As I write this week’s article, holiday shopping season is in full swing.
People walking around the mall with lists in hand, or just wandering around all willy nilly, buying whatever catches their fancy. They are enjoying the holiday music, all the beautiful lights and decorations. Holiday spirit is in the air right?
Yes it is.
But what else is in the air is a whirlwind of stress, coming from those retail workers you look to for service.
It always makes me stop and shake my head wondering why shoppers treat retail workers so badly at times, the people they want to help them?
So this is your reminder to be kind to retail workers next time you go out mall shopping.
Retail workers are human, just like you.
They may make mistakes, but so do you!
They work long hours this time of year, sometimes without breaks, they stock shelves, they deal with hundreds of people in the crazy month of December.
Imagine doing all of this and dealing with rude and impatient people.
The “season of giving” for most workers feels like the “season of enduring”
It’s a feeling of just having to make it to the end of the month.
I know this to be true because I’ve worked retail on and off over the years.
I worked with Bestie J in a shoe store and our boss, a great guy, always told us, “We just have to get through the 31 days of hell” It always made us laugh and kept us going.
People deserve respect whatever side of the counter they’re on.
Kindness is contagious; the positive vibe you give to a retail worker will be appreciated and likely be passed on to the next customer, creating a ripple effect.
So here are some ways to show kindness while out shopping.
Be Patient
Lines are long, sizes may be limited, not the fault of staff. A little patience goes a long way, for both the worker and the other customers in the store.
Say Thank You
These two words can make the biggest impact on a retail worker’s day. And if you really want to give someone a boost, say “I appreciate your help”. I said this to a young woman in Wally World the other day, she was going ten directions at once, she looked at me with a shocked thank you for understanding look on her face. I said to her, “You’ve got this, I know it’s a crazy busy time of year. I’ve been there.” They will remember that for days, years, I still remember my first, “I appreciate your help” comment.
Keep Your Stress to Yourself
Take a deep breath, I know shopping can be overwhelming, but workers are there to do their best to help you, not to be a target for your outburst of stress. Scream in your car if you have to let the stress out.
Follow Store Policies
Employees don’t make the policies for the store they work in, they simply enforce them. It’s no one’s fault but your own if you didn’t read your receipt for a return or exchange.
Smile
And lastly just smile! Be pleasant to begin your interaction with an employee. It will go a long way to making the day brighter for both you and the employee.
Being kind doesn’t cost a thing, so spread kindness wherever you go this season. Whether you are in a mall, a restaurant, or out getting groceries etc, just be a decent human being to others. It will leave a lasting impression.
Kindness is so simple, yet we just don’t do it enough.
When I see an employee struggling I tell them, “Don’t let them get in your head, you are doing great, they are having a problem, not you.” I say this because this is what I was told some forty-two years ago when I worked my first Christmas season. And I continue to pass that on.
Something else I do now, I tell cashiers before I leave as I grab my bags…
“May your day be short, and your customer’s be kind!”
Try that and watch the response, it will make your day as much as theirs!
Life Experience Wisdom
* Just be kind to those that are there to look after you.
It’s easy to do!
That’s all for this week,
Get out and make someone’s day brighter!
Cheers til next week,
Grace
My Motto
When life throws baseball size lemons at you, that smack you upside the head, stomp on those damn things and make yourself a cocktail!