Have I mentioned that I work in retail? Probably. At the time of originally publishing this page, I have worked in retail, in some form or another, for 17 years. In that time, I have come to possess many stories of what it’s like dealing with the British public. As you can imagine, these stories are a mixture of the absurd, the frustrating, and the insane.
My first ever experience of retail life came via a now-defunct TV and home media shop in my local town centre. I took this role to help facilitate moving down to Essex to live with my then-girlfriend (now wife). I had no prior sales experience, my brain was still processing moving home, and I dare say the entire experience with Home Cinema Store (I can mention them as they are no more) was an unpleasant one. I was there for approximately six weeks, but had resolved to leave virtually instantly. Being screamed at by the assistant manager was not what I had signed up for. It was tremendously ironic he would press me into staying, even going as far as to ask if I respected him. I politely assured him that I did, when to be honest, I didn’t. Being screamed at and called an idiot doesn’t tend to foster respect.
From there, I moved on to Staples UK. I mention them by name because they, like Home Cinema Store, no longer exist in the UK, so I feel free to discuss my experiences more openly in the past. They do still exist in the USA, and elsewhere in the world, but they sold off the UK retail arm of their business in 2016, and the company that took over the UK sites, Office Outlet, did not make it to their third anniversary. Staples will form the basis for most, but not all, of my juicy retail stories. I worked for Staples for seven and a half years, and for a majority of that time I was a team leader. Being trusted enough to become a part of the management team was something quite special to me, and whilst I have no sympathy for the company (in the end, I feel they failed me, and my colleagues), I had plenty of sympathy for my friends there, who were left in the lurch by Staples’ departure, and Office Outlet’s subsequent collapse.
After leaving Staples, I went to work for a franchise of a well-known UK brand, bathstore. No, the absent capital letter on bathstore is not a typo. I dare say this was one of my most enjoyable experiences in retail sales. I went into bathstore rather blind when it came to bathrooms, but I believe I held my own, and I made some good friends along the way. The most taxing element of this role was the cost of train travel, and eventually, I had to say goodbye and move on, taking a job closer to home. I ought to note that bathstore went bust in 2019, and the franchises went with them.
In case you’re wondering, that’s three consecutive employers who have all fallen by the wayside. Is it somewhat freaky that I am a common denominator?!
After bathstore I would spend two years working for a major sofa retailer. This provided a mixed experience for me. There were good times, and at times the commission provided some very good pay-days, but I found certain aspects to be stressful and frustrating. There were some considerable micro-management elements that grated upon me, and the style and approach to sales jarred with me. I toughed it out for two years (and indeed, passed my two year probation, because yes, this company has a two year probation), but I went into the final couple of months secretly knowing I was going to leave. I would be returning to bathrooms, and doing so with one of my former colleagues from bathstore.
This is where I am at now. I’ve been there for nearly five years at the time of originally publishing this article. It has been quite a different experience to my bathstore days, but whilst the pay has not been as great as my sofa sales role, the position is much less stressful, and what’s even better is that it is a five minute walk from home.
Anyway, enough of a long-winded ramble about my retail history. You want intrigue, drama and arguments, don’t you? Don’t worry, there is plenty to share.