Sending A Message Loud And Clear
My work experience has been as varied and storied as the rest of my life. I have helped paint the traffic lines on the streets, waking at 4:30 in the morning so we could beat the morning rush. I worked in a dry cleaners, inhaling all those unhealthy chemicals. I mopped floors and did inventory at a supermarket. I tended bar. I've worked for a banking company, a hotel company and was even an executive for a finance firm, with an office overlooking New York harbor.
For a little less than a year, I worked part-time at Bloomingdale's department store in White Plains, NY. I would work there after my regular job, and on weekends, to help pay for my upcoming wedding. I began there in 1994 and left after the summer of 1995. During that time, I learned a bit about style. I needed it -- before working there, I was known more for dressing poorly at best, in a street style that included high-tops and rolled-up sweatpants. I leanred how to properly fold clothing -- at the expense of my wife, who will attest that I don't really fold much of anything anymore. I learned that retail can be both thrilling and utterly boring in the same day.
I was assigned to men's casual wear on the main floor by one of the side entrances. The sales staff there were responsible for such items as Coogi sweaters, Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger, and the varied Bloomingdale's brands. Mostly, we spent our time laughing and talking and not doing much of anything.
On one of my days off, someone walked into the back entrance of the store, where men's suits, Polo Ralph Lauren and Armani Exchange was kept. He was carrying a pistol, and pulled it on an associate of mine who had just recently moved up to the suits department. My associate quickly opened the register and the robber emptied it and took off.
It wasn't the first time Bloomingdale's was victimized. Not even close. It's location made it ripe for snatch and run thieves. Once or twice, I was even involved, helping the undermanned security department catch the thieves in the parking lot.
But this was the first time in anyone's memory that someone actually pulled out a gun. Everyone on the second floor was shaken. The next day, I came in to work and was told the story. My associate was going to be out for a while. They had to hire a new person in the suits department.
I had often suspected that my boss there wasn't thrilled with me. Retail was not my career choice and I was there strictly to earn extra cash for my wedding. I guess in her eyes I was more expendable. I didn't know exactly how expendable until the following day when she called me into her office to tell me I had been transferred to Polo Ralph Lauren -- the very spot of the armed robbery.
I spent my remaining nights at Bloomingdale's alone at the scene of the crime.
Needless to say, this did not enhance my already shaky trust in authority.
For a little less than a year, I worked part-time at Bloomingdale's department store in White Plains, NY. I would work there after my regular job, and on weekends, to help pay for my upcoming wedding. I began there in 1994 and left after the summer of 1995. During that time, I learned a bit about style. I needed it -- before working there, I was known more for dressing poorly at best, in a street style that included high-tops and rolled-up sweatpants. I leanred how to properly fold clothing -- at the expense of my wife, who will attest that I don't really fold much of anything anymore. I learned that retail can be both thrilling and utterly boring in the same day.
I was assigned to men's casual wear on the main floor by one of the side entrances. The sales staff there were responsible for such items as Coogi sweaters, Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger, and the varied Bloomingdale's brands. Mostly, we spent our time laughing and talking and not doing much of anything.
On one of my days off, someone walked into the back entrance of the store, where men's suits, Polo Ralph Lauren and Armani Exchange was kept. He was carrying a pistol, and pulled it on an associate of mine who had just recently moved up to the suits department. My associate quickly opened the register and the robber emptied it and took off.
It wasn't the first time Bloomingdale's was victimized. Not even close. It's location made it ripe for snatch and run thieves. Once or twice, I was even involved, helping the undermanned security department catch the thieves in the parking lot.
But this was the first time in anyone's memory that someone actually pulled out a gun. Everyone on the second floor was shaken. The next day, I came in to work and was told the story. My associate was going to be out for a while. They had to hire a new person in the suits department.
I had often suspected that my boss there wasn't thrilled with me. Retail was not my career choice and I was there strictly to earn extra cash for my wedding. I guess in her eyes I was more expendable. I didn't know exactly how expendable until the following day when she called me into her office to tell me I had been transferred to Polo Ralph Lauren -- the very spot of the armed robbery.
I spent my remaining nights at Bloomingdale's alone at the scene of the crime.
Needless to say, this did not enhance my already shaky trust in authority.
posted by E-Luv at 3:10 PM
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