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I like being useful
Jun. 12th, 2011 12:11 amHad a bit of a rough night (mostly just 'cause I ended up being later than I had planned and didn't get to do the things I wanted due to something I had to deal with) and wasn't looking forward to work after all of that. And yet oddly enough work made me feel a lot better today. I had several different customers thank me personally for my help, one in particular who said "Thank you for your excellent customer service." and it really made me feel good. Especially as I tend to mess up a lot and it always makes me nervous and frustrated with myself when I do.
But today was a good day. I didn't mess up on anything, I didn't have any frustrated customers, and I managed to not have to deal with any of our regular crazy customers (and boy do we have some crazy regulars in the store). Just pleasant people and a lot of smiles and I felt really good that I was helpful. 'Cause sometimes they ask me things that I really don't know much about and I feel kinda ugh that I wasn't able to help. Mainly when they ask for help with home decor as that's something I know very little about. But today even those I was able to help out pretty well. 'Cause I do try to be pretty helpful and that's one thing I like about our store. The fact that we aren't just there to sell fabric and be done with it. We really are there to help the customers with their projects. And I gotta admit I love seeing the surprised reaction when they realize I do know how to sew and actually know what I'm talking about. I think its because I look so young so they just assume I'm just working for the money and don't know much about the items in the store (because well, our two youngest employees really don't know much...but at least they have done a good job at learning the basics. But I did feel bad for the one today who had a customer demand someone else cut the fabric for her "because you obviously don't know a thing about fabric" and the poor girl was all "...but I've learned a lot from working here for a long time T_T" I would have come to her rescue but I was already helping someone else at the time.) But yeah, its always a pretty good feeling. Yeah ok its just retail but I think its bit better than normal retail just because I'm working with stuff I love.
Also there were two young girls in the store today that caught my attention. I was trying to re-stock the zippers (I never did get very far as I kept having to help people ^^;;) and couldn't help but overhear their conversation and looked over and immediately got the "cosplayers" vibe. XD; So peeked over and sure enough they had a print out of costumes they were working on so I poked over and asked what they were making. And it was two costumes from Assassin's Creed (which I still really need to play) and so I helped them a little with their buttons and casually mentioned I cosplayed too. Though they were pretty new to this and were doing this more for Renn Faire than for any cons. Later in the day I noticed they were still in the store and getting their various fabrics cut. lol They were pretty much getting EVERYTHING for their costumes in one trip so no wonder they were there for a long time and I think almost everyone working today ended up helping them at some point or another. And when talking to them again and giving them a few more suggestions, I mentioned that I do commissions and such and that this is my passion. And so after they bought their stuff, I noticed they were kinda hanging around my side of the table, kinda whispering to each other and shyly edging to the table but not wanting to interrupt what I was doing. lol So I looked over and asked if they needed more help and they said that since I seemed to know about cosplay, if they could possibly get some help from me. I informed them that I was going to be off the clock in about 10 minutes so if they were willing to wait, I could give them more attention then. And they got pretty excited over that. XD It was really really cute. So yeah then ended up spending almost a full half hour sitting down with them at the pattern table and going over their costumes and giving them suggestions. Turns out this is their FIRST costumes. And I was a bit "oh wow...these are...kinda big for a first project" but I think if they take their time, they should be ok. But it was so cute seeing them write down notes as I told them my suggestions for the various parts and told them about various sources and materials that could help. And also gave them my contact info if they ever wished to ask more questions.
But yeah, in conclusion...I was really happy that my limited skills came into use today. XD That I was able to help some folks and feel generally useful and helpful. Its a nice feeling I don't get very often. Since to be honest, I really DO mess up a lot and tend to feel very...useless. Granted this feeling was almost ruined when I walked out and realized how much time I spent talking and that Mom had been waiting for me and of course first thing out of her mouth was "...you really need to get your license" which has been like a DAILY discussion since I started this job. ...and yes, I know, I don't need another reminder of how useless I am, Mom. I DO feel really bad about it and I am actually really trying here. Doesn't help that every time I should be driving or offer to drive, Mom comes up with some excuse as to why she should drive instead. So um, how am I supposed to get experience if you won't let me drive? O_o;;
~Lyn
But today was a good day. I didn't mess up on anything, I didn't have any frustrated customers, and I managed to not have to deal with any of our regular crazy customers (and boy do we have some crazy regulars in the store). Just pleasant people and a lot of smiles and I felt really good that I was helpful. 'Cause sometimes they ask me things that I really don't know much about and I feel kinda ugh that I wasn't able to help. Mainly when they ask for help with home decor as that's something I know very little about. But today even those I was able to help out pretty well. 'Cause I do try to be pretty helpful and that's one thing I like about our store. The fact that we aren't just there to sell fabric and be done with it. We really are there to help the customers with their projects. And I gotta admit I love seeing the surprised reaction when they realize I do know how to sew and actually know what I'm talking about. I think its because I look so young so they just assume I'm just working for the money and don't know much about the items in the store (because well, our two youngest employees really don't know much...but at least they have done a good job at learning the basics. But I did feel bad for the one today who had a customer demand someone else cut the fabric for her "because you obviously don't know a thing about fabric" and the poor girl was all "...but I've learned a lot from working here for a long time T_T" I would have come to her rescue but I was already helping someone else at the time.) But yeah, its always a pretty good feeling. Yeah ok its just retail but I think its bit better than normal retail just because I'm working with stuff I love.
Also there were two young girls in the store today that caught my attention. I was trying to re-stock the zippers (I never did get very far as I kept having to help people ^^;;) and couldn't help but overhear their conversation and looked over and immediately got the "cosplayers" vibe. XD; So peeked over and sure enough they had a print out of costumes they were working on so I poked over and asked what they were making. And it was two costumes from Assassin's Creed (which I still really need to play) and so I helped them a little with their buttons and casually mentioned I cosplayed too. Though they were pretty new to this and were doing this more for Renn Faire than for any cons. Later in the day I noticed they were still in the store and getting their various fabrics cut. lol They were pretty much getting EVERYTHING for their costumes in one trip so no wonder they were there for a long time and I think almost everyone working today ended up helping them at some point or another. And when talking to them again and giving them a few more suggestions, I mentioned that I do commissions and such and that this is my passion. And so after they bought their stuff, I noticed they were kinda hanging around my side of the table, kinda whispering to each other and shyly edging to the table but not wanting to interrupt what I was doing. lol So I looked over and asked if they needed more help and they said that since I seemed to know about cosplay, if they could possibly get some help from me. I informed them that I was going to be off the clock in about 10 minutes so if they were willing to wait, I could give them more attention then. And they got pretty excited over that. XD It was really really cute. So yeah then ended up spending almost a full half hour sitting down with them at the pattern table and going over their costumes and giving them suggestions. Turns out this is their FIRST costumes. And I was a bit "oh wow...these are...kinda big for a first project" but I think if they take their time, they should be ok. But it was so cute seeing them write down notes as I told them my suggestions for the various parts and told them about various sources and materials that could help. And also gave them my contact info if they ever wished to ask more questions.
But yeah, in conclusion...I was really happy that my limited skills came into use today. XD That I was able to help some folks and feel generally useful and helpful. Its a nice feeling I don't get very often. Since to be honest, I really DO mess up a lot and tend to feel very...useless. Granted this feeling was almost ruined when I walked out and realized how much time I spent talking and that Mom had been waiting for me and of course first thing out of her mouth was "...you really need to get your license" which has been like a DAILY discussion since I started this job. ...and yes, I know, I don't need another reminder of how useless I am, Mom. I DO feel really bad about it and I am actually really trying here. Doesn't help that every time I should be driving or offer to drive, Mom comes up with some excuse as to why she should drive instead. So um, how am I supposed to get experience if you won't let me drive? O_o;;
~Lyn
