Madness Monday: My new take on the holiday crush

crush shopping craziness holiday madnessHowdy, lovely Posse peeps! Hope everyone is doing well.

So what are you all up to now that the holiday shopping crush is in full swing?

I’ve done online shopping mostly over the years, but always try to buy gifts over the course of the year and stick them back. I usually venture out to Target and/or Sephora and Ulta once, just to check out gift ideas or stocking stuffer potential, but not this year.

Because now instead of venturing out into the crush, I’m right in the center of the storm. Some of you may know that last spring I began a new adventure in retail. I have done fashion and beauty writing and editing nearly all of my adult life, but never worked behind the counter, so this new job completed my fashion education. I work in a store, for a leased department inside it, and sell vintage designer bags. And even though I and my two co-workers are there primarily to sell purses and accessories, we often end up helping ring customers when there is overflow from the cashier lines.

And even though most folks are pleasant and patient, I have had a few grumbly Guses. And that’s OK. It’s my job to be deliver the best customer service I can, no matter what. But it’s certainly given me a new perspective on holiday shopping and the whole retail world in general. But yikes — the hours! Many nights I don’t get home until close to 11 and have had to go in a time or two before 7 a.m. But I’m still thankful that we were closed on Thanksgiving.

Anyhoo, I’m just glad I’ve gotten all my shopping done and don’t have to fight the crowds and traffic except to my own store to work.

What about you? How’s your holiday season going so far? How are you handling the holiday crush?

  • Maggiecat says:

    A bout with the flu on my part has postponed our planned trip to the southeastern US to spend time with various family, but we’re hoping to be able to leave tomorrow.  My sister and I will be going through the last of our mother’s things and deciding where they will go (mom died this past summer) so it will be a bittersweet time in part.  But Christmas remains the season of joy and hope, and I plan to celebrate it!

  • Kathleen says:

    Your sales job with vintage handbags sounds so much fun for the sane months of the year.  You have a good attitutde with the holiday shoppers, kindness goes a long way right?  I try to be extra pleasant to SA this time of year hoping some brief friendly chatter and a smile will balance the grumpy people.

  • Dina C. says:

    I stayed up late last night with my clipboard, list, receipts, and calculator figuring out my Christmas shopping totals and where I am. Total nerd mode. I have to make sure I spend exactly the same amount on my son and my daughter. I’m off to the stores to buy gift cards for the nieces and nephews who are far away. Wishing Ann and all the posse peeps good luck with their errands and the lines at the post office!

  • Portia says:

    WOW Ann,

    I never knew you were selling vintage bags. How lavish. What a fun way to earn a living.
    Christmas shoppers can be awful. I did a couple of years as a holiday Squirt Bitch and will never forget the overwhelmed people who just needed to get their shit done before they had a 12 point collapse. Often the whole drama of it got the better of them and they turned mean. I was 100% unready to deal with it back then.
    Good luck with the bad ones, fingers crossed they’re less than 1% for you.

    Portia xx

    • Ann says:

      Thanks, Portia! I know just what you mean. Folks are mad/tired/unhappy and some lash out/take it out on the SAs. I just smile and get them on their way ASAP. I love this new gig; just wish I could buy half the stuff we get in. There was the cutest Louis Vuitton crossbody and a stunning pearlized cream Chanel bag that I was ready to mortgage the house for, ha!

  • March says:

    That must be WILD.  And a bit exhausting…. I try to be extra pleasant to salespeople this time of year.  My stuff is mostly done, and it’s time for wrapping, but we can’t put it under the tree because the dogs get into everything, lol.

    • Ann says:

      Awww, thanks for that, dear! Your SAs do appreciate it, I know! I’ve always tried to be pleasant because I figured it can’t be much fun to be on your feet for 8 hours and have to deal with an often crabby public. Great job on getting everything done, dear!

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    Most of my Christmas shopping is done and it’s finishing up gifts for my nephews and a Star Wars gift for my friend. I’ve done most of it online but might have to venture over to Ulta and Bath and Body Works for a couple stocking stuffers.

  • Gina T. says:

    Mine sucks so far. It was supposed to be magnificent with two parties this weekend and putting up the tree and decorating plus a week of events after work but I have been in bed sick for three days now and staying home from work tomorrow. Sigh.

    • Ann says:

      Oh, no — so sorry to hear this! Hope you feel better very quickly so you can enjoy a few events.