Mostafa Samir’s Post

Retail is not for everyone… Even though it’s considered to be an easy start for those who lack experience or skills. Many of us started as a part-timers while finishing our studies before getting the “real job”. But somehow we got drawn into this never ending flow of customers, Black Fridays, promos and Super Sales, mad times with colleagues, crazy experiences with customers - whatever was it, but few of us actually stayed and chose to build a career in retail. And believe me that’s not an easy one! Put aside fun and jokes, it is only cover up for the pressure you’ll be dealing with on a daily basis. Customers are not always fun, in most cases you will be dealing with demanding, irritated, frustrated people and it’s your job to find a way to make them feel better. Because at the end of the day it’s not only about making sales, it’s “customer satisfaction” what actually makes them coming back to you. Aside from mastering people skills and being (or acting) friendly all day long you will still have to run the show. Those people who never worked in retail store might not realize that we are performing the same administrative tasks they do in offices, but we always have to do it on the go, without the luxury of having “own desk and comfy chair”. Preparing reports, analysing data, scheduling and planning, creating trainings, addressing IT and maintenance issues - those just a few things store managers are responsible for. And it has to be done quick before store gets busy. Being in retail for so many years has taught a lot about human nature, I aquired skills like multitasking, manpower utilization, planning, data analysis and so much more. Retail job if taken seriously could be an excellent school of life and potentially lucrative career path. But only if you can handle it 🤣 All I wanted to say retail is not for weak people. If you managed to survive and thrive for few years you already did something most people are not capable of. So don’t let anyone make you think that it’s not a “real job”. It is as real as you take it!

Retail is not for everyone… Even though it’s considered to be an easy start for those who lack experience or skills. Many of us started as a part-timers while finishing our studies before getting the “real job”. But somehow we got drawn into this never ending flow of customers, Black Fridays, promos and Super Sales, mad times with colleagues, crazy experiences with customers - whatever was it, but few of us actually stayed and chose to build a career in retail. And believe me that’s not an easy one! Put aside fun and jokes, it is only cover up for the pressure you’ll be dealing with on a daily basis. Customers are not always fun, in most cases you will be dealing with demanding, irritated, frustrated people and it’s your job to find a way to make them feel better. Because at the end of the day it’s not only about making sales, it’s “customer satisfaction” what actually makes them coming back to you. Aside from mastering people skills and being (or acting) friendly all day long you will still have to run the show. Those people who never worked in retail store might not realize that we are performing the same administrative tasks they do in offices, but we always have to do it on the go, without the luxury of having “own desk and comfy chair”. Preparing reports, analysing data, scheduling and planning, creating trainings, addressing IT and maintenance issues - those just a few things store managers are responsible for. And it has to be done quick before store gets busy. Being in retail for so many years has taught a lot about human nature, I aquired skills like multitasking, manpower utilization, planning, data analysis and so much more. Retail job if taken seriously could be an excellent school of life and potentially lucrative career path. But only if you can handle it 🤣 All I wanted to say retail is not for weak people. If you managed to survive and thrive for few years you already did something most people are not capable of. So don’t let anyone make you think that it’s not a “real job”. It is as real as you take it! #retail

Are you aware that, being in Retail should not define who you are. You alone define who you are by your; 👉 Words 👉 Actions 👉 Mannerism 👉 Being Memorable. The last point for me is the most important, as in Retail you need to be a swiss army knife, but no matter which tool you choose to rely on, choosing the being memorable tool will ALWAYS pay off. Being memorable is not always about acting like a fool, but it is about, ⭐ Having prescence when entering a room. ⭐ Doing the unexpected & keeping people on their toes. ⭐ Not regretting being an individual & setting your own pace. ⭐ Breaking free from the perceived mold of what a Retail Manager shou!d be like. ... ⭐️and finally just smiling your way through the day and saying 👋 Hello to everyone you meet. 👍🏼 Be Innocent. 👍🏻 Be Proud. 👍 Throw it to the wind. …and finally just role the 🎲🎲 and see where they land. Worst case scenario they will never forget who you are and how you made them smile at that moment. Now that’s what memorability is all about 😃 Hey! Being BiPolar has also brought with it many unexpected moments in my career such as slurring presentations, doubting myself and having rapid speech, but it has made me memorable and I would not trade it for the world even though ironically this quirk also pisses me off on a daily basis, 🤓🤓🤓 I am still here as myself and prouder than ever….faults included. And as always, and most importantly. Have a PHENOMENAL 🤩 Day. _______________________________________ If you would like to learn more about me and what I do, here is a link to my portfolio: 🤓 https://lnkd.in/eHQQFtyy

In retail field you should have 3 skills given below: Confidence: You have to be confident about that you can sale this product. Humbleness: If you don't have patience and you're not humble don't be the part of retail. Product Knowledge: Make sure that what you're selling. Because your client must know about that. These are my personal experiences. Because I have been working as a retail associate at different markets since 2020. The place I have enjoyed in my life and I would say golden time that I have learned a lot 😊 being a retail associate you're able to provide customer service to different mind sets with through different attitude.

13 Insights From 13 Jobs - Part 3/13! I first applied to Hot Topic when I was 16, in high school, thinking the people who worked there were soooo cool - and then it was super cool when I turned 20 and got to work there myself! I quickly moved up to a seasonal keyholder - and probably in part because of the ruthless upselling habits I made at Game Stop (which was last week's post...) What I learned was how to frame things so that there was benefit for both the customers and the company. With the introduction of Hot Cash, on paper, it was a "free" $15 for every $30 customers spent - but instead I pitched it to customers as "Get $45 worth of stuff for $30." Your customer should always be your goal - but sometimes you gotta satisfy the company to get that upward mobility. Pictured: The Hot Topic I worked at in Tanforan Mall. It is - you guessed it - right across the way from the Game Stop I worked at, which was right next to the Coldstone I worked at. At one point, I worked at all three at once!

Did you know that retail skills are not just valuable in the retail industry? Check out this insightful blog on Upskilled to discover how the skills you've gained in retail can be transferred to various aspects of your life. From customer service and communication to problem-solving and teamwork, these skills are versatile and applicable across different areas of your life. Embrace the power of your #retail experience! What is one skill you learned in retail that you use outside of work as well?  Share below! https://lnkd.in/deYGYT76 #retailrecruiting  #retailjobs

Having done many store visits with your team back in the day, I can attest to the efficiency of reviewing things in person. There are conditions to discover that you can't anticipate on paper, context gained from seeing how things work as a system, and invaluable feedback to be had from the store-level associates responsible for execution. No matter how far technology advances, there's no replacing stepping across the threshold into live stores.

Ask yourself if you're a "part of the job" or "part of the team". Throughout my career I've always sought to bring value to the workplace I'm at. It could be expertise, skills, or simply showing up when I'm expected. But jobs I've learned the most from is when it was clear that I was an integral part of the team and not simply "part of the job". A short story about my time in retail management: I was over the entire front-end of a Walmart Supercenter (Store 19) and the cashier was beginning to trend towards a "dying breed" and giving way to the self-checkout. It was very demoralizing as other stores totally discarded this position for the robot/self-checkout. It was about then I employed the phrase "you can do your job without me, but I cannot do mine without you". While the trial and error went on in the Florida locations selected for the fully automated experience, I made sure they knew that the job isn't what needed them; it was the TEAM! This rejuvenated everyone on the team and allowed them to find their place with the store, not simply the corporation. More than an identification number, but something that mattered. All that to say this: when you are employed ask yourself this question: am I here for the job or is the team here for each other? One makes the job worth it and the other makes the job expendable. Working on a supportive, group oriented team makes all the difference.