All About Retail: Sales Associates, Management, etc.

[BetteT]

I think that wearing the skinny jeans again is good ... it shows that you are tuned in to what they sell and the latest thing ... as they see it, just as you said. Keep the top simple, but classy, perhaps a nice cropped jacket ... don't load it up with a lot of accessories and don't make it sexy. You want them to notice your personality, most of all.

As far as the interview goes, do a lot of listening, if the person who interviews you likes to talk. Smile, lean in and look interested, ask thoughtfull questions about the company and what the store' and the magnager's goals are. Listen for clues as to what they want in a sales person .... and then, you speak, make sure to point out (in different words) that you have the assests they are looking for and why you would help them reach their goals. Avoid asking about pay, time off, discounts .... that will only make you look like you are more interested in what they can do for you than what you can do for them and that is not good. Wait until they make an offer to hire you and if they have not told you all that stuff yet, then you can ask.

Most of all, be yourself and let your personality show ... managers like to hire sales people that they like and that the customers will like, too.

 

[kisa]

I think that wearing the skinny jeans again is good ... it shows that you are tuned in to what they sell and the latest thing ... as they see it, just as you said. Keep the top simple, but classy, perhaps a nice cropped jacket ... don't load it up with a lot of accessories and don't make it sexy. You want them to notice your personality, most of all.

As far as the interview goes, do a lot of listening, if the person who interviews you likes to talk. Smile, lean in and look interested, ask thoughtfull questions about the company and what the store' and the magnager's goals are. Listen for clues as to what they want in a sales person .... and then, you speak, make sure to point out (in different words) that you have the assests they are looking for and why you would help them reach their goals. Avoid asking about pay, time off, discounts .... that will only make you look like you are more interested in what they can do for you than what you can do for them and that is not good. Wait until they make an offer to hire you and if they have not told you all that stuff yet, then you can ask.

Most of all, be yourself and let your personality show ... managers like to hire sales people that they like and that the customers will like, too.

Thanks Bette! I just got back from the interview, and it was pretty much the best interview ever. I ended up wearing the skinny jeans, a pink cami and a black shirred long sleeve shirt, black flats, and a headband. The interviewer noticed my skinny jeans, she was like "you're already wearing skinny jeans! That's good" (we're pretty behind here ) and I was able to say that I looked it up on the store website, and wore skinny jeans and a headband in accordance with their trend recommendations. Just by fluke it also turned out that the interviewer is obsessed with vikings, and that helped to cover my job-hopping history due to trips to Iceland. She was so suprised and happy to talk about vikings she didn't even mention it!

 

[Couture_Tribe]

I am interested in doing retail either in cosmetics or clothing, which one is better to start with, on a piece of blank paper?

Can some people do retail for their whole life? Or it is only a temporary "youthful" job?

Does retailing suck? As in fatigue and pays very little in general? Are people in retail superficial? Not-inteligent?

 

[too_chic]

why_fashion,

i hold a part-time job at aldo and from my experience it's not as amazing as I thought it would be. I have plenty of work experience that ranges from working in a restaurant to telemarketing to industrial packaging to peer tutoring (you get the idea), and I gotta say working in retail sucks the life outta me.

First of all I hate being forced to look good all the time. I have more "lazy days" than the typical chick and I hardly wear make-up so the whole idea of dressing up is pretty stressful for me. The thing that really sticks in my head is one day I was walking into the store towards the back as I get ready for my shift. As soon as I get there, my manager immediately comes to me and asks me if I'm going to put any makeup on. I'm like, "do I have to?" Then she responds, "well...yeah," making me feel like I look sh*tty without makeup on (and I really don't, I promise).

Another thing is the customers. Some days you just wanna strangle em cuz they're so nauseating and they sometimes like to take advantage of the fact that you have to comply with what they want.

It's sad to say but I don't really enjoy the social ambiance when it surrounds my coworkers and I. You are forced to make small talk all the time and it's a waste of my brainpower. Don't be surprised to find yourself working with a b*tch or two. In terms of intelligence, the people aren't stupid. I think that's just a myth, but maybe it depends on where you're working, who knows.

At the end of the day I normally feel exhausted but that's mainly because our inventory is on the second floor so we spend our shifts constantly running up and down the stairs. It's a good workout though especially during the days that I wear heels, so at least my legs look more toned and I get my exercise.

Don't get me wrong, I don't absolutely hate working at aldo, but I've worked in other fields where the people are A LOT more accepting. My main reason for staying is the 50% discounts we get.

I'm sure other members have had more pleasant experiences than I have so don't be freaked out by my personal experience please!

 

[Ianastar]

I started off my "working" life as a hairstylist and make up artist. I got tired and burnt out on doing hair, and went into working in retail as a make up artist in department stores.

In the past few years, I had moved into working in the Event Planning industry. When I moved back to Florida, I was unable to find an Event related job, and had to resort to going back to retail. Its all I could find around here.

I ABSOLUTELY hate hate hate it. My job is really slow, I often have to deal with some pretty low class people (due to the mall I work in). I work for a high end department store. My job is so boring, it's actually depressing.

You can't do anything but hang out in your area, and hope customers come in so you can do something. Its so boring that I find myself just kind of standing there staring off into space.

I would also so that over all, you deal with some pretty inconsiderant and annoying people. But that might depend on where you work.

I can't beleive that people would make a total career of it, and work in the same retail job for 10+ years.

If you plan on moving into management, or working for a store as a regional manager, buyer etc. than its probably worth it in the long one.


Ive actually decided to go back to school, and to focus on my resume etc to get back into the Event Planning/ Public Relations industry.


I dont mean to scare you off either. This is just my attitude and experience. Some people love it and have fun.

 

[lucy92]

do those that work at makeup counters have their face makeup done first thing in the morning by the other folks at the counters? or do you do it yourself?

 

[Ianastar]

do those that work at makeup counters have their face makeup done first thing in the morning by the other folks at the counters? or do you do it yourself?

Well in our store.........you HAVE TO come in with your makeup done. People get in trouble all the time for doing thier makeup on the floor, or doing another employee's makeup.

Its a big NO NO.

 

[Couture_Tribe]

too_chic

Thanks for replying and sharing your experience. Working in fashion retail does sound miserable for people who does not enjoy dressing up, and I can feel the pain. It is unfortunate that you have to deal with such ambiance.
Socially, I am not a master, I often feels dizzy when I see people, I do not know why. Bitchy people are everywhere, it is a huge headache to deal with or even primarily facing them. That is when the practiced art of tolerance becomes useful.
I think working in retail, the biggest motivation is actually the discount, at least it is for me.

I hope you will eventually like your job or find one that you prefer.

 

[Couture_Tribe]

Ianastar

You have got the point my father commented on retail SAs when he sees them. He asked me, "can you fathom how tedious it is to stand there the whole day, when you are supposed to be studying in univercity? It is blatantly a waste of time" And now you have proven me the reliability of that questionnaire.

Since you get burnt out for doing hair and makeup repeatly and massive-ly? But was it your biggest passion when you first started?

 

[Trista]

I mean retail doesn't pay the best...you're on your feet all day, taking customer requests, having to deal with the occasional bad customer, but I would work retail over a 9-5 any day because I don't want to be cooped up in a cubicle for 8 hours a day.

I mean it is annoying to get all done up for work and everything when I just have an on-call because 95% of the time they don't use me and since I take the bus I have to get all ready for work and what not.

 

[Ianastar]

Hair and Makeup was a HUGE passion. I did some makeup for fashion shows, tv etc. I just got tired of doing it.

But now I am going back to school for Public Relations, and hope to work as an Event Planner/Coordinator.

 

[lucy92]

i stepped on a t-pin that had been left on a dressing room floor in the gap today. unfortunately i was barefoot and it broke the skin. the SA that i called for said they didnt have any bandaids and a customer had brought the pin into the store and it wasnt their fault. i told him "what are you talking about? these are used on the mannequins in the store!".

i had it when SA's think customers were born yesterday.

gonna write a nasty letter tommorow...how should i have handled it?

im curious about folks that work in department stores for private contractors. is it cosmetic companies themselves that hire them?

 

[BetteT]

I would have reported it to the manager and if the gap is like any other big retail store, they would take a written report for insurance purposes.

It's only a pin, but what if you got a nasty infection from it and you had medical expenses? And the "other customer's fault" excuse would never fly ... they are responsible for what happens in their stores if something like that is left lying there, no matter how it got there. That is why they have liability insurance.

But do write a letter to corporate and copy the manager of the store ... doesn't have to be nasty, but it does put it on record, just in case. And hopefully, the manager will counsel the SA about the proper procedure so it's handled better next time.

 

[ilovepositano]

i heard that nordstrom requires each salesperson to do $200-$500 per selling hour, and if you do not perform at that level, then at each monthly review you get put on probation. and 3 probations and you're out. is that true?

also what is the average commission at a very high end store (i've heard anywhere from 3-6%)? does the commission apply to the quota amount above, or only amounts exceeding that? thanks.

 

[lucy92]

bette, part of my job description is writing those reports to my companys insurance co. i had forgotten about those. good point:-flower:
did report it to the manager, but manager said same thing.

ianastar: what can you tell us about samples? how often did you have full size samples of items to give out?

 

[pinkpalm]

i heard that nordstrom requires each salesperson to do $200-$500 per selling hour, and if you do not perform at that level, then at each monthly review you get put on probation. and 3 probations and you're out. is that true?

also what is the average commission at a very high end store (i've heard anywhere from 3-6%)? does the commission apply to the quota amount above, or only amounts exceeding that? thanks.

8% at Ralph Lauren. You need to exceed 2,000.00 a day to make any kind of money.

 

[Ianastar]

i heard that nordstrom requires each salesperson to do $200-$500 per selling hour, and if you do not perform at that level, then at each monthly review you get put on probation. and 3 probations and you're out. is that true?

also what is the average commission at a very high end store (i've heard anywhere from 3-6%)? does the commission apply to the quota amount above, or only amounts exceeding that? thanks.

That's true for us. We are supposed to do a certain sales amount per hour in order to keep our hourly wage. If we go into the negative/deficit, we get put on probatioin.

Samples depend on the lines...Cle de peau, Chanel and Kiehls are the best for samples.

 

[lucy92]

i love it when i go to kiehls and purchase something and they ask "what samples would you like today"?

thanks for the sample tips!

 

[Couture_Tribe]

Ianastar

Thank you so much for sharing your expereince, I think I might have to reconsider my "dream" career. :s

 

[virginia]

i have an interview at nordstrom rack tomorrow. any tips?