Notes from Manager Sarah!

Ever wonder what it's like to manage a successful store? Check out Sarah's point of view:

Upon first meeting someone, after the initial name exchange, smile, etc., always comes the question "so, what do you do?" I try my hardest to dodge this question and reply with "Oh, I laugh a lot, I walk dogs, I read craigslist ads, and browse Ebay but never buy anything, you?" Then, once comfortable, I tell them I work in retail management. This is where the person usually responds by saying "So you sell clothes?" Yes, I do sell clothes, but there is a great deal more that goes into my job! So here it is..

It's not that I’m embarrassed of what I do, I just don’t think people know what it entails and are quick to assume it's sort of a joke job. I mean retail management, what does that even mean? Well, let's see.. contrary to what some think, retail is harder than it seems. I once heard someone (who clearly needed a life change) say that being in retail was equal to a "glorified waitress without tips." Ouch. I saw what she meant, customers are paying us to provide them with service. However, to be a part of a successful business, there is a lot more time and work that goes into it.

My job as a manager is making sure that my staff are educated in the merchandise they’re selling. Each sales associate should be able to tell you where merchandise is made, how it’s made, and what it’s made of. They should be able to look at any figure and know exactly what clothes would be the most flattering. They should listen and respond to a customers needs in a professional manner and sell a lot of clothes! If these things do not happen, it’s me, the manager, that is held responsible.

Ensuring that the store runs smoothly is not as easy as it may seem. Besides making sure our sales staff is performing on the floor, the operations side is very important as well. We run stock balancing reports to make sure each store replaces the merchandise that is sold, making note of what trends are more popular in what community. Also, making a schedule for a staff of mothers, college students, wives and pregnant women is not an easy task! I try to accommodate everyone with days off and sometimes that means working extra hours myself to make sure that there is coverage. We look at sell through reports to see what is selling or not selling, mark down old merchandise, and talk to the buyers about what we want to sell in the store. Larger companies have a separate division for visual merchandisers but at NJC, it is the job of the managers. After merchandise is received, we make a plan as to where it should go. The style, price point, designer, and color are all factors in where items are placed. Sometimes the entire store needs to be rearranged in order for a new section to be completed. It can take 15 minutes or a day and since we receive shipments everyday, this task keeps us busy.

It is also the responsibility of the manager to enforce store policies. If there are any issues, whether it’s with our staff or an unsatisfied customer, we are in charge of dealing with it. This is sometimes the hardest part of the job. There is a lot of pressure to enforce rules but keep customers happy. We try our hardest to handle every situation fairly and not without thought.

So glorified waitress? Maybe. To each their own, right? Maybe I don’t give myself enough credit for what I do. Next time someone asks the big question I will reply, "manage a designer boutique," with a little more confidence!