For lack of something else to write about, I figured I would maybe do a favor for others in retail who, like me, will be at their place of employment this Friday.
If you plan on going out this Friday to do some Christmas shopping, please keep the following things in mind to not only make our lives a little easier, but to make your day go smoother as well.
- When entering the store, be careful. It’s supposed to be cold and snowy where I’m from, and all of that snow is going to be quickly tracked into the entryway, and our carpets don’t cover all the tiles. You’d be surprised at how easily someone will slip or trip, and wet floors will only facilitate that. Walk, don’t run. Wipe your feet at well as you can on any mats or carpets provided. And don’t push others. Biblical principles of love still apply at the store!
- Don’t make a mess. I’ve heard plenty of complaints from customers about how disorderly certain areas of the store are. I highly doubt it is the employees making the mess, so for yourself and your fellow customers, please take the time to leave things the way you find them. Sometimes while shopping (even at competitor stores) I’ll find myself straightening the shelves. For me, it’s habit, but for you it would be a “good deed.” “Tis the season” for that, after all.
- Watch your kids. Children (and irresponsible teenagers) ought to be supervised when in stores, especially on the busiest day of the year. I know that sounds nitpicky and obvious, but I’ve seen very young children wandering the aisles on their own, making a mess as they play with whatever they can get their fingers upon. Parents must not forget that they are responsible for their children. And that includes an addendum to #2: If your kids make a mess and don’t pick it up, please pick it up for them.
- Be courteous. Employees are stressed. Customers are hurried. If you have to interact with anyone, be kind to them. Show them respect. Give them a smile. Small things like that can turn someone’s day around. And remember to return your cart to either the store or the carral; leaving them in the parking lot anywhere that isn’t specifically designated for carts brings a number of words to my mind: lazy, neglectful, careless, dangerous, and so on.
- Don’t panic. Many of you will be out to buy toys for some little boys and girls on Friday. For some reason, certain toys are able to whip parents into a frenzy. (Remember when Furbies first came out? I don’t, thankfully, but I’ve heard the tales…) No toy is worth someone getting hurt over, and to be frank, no toy is worth anyone being rude or disrespectful to anyone else. If shopping for a toy (or anything, for that matter) causes one to forget to be kind to strangers, that shopping experience becomes sin for you for it has caused you to stumble.
Put simply, just remember that we are people to. We’re working through the holidays to serve you. It is a popular misconception that retailers aren’t very intelligent or aren’t skilled enough to do anything else, or whatever. Fine. That belief is completely wrong, and as a matter of fact, retailers are necessary. Sure, I’d be the first to say we’re not, but we have been made necessary by consumers.
Suppose that Wal-mart, Target, K-Mart, and the other major retailers were to close their doors this Christmas season due to being fed up with unappreciative, rude, or outright hateful customers. Would you be happy spending even more at a mall or online (with shipping fees) or elsewhere? I doubt it!
You seemingly need us, and so we need you. It’s a symbiotic relationship, of sorts. So please help take care of us as we do our best to take care of you.
And maybe everyone’s holiday seasons will be a bit brighter.