We Don't Call Them Fitting Rooms Anymore

It is a great Thursday. Isn't it? At least here in Elgin, IL. The sun is shining and right now it is almost 80 degrees. I am not working today, at least so far (since there are many times I will get a call to fill in for someone who has not shown for one reason or another).

So now the Fitting Rooms are being called Dressing Rooms. Since we have moved to a new location the Fitting Rooms, oops, sorry, Dressing Rooms have been upgraded to a very posh look. I suppose another way of attracting the higher end customers. We have received many compliments on them. The thing is the customers leave them in no better condition than they did the old ones. Garbage all over the floor, sticky labels and such end up stuck on the walls and floors. I really see a lack of respect by many people.

There is always a question in our minds of how these people's homes look if they can not even pick up a few articles of clothing or pieces of paper when they are our. I would be embarrassed myself to leave an area in the condition some of the customers leave the Dressing Rooms. Don't people think it reflects on them at all?

It is mostly the older ones who pick up after themselves (and many times the others who were there before them). They hang the clothes neatly and are respectful and polite to the store Associates. Why? I believe it is how people were raised and the influence parents had on them. Now it seems neither parents nor kids are very caring or have much character when our and dealing with people. It may not seem like a big deal, but you have to deal with people all day long it can make it either a very long, grueling day or it can go by quickly and be an enjoyable day. Me, I prefer the latter.

In The Fitting Room - The Beginning

My daughter has urged me to write about my most recent or present job. Right now I am working in a retail store. It is going to be almost a year in June that I have been at this job. It may not seem that long but I feel good about it after having been out of work for a few years (but that is a whole other story) and also since this is not the type of work I am used to doing. All I can say is that it is quite a change from working in an office.

I have constant contact with the public at the store and situations which arise are unlimited. As I said before I have never had a job quite like this. Of course much of my time is spent checking the clothes people are thinking of buying as they come in and out of the fitting room. I must say it is very enlightening as to the character of people. It has definitely been a new way of getting to know people on a very personal basis. People quite frequently open up and tell me a lot about themselves and their lives. After all, being around people as they change and try on clothing can be quite an intimate situation if you think about it. Even seeing the type of clothing and also lingerie that are chosen can tell me quite a bit about the individual.

My eyes have definitely been opened to the fact that some people are addicted to shopping, but now I find how addictive just trying on clothes can be to many a customer. Some will bring a whole cart full, and since we only allow 8 items at a time, they will make 2, 3, up to 4 and even 5 trips into the fitting room. Sometimes instead of just bringing a cart with the clothes, they will just come back and forth from the floor and bring 8 items each time. But what really amazed me was how many of them will not even buy one item they have tried on. And these are people who are regular customers. They will come in a few times a week and do the same thing every time they come in the store - try on mounds of clothes and never buy one piece.

Right now, with the economy the way it is, we are being more careful than ever to keep an eye on and check what is going in and coming out of the fitting room because theft is way up. So with that being part of my job also, there are many reactions when I tell them I need to check the clothes. I get reactions anywhere from “hey, no problem, that’s your job” to customers who give you this look like you have already accused them of stealing. Some people are so very nice about it and others can be really nasty.

I am always appreciative when the first customers of the day just let me do my job and show their appreciation for the job that I am doing. I always try to be courteous and friendly. And I must say that much of the time the customers are really great.

So this is what this blog is about. I really want to share with you that part of my life and the time that I spend with my customers as I relay some of the stories of what happens in the fitting room; along with other tales of working in retail. I hope for this to be entertaining along with giving some insight to the character of people when they are shopping. Some are quite humorous and can be comical. Others will be of those customers that are just plain rude and even nasty. It is really amazing how much of a person can be seen and learned in such a very short time, in the minutes (or sometimes hours) spent shopping along with trying on clothes.

So stick with me from day to day and I hope you will enjoy what I have to offer.