do this. I was once given a gift card by a manager who appreciated my hard work during the holidays!

Mahmoud: Keep a cool head when dealing with everyone no matter how they treat you. Tran: Customers [can be] rude but know it's not your fault! You're not the owner of the company so take their antics with a grain of salt.

Colozzo: Don't miss work unless it's absolutely necessary, especially in the first few months. Oftentimes, as with everywhere else in life, if you start off unreliable, managers will notice and treat you like that going forward.