RECOVERING FROM BOXING
I have previously said that Boxing Day is my favorite day to work when working in retail. We are prepared, and aware of the excited customers looking for the perfect (or not-so-perfect) deal. At my store, everyone is assigned a position and trained as to how to organize and operate their sections. A little excessive it may be, but it comes in handy. For the second year in a row, I was a fitting room seller - my fave. People on Boxing Day come knowing they want to spend money, and I enjoy helping people find the perfect item to spend their hard earned cash on.
Boxing Week, however, has always been a tad more difficult. The day after Boxing Day is referred to as D-Day at our store, as it is the day we are allowed to accept returns and exchanges as well as price adjustments. Frustration, anger, stress - a few words that can be used in relation to this day. We approached that day in the same fashion as Boxing Day - a team, attemping to overcome a goal of a large sum of returns and negative sums.
Today, however, was completely individual - and completely chaotic. What's the same? Returns? Yes. Exchanges? Yes. Team? No. I lost it today, completely overwhelmed with customers, some who were not only looking for a deal, but looking for a quiet time at the mall! One not at all as chaotic as Boxing Day or the day after. Boy were they wrong. A sea of people looking for sales, looking to return, looking to get angry. I apologize if this more sounds like a "rant," but I do not understand customers who go out of their way to be mean and angry and rude. We're just trying to do our job. We're just trying to make a living. We're just trying to do what we have been taught and trained to do.
Then I realized that this is how life is and this is what will happen - especially if I plan on going into P.R. No one's giving me a free pass and being nice just to be nice. I can try all I want, or even cry all I want, but that doesn't have to change anything. Regardless if you're thrown a bad hand, it's up to you to make the most of what you have. After dealing with a rude customer (rude for no apparent reason) I had to take a deep breath and put it all behind me. Because one negative person shouldn't have to drag you down or heavily influence how you feel. So I have realized one of my resolutions for the new year: to leave negativity behind me. To not sweat the small stuff, and to not let people who do not matter hurt me. Hope you guys will help me in working towards this effort. Thanks.
Labels: Boxing Day, customers, New Year, resolutions, work
ALPHA PRIME ONE
I guess this is my Alpha Prime One goodbye, even though I'll technically still be in Section 1 next term. Regardless, you guys were such a large part of my CreComm experience and I just wanted to thank you all for everything.
The goodbye is bittersweet - excited to see what the next term holds for us, but so sad to see our section part ways. Incredibly grateful for all the friends that I've made this term (you guys are my ultimate faves - I luv y'all) but sad at the connections I wasn't able to develop. Be on the look out for individual shout outs soon!
Labels: crecomm
HAD A BAD DAY?
According to Billboard's One-Hit Wonders of the Decade, these guys have it worse. A collective of the most popular hits that graced the charts and failed to return. Click the link and see how many songs you remember! Myself? A surprising 19 songs I was still able to (weakly attempt to) sing. Aaand this is where the singing ends.
I'd also like to introduce you guys to another one of my favorite sites. Upon studying for a couple hours this morning, I received another e-mail (to my Berry) informing me of the new sales on Hautelook.com, an online designer discount website. Designers release their items for further sale for just a certain number of hours, which can be notified to you through e-mail if you please. Items range from bags, to baby clothing, to make up, and women and men's clothing! There is also a wide variety of brands from Coach, stila, Seven for all Mankind, just to name a few! As a relief from stress, I shamefully jumped on to view the sale on Marc by Marc sunglasses. The pair above were each 69 per cent off, lowered to $37 from $120! The sad part is, however, I couldn't decide on colour... So I got both. Not too much saving there for Lennie! Remind me to do something productive and charitable when the sun comes up, thanks!Labels: Billboard, Coach, decade, designer sales, Hautelook, marc by marc jacobs, one-hit wonders, Seven for al Mankind, stila
FALL INTO SPRING ACCESSORIES
Upon releasing your savings into a number of holiday gifts, girls can stay positive as next season's call for accessories do not require a break-in-budget. In an article found on Yahoo Fashion, Neiman Marcus has named springs key accessory pieces, some in which sound oddly familiar. Click the link and explore sparkle, tribal, neutral tones, lucite and denim!
Labels: accessories, fall, Neiman Marcus, spring
NO NO TO H&M POLO?
About a month ago, visiting the "careers" section of the H&M website (the well-priced fashion superstore), you saw numerous postings for Winnipeg job openings. That now, has vanished. Word has it that H&M Polo Park is no more. Relieved? Saddened? Outraged? What do you think?
VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW WAS A SNOOZE FEST
Well for me anyway, because although I am almost 100 per cent sure I would have fully enjoyed watching the Victoria's Secret Angels stomp it out on the runway in extravagent undergarnments and cutting edge music, I was asleep! This is a result of the late evenings, early mornings, and overwhelming work load I've had to endure. If anyone remembers my previous post, I was excitedly awaiting the Victoria's Secret annual Christmas runway show. No words can express how deeply sad I am... Except, "Nooooooo," which is the exact quote I expressed when waking up at nearly 11PM last night.
In regards to the show, which my friends have PVR'ed for my viewing pleasure, I did remember to follow up on the Victoria's Secret Angel Search. Nearly 10 000 of young, gorgeous women applied for a chance to be one of the new faces of Victoria's Secret. Not only would this include walking in the annual show, but starring in many of their ad campaigns. Angels include Marisa Miller, Heidi Klum and retiree Tyra Banks. The new addition to the Angel family is Kylie Bisutti. Beautiful!
The show revealed Bisutti with one other finalist. Question is: Does coming in second place and losing improve self-esteem or lower it? In other words, in such a widely viewed competition, how do people in this position approach this situation? Glass half-empty? Glass half-full? It comes to say that one can be so happy for exceeding thousands upon thousands of girls in this competition, but falling so short of her lingerie, filled dream. What to do?
Labels: Heidi Klum, Kylie Bisutti, Marisa Miller, Victoria's Secret
TWITTER AND FASHION: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
It appears that the first year CreComm students are not the only ones jumping on the Twitter band wagon. In an article found on canada.com, fashion designers of all sorts are tweeting. From fashion staple Karl Lagerfeld to fresh-fashion-face Prabal Gurung, the tweets are endless. With fashion, it's all about who sees it first, who hears it first, and who wears it first.
These guidelines appear to have quite the connection to the techniques of PR. The ability to connect and communicate first is a must, especially in times of a PR "crisis."
Also consider the importance of information from a credible source, visual aids and reaching a desired public. Important in fashion, important in PR, and available through Twitter!
Read the article and see how the fashion industry uses Twitter to their advantage. From sneakpeaks from their showrooms, messages during their creative processes, and promotions about their clothing found on respected magazines - the tweets have gone wild.
Labels: crecomm, Karl Lagerfeld, PR, Prabal Gurung, Twitter
