Anyways. I have worked 3 times at the bookstore I work at. Yeah kinda sad. 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Its my life. I wait for the day the calendar kiosk opens. I cant believe I'm saying that. I'm one whos big on numbers but hates them. How else do you figure we moved out here in Nov 2007. But this is my 3rd year at the kiosk and only our 2nd yr out here? Yeah...I know.
I worked on Friday August 21st 2009. I was all alone this time around. I was dropped off at Panera and walked to Jack in the Box before walking to the store. My boss told me come in at 6...yeah right. 6! I come in and look at the schedule, its now being 4:45pm and it says 5-11:30?? How'd that happen? Dont know. In all good nature, my super. "B" said it was fine 5 or 6. Even though I did clock in at 4:45 to be safe. It okay....
First I was to do RPL's finished up last weeks dvd list. It took me till my break at 8:30pm. Yeah I know. I had people needing help too. I helped at least 4 people. Why did two of them need help as I was already bending down in the dvd case? I mean seriously. Why did it seem like the perfect moment to ask for help when I was in such a position? One guy was so dang persistant. He wanted "Pinky and the Brain" which isnt even at the store. I went to the computer to check a movie for him and that after I had gotten the case closed (it didnt want to close for me, stupid case!). And he had already checked that Pinky wasnt there. I was still baffled. Come on. A 90's kids show? Yeah right. But I although I think the movie was in the store, I didnt see him anymore. Sure he had to hang around making me nervous while the cases wasnt closing. But the moment I am done and trying to help him he just has to disappear. I am still wondering what the point was?
After my half hour break I spent the rest of the night from like 10pm to 11:30pm doing shelving. Then cause I happened upon the week where they do "sheets" I had to do a "sheet". "B" helped me do the part for RPL's (2.5 hrs) and shelving (1hr). He thought I did okay.
Oddly enough got that sheet back when I came in few days later...I dont get the point but okay...
The next two days were in a row. I worked Monday, August 24th and Tuesday, August 25th. Both days with Mel and Deane. And both days were late. We worked 5pm to 2am. Although Deane was off both days at 12am. Mel wasnt supposed to have worked at all on Monday. But I called ahead and our boss "J" said he would work her in. Thankful for that one. Otherwise she would have had to have killed 9 hrs alone in Franklin while I was working. Hum.
So back to this. Monday I spent the majority of the night moving around the section. The self improvement was a mess with the health and no order. So I had to spend the whole night moving it. We also got to meet our new assistant mgr "C" no its not our friend "C" and no offense but he is no "C". "C" was cool and he was from California and we shared a lot in common. The new "C" is okay though and nice at times. Still he is new and getting used to things...
Yeah. I spent the whole night moving. My arm had been hurting me all night, my poor left arm. But I did my best to "go really fast" as my boss said. It was near impossible to do what I was doing fast. And I got dizzy few times forgetting which set I was moving at the time. But I got it done. And at 1am I was done and ready to help shelve again this time with Julian and Mel. We did fict cart and so on and so on. Oh and our break Deane, Mel and me hit up Captain D's yup great food!
Tuesday August 25th. Mel is scheduled tonight this time and we are set to go! Our dinner later was Jack in the Box what fun with Deane again! Yeah! But first was shelving. This time around my left arm was so sore it took me ages to get the only cart I had done. I had to move and shelve all with one hand almost the whole night! But I got something done, most of the cart. I would have done more but from 9pm to 12am I was just fixing up the whole middle sections for the maybe visit the next day. I still dont know if it happened. It might have happened Wednesday OR Thursday OR not at all! Yeah I know....so that hurt me a lot. And I was bumned by nights end that my arm was still sore almost as when I came in. But it okay. From 12 to 1:30 I did shelving. And then at 1:30 to 2:20 we took out trash. We got out kinda late. It okay, I need the extra $$.
Okay I am bored. That was my last 3 days of the bookstore. I dont work as of present day at all this week. I hope that changes. I truly do. I need the $$. And cant wait to do the calendars. At least it will be hours and money that we need so bad. We need more money then we both make.
Till I work again, this is bookseller signing off. G'night.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The building of a store...or how Toys International came about
In November 1998 The Block of Orange became a reality to everyone involved. And that included us called to help make up the places to work. Borders was one of the first buildings to be more done then the others, our breaks included trips down there for my favorite coffee chocolate drinks all frozen up with goodness. Even in November, come on its California!
So we got to build this lovely store. It took us a few days. The biggest thing we had to make was the shelves. We would all gather in groups and pull the white shelves from where they were and put them together. I was a little thing but not afraid to get dirty. It was kinda of magical watching a store get built.
Is that anything less then watching a baby get born? Creation being made in the beginning? Or a book being created? Building a store is wonderful. I have also torren a story down, thats another story all together.
Then came the fun part. Putting out the toys. Lots of toys, games and fun things. They each had a section which we learned partly as we went along the way. This goes here, that goes there. Here and there and everywhere they went. Toys toys.
Back in the late 90's Beanie Babies were the biggest thing still! We had them in the front of the store behind the register. People would line up outside the store once it was open just to see which beanie we had. When Princess Diana Bear came out it was so popular! I joked about getting one but I didnt really collect beanie babies back then. I just thought they were cute. When Princess Dianna sadly died, the bear became that much harder to get a hold of and people wanted it all the more.
Also popular back then was things like the mini skateboards that even came with their own ramps! And of course as mentioned the ever popular Furbies. I researched it and said that Furbies sold 40 million in the 3 yrs they were out. 1.8 the first year. Follow my last blogs link for that one!
One more popular thing was yo yo's. You wouldnt believe how popular this simple thing was because it was more complicated. Kids would come in to collect the latest ones they loved them!!
And I think Tickle Me Elmo was still popular in 1998 as it was when it first came out in 1996. I recall the crazy stuff with Elmo and we were in the middle of it. Between Furbies & Elmo we were all set for the nut cases of the world. And of course Beanie Babies. Lest I never forget.
Ah to open a store again...what a day that would be. What was life like inside my first retail job?
So we got to build this lovely store. It took us a few days. The biggest thing we had to make was the shelves. We would all gather in groups and pull the white shelves from where they were and put them together. I was a little thing but not afraid to get dirty. It was kinda of magical watching a store get built.
Is that anything less then watching a baby get born? Creation being made in the beginning? Or a book being created? Building a store is wonderful. I have also torren a story down, thats another story all together.
Then came the fun part. Putting out the toys. Lots of toys, games and fun things. They each had a section which we learned partly as we went along the way. This goes here, that goes there. Here and there and everywhere they went. Toys toys.
Back in the late 90's Beanie Babies were the biggest thing still! We had them in the front of the store behind the register. People would line up outside the store once it was open just to see which beanie we had. When Princess Diana Bear came out it was so popular! I joked about getting one but I didnt really collect beanie babies back then. I just thought they were cute. When Princess Dianna sadly died, the bear became that much harder to get a hold of and people wanted it all the more.
Also popular back then was things like the mini skateboards that even came with their own ramps! And of course as mentioned the ever popular Furbies. I researched it and said that Furbies sold 40 million in the 3 yrs they were out. 1.8 the first year. Follow my last blogs link for that one!
One more popular thing was yo yo's. You wouldnt believe how popular this simple thing was because it was more complicated. Kids would come in to collect the latest ones they loved them!!
And I think Tickle Me Elmo was still popular in 1998 as it was when it first came out in 1996. I recall the crazy stuff with Elmo and we were in the middle of it. Between Furbies & Elmo we were all set for the nut cases of the world. And of course Beanie Babies. Lest I never forget.
Ah to open a store again...what a day that would be. What was life like inside my first retail job?
Monday, August 17, 2009
My first adventure in retail land...
“You need some retail experience” was the reply I got for my very first interview with Borders Books. My first job had been working for 2 weeks at the Orange County Fair on the weekends, more food cashier. Then I worked for AMC Movie Theater in Fullerton for 5 months during the last few months of my senior year of high school. So when I was in the beginning of college and trying to find a new job what an opportunity came up! A new outdoor mall called “The Block of Orange” opened up. Imagine all these stores, a movie theater, and food places! Sadly although I wanted to try out retail Borders wouldn’t give me a shot. So I ended up taking a job at a pizza place instead. But I also had tried a toys international that was opening up even though they didn’t think they could hire me. At the time they liked me, but forgot about me. So I was set to start training for pizza’s.
That’s when I got thee call. No not Borders! The toystore! Turns out they remembered me but didn’t meant to forget me. How nice. So I had my interview and began training almost immediately. Even though The Block hadn’t opened yet, we trained at a store called “Play Co” in Orange until Toys International opened. It was like a sister store and gave us the chance to train on register and learn some of the things you need to know for the toy business. Immediately I felt my calling, it was retail! Yeah you heard me right CALLING. I am great at this business, just truly hate it! And its not for me forever, it’s the only hope I have now looking at almost 8yrs of retail experience. But back to that first job and those first days.
Our only fast food place was a Del Taco that was just across the lot. So when we worked I would walk there on my lunches, and get cheap taco’s before coming back. I began to make friends quickly with 2 guys there. A shorter and younger kid named Austin, blonde hair and lived in Garden Grove. Later we discovered also went to the same high school as my cousin did. And my even greater friend a tall 18 year guy (so like my age) named Philip. Philip swore a lot which I wasn’t used to but we had the best fun ever! We loved putting out stock together and having fun and laughing. I knew we had a bond I didn’t get in high school. I mean I was friends with guys this was a co-worker bond I hadn’t had since this guy named Chris since the movie theater. Don’t ask me why they were always guys…haha.
1998 was the year of the Furby. Do you recall those little freaky things? EVERYONE wanted them! It was the craziest thing to hit the streets but these little creatures talked their own language but was able to talk and learn more words. They slept, and woke up, and looked like gremlins without any arms! Trust me they were a kick in the pants. Well we ended up buying one each, and my aunt was opposed she bought a bunch more. If you don’t believe me about this craze with people keeping them in boxes and selling them, look it up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furby
One time there were these kids in the middle of the section of the store. They were goofing off and they weren’t little maybe like grammar school children. Goofing off meaning throwing a ball back and fourth. I was all alone at the time and went over and I was like just made that face at them. They realized I worked there! You should have seen their faces.
I think the worse thing about working that store especially was stocking the different toys. Now if you have ever worked a toy store imagine the kinds of toys you could have. Plus we had a ton of games too! It was insane. I never complained once. I had fun, made friends and was all set for our move to the Block of Orange.
My chance would come…and I would get to help build a place that I called home for just a few months.
That’s when I got thee call. No not Borders! The toystore! Turns out they remembered me but didn’t meant to forget me. How nice. So I had my interview and began training almost immediately. Even though The Block hadn’t opened yet, we trained at a store called “Play Co” in Orange until Toys International opened. It was like a sister store and gave us the chance to train on register and learn some of the things you need to know for the toy business. Immediately I felt my calling, it was retail! Yeah you heard me right CALLING. I am great at this business, just truly hate it! And its not for me forever, it’s the only hope I have now looking at almost 8yrs of retail experience. But back to that first job and those first days.
Our only fast food place was a Del Taco that was just across the lot. So when we worked I would walk there on my lunches, and get cheap taco’s before coming back. I began to make friends quickly with 2 guys there. A shorter and younger kid named Austin, blonde hair and lived in Garden Grove. Later we discovered also went to the same high school as my cousin did. And my even greater friend a tall 18 year guy (so like my age) named Philip. Philip swore a lot which I wasn’t used to but we had the best fun ever! We loved putting out stock together and having fun and laughing. I knew we had a bond I didn’t get in high school. I mean I was friends with guys this was a co-worker bond I hadn’t had since this guy named Chris since the movie theater. Don’t ask me why they were always guys…haha.
1998 was the year of the Furby. Do you recall those little freaky things? EVERYONE wanted them! It was the craziest thing to hit the streets but these little creatures talked their own language but was able to talk and learn more words. They slept, and woke up, and looked like gremlins without any arms! Trust me they were a kick in the pants. Well we ended up buying one each, and my aunt was opposed she bought a bunch more. If you don’t believe me about this craze with people keeping them in boxes and selling them, look it up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furby
One time there were these kids in the middle of the section of the store. They were goofing off and they weren’t little maybe like grammar school children. Goofing off meaning throwing a ball back and fourth. I was all alone at the time and went over and I was like just made that face at them. They realized I worked there! You should have seen their faces.
I think the worse thing about working that store especially was stocking the different toys. Now if you have ever worked a toy store imagine the kinds of toys you could have. Plus we had a ton of games too! It was insane. I never complained once. I had fun, made friends and was all set for our move to the Block of Orange.
My chance would come…and I would get to help build a place that I called home for just a few months.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Bookstore Part 1
Last I worked at my "bookstore" job, was last Thursday, August 13th 2009. And I was doing the usual thing called "RPL's". Btw I finally found out (by asking) what RPL stands for. Please NOTE: RPL stands for "Return Pull List"
I was working with my great friend Deane' and we both worked the same shift 5pm till 12am. With just one day left we both hurried through our list but realized the problem was KIDS. The kids list I have decided is the worst section to pull. The reason is although the list seems so "organized" it is not. Instead you have to go to one section, hope its by either author or subject or just do what we did. Which was spend 3 hrs doing 1 page. Thats not good. The rule except in cases (like this) is aim for 1 page in 30 mint.
Why the delay? Well it was 2 things. It was hard finding one book when there was so many places it could be. While Deane' did the ones on the "spinner racks" (if you ever seen a kids book its those paper back books shaped like squares that have lots of pictures but more words too!)
and also on the "I can read" books (the one for levels 1 to 6 that kids use to learn to read going up as they get better!). I was in the other section, the non-fiction section. My biggest problem was that I was doing the game/drawing/cooking area. Though the list was maybe 20 books (or a few doubles) some were odd shapped and I had to take almost a half hour to just find where the book was located! Others werent where they should be, nothing in order, and some bks just all over the place. The section persay was just a huge mess and gave me a huge headache.
I almost welcomed the distraction of customers. It was annoying cause we were supposed to be working...but at the same time even a 15 mint chance to step away from the same task was a refreshing ordeal. Except when I had JUST gotten back into the section. Then it was just plain annoying.
It would go something like this "can I help you?" or I would be just standing there, headphones on, nametag on, and someone would come up to me "do you work here?" I will never get that question! I have worked in retail for like 8yrs and never once gotten why when you are CLEARLY wearing a tag and other things and doing stuff that looked like "work" that they ask that. I could go on...but I shall not.
Or the phone would ring. I had to check two orders, help out with two other bks. Time wasnt on our side. When Deane' and my break rolled around at 8pm we still hadnt left the pages we had started on. My luck was clearly better then Deane' but still we went to dinner knowing we would be stuck in Kids for another hour or more after break.
Dinner was Wendy's we already had that. Back on the floor, the store closed AT LAST so the only thing was silence. Our supervisor "B" asked if we wanted music, we said "nah!" and the reason was it was hard to think. I have A.D.D. and music distracts me more then anything else cause I love it so much. So instead we welcomed the silence.
I was sad by a fact that night. Melody my sister who also works here sometimes, could have come in and worked at least 9 to 12. With plenty of RPL's and a call out, the hours shouldnt have been a problem. They shouldnt have been a problem ALL WEEK LONG since when we do RPL's they manage to find the "magical hours" that werent there before just so we can go and do them and get them done. Instead Mel had to kill time outside the store, and me and Deane' slaved away best we could.
Stuck in kids...we were there for 2 more hours getting done just before 11pm. At last we were about to start movies, with an hour to go, when we happened upon another kids list. I dont get where it came from! But this time while Deane' started the dvds and bluerays I did the almost 2 page list in record time, and still had time to find my set of 1 page of kids dvd's. I found most everything with much success.
No we didnt turn into pumpkins, haha.
As we had to leave at 12am I finished my list, mostly. Deane' still had something to do...but time to go. And go we went.
Pondering when I will work again. Why wont they ever put me back on register. I dont have hours next week, not even a single day. Sad I didnt get to say good bye to one of our favorite managers "C" who is moving to West End...on Sunday. We had so much in common he being from California and lived in New York. We from California and want to live in New York. And his odd sense of humor.
So I dont get to say good bye in person I shall here. Good bye "C" hope you like it there and we shall miss you all miss you here.
Hope Julian gets his birthday card...Mel worked hard to pick it out and pop it on the bulletin board. Not knowing if he shall on Sunday. Hum.
Thats all for now...this is Holly in adventure retail land saying good day and night.
I was working with my great friend Deane' and we both worked the same shift 5pm till 12am. With just one day left we both hurried through our list but realized the problem was KIDS. The kids list I have decided is the worst section to pull. The reason is although the list seems so "organized" it is not. Instead you have to go to one section, hope its by either author or subject or just do what we did. Which was spend 3 hrs doing 1 page. Thats not good. The rule except in cases (like this) is aim for 1 page in 30 mint.
Why the delay? Well it was 2 things. It was hard finding one book when there was so many places it could be. While Deane' did the ones on the "spinner racks" (if you ever seen a kids book its those paper back books shaped like squares that have lots of pictures but more words too!)
and also on the "I can read" books (the one for levels 1 to 6 that kids use to learn to read going up as they get better!). I was in the other section, the non-fiction section. My biggest problem was that I was doing the game/drawing/cooking area. Though the list was maybe 20 books (or a few doubles) some were odd shapped and I had to take almost a half hour to just find where the book was located! Others werent where they should be, nothing in order, and some bks just all over the place. The section persay was just a huge mess and gave me a huge headache.
I almost welcomed the distraction of customers. It was annoying cause we were supposed to be working...but at the same time even a 15 mint chance to step away from the same task was a refreshing ordeal. Except when I had JUST gotten back into the section. Then it was just plain annoying.
It would go something like this "can I help you?" or I would be just standing there, headphones on, nametag on, and someone would come up to me "do you work here?" I will never get that question! I have worked in retail for like 8yrs and never once gotten why when you are CLEARLY wearing a tag and other things and doing stuff that looked like "work" that they ask that. I could go on...but I shall not.
Or the phone would ring. I had to check two orders, help out with two other bks. Time wasnt on our side. When Deane' and my break rolled around at 8pm we still hadnt left the pages we had started on. My luck was clearly better then Deane' but still we went to dinner knowing we would be stuck in Kids for another hour or more after break.
Dinner was Wendy's we already had that. Back on the floor, the store closed AT LAST so the only thing was silence. Our supervisor "B" asked if we wanted music, we said "nah!" and the reason was it was hard to think. I have A.D.D. and music distracts me more then anything else cause I love it so much. So instead we welcomed the silence.
I was sad by a fact that night. Melody my sister who also works here sometimes, could have come in and worked at least 9 to 12. With plenty of RPL's and a call out, the hours shouldnt have been a problem. They shouldnt have been a problem ALL WEEK LONG since when we do RPL's they manage to find the "magical hours" that werent there before just so we can go and do them and get them done. Instead Mel had to kill time outside the store, and me and Deane' slaved away best we could.
Stuck in kids...we were there for 2 more hours getting done just before 11pm. At last we were about to start movies, with an hour to go, when we happened upon another kids list. I dont get where it came from! But this time while Deane' started the dvds and bluerays I did the almost 2 page list in record time, and still had time to find my set of 1 page of kids dvd's. I found most everything with much success.
No we didnt turn into pumpkins, haha.
As we had to leave at 12am I finished my list, mostly. Deane' still had something to do...but time to go. And go we went.
Pondering when I will work again. Why wont they ever put me back on register. I dont have hours next week, not even a single day. Sad I didnt get to say good bye to one of our favorite managers "C" who is moving to West End...on Sunday. We had so much in common he being from California and lived in New York. We from California and want to live in New York. And his odd sense of humor.
So I dont get to say good bye in person I shall here. Good bye "C" hope you like it there and we shall miss you all miss you here.
Hope Julian gets his birthday card...Mel worked hard to pick it out and pop it on the bulletin board. Not knowing if he shall on Sunday. Hum.
Thats all for now...this is Holly in adventure retail land saying good day and night.
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