The Beginning

     I was 17 when I applied as a sales associate at The Bridge (aka the space between your two front teeth. I must use alternate names for obvious reasons so bear with me.). I shopped there often enough and when I was told by a friend that she got discounts, I was sold! The Bridge was my first introduction to the colorful world of retail and ironic enough is what got me where I am now - The Bridge's more evil (and pricier) triplet, Orange County. The ugly and cheap triplet is more like a step-child and is not spoken aloud in The Bridge or Orange County; We will name her, Used Denim. Both Used Denim and Orange County are owned by The Bridge though they do not cross streams in the ugly world of retail. As in you cannot return Bridge clothing at Orange County or Used Denim or vice versa. A fact customers who know we are affiliated can not comprehend. These are the same assholes who fight the return policy even though it is clearly written on their receipts. But I digress:
Training at The Bridge was mind numbingly dull! They made us sit in the stockroom on metal fold out chairs around an old television where we were informed on the Bridge's history and what was expected out of us and blah blah blah. Honestly, I do not remember the entirety of that video because even at 16 I knew it was full of bullshit. What I do remember of that meeting is the pain in my ass from sitting too long on metal chairs. After "orientation" it was there at The Bridge, I was taught that the customer is always right and that customer service is top priority. It was not until Orange County where not only did I spend the bulk of my retail career but also where everything I learned at Bridge was rewritten. At Orange County, we did not sell khakis, we sold "chinos"; We did not sell jeans, we sold "denim". Slacks were "trousers" and tops were broken up even further with knits, sweaters and wovens and then subcategorized into button downs, tees, etc. I learned how to properly fold clothing (a habit that many Bridge Inc employees bring home with them if you stay on too long). I learned how to color code and size.
     To save time and energy I only remember a few incidents at The Bridge in my 6 month employment. I was thrown a surprise 18th birthday party by my family and as I was getting ready for work when they surprised me with friends and cake. They told me that my boss was in on it and I did not have to go into work. I called my boss to makes ure and he said "All is good, have a great birthday." I went in the next day and the manager on duty yelled from the middle of the store, "Out! You are fired!" I asked her what was going on and she had the guard stop me from going any further where she met me and escorted me to the front door. I did not understand, I told her I was early for my shift and she said, "You did not show up for your shift yesterday." I told her that her boss, the store manager was already aware of why I was out and that it was taken cared of. She told the guard to leave us alone once we got to the front door and I was outside of it. I told her to go talk to Rob and it would be fine. She leaned into me and said, "I don't like working with fags. You are written down as a no-call, no-show which are grounds for termination." She then closed the door and told the guard to makes sure I did not enter. Nor did I up to the day it was closed down due to too many robberies and too many poor sales. I went as far as calling Rob and explaining the situation and he said it was my word against hers and it did not look too well for me that I did not show up for my shift. He was in on it the whole time and I knew there was nothing I could do. Afterall, this was before Equal Opportunity Employer and to this very day, in the state of Pennsylvania, among others, there are no laws protecting individuals from being fired based on their sexual orientation.
     I saw her a few years later at a Bridge store in a nearby mall, I did not know how to react, I was not mean or vindictive back then. I simply walked out and that was the last time I saw her again. Fast forward a few years and a couple other retail hell experiences and that brings me to going to college and my start at the pricier triplet in the big city. I was looking for part-time employment close to college in the city when I found out through a friend that Orange County was hiring. I was hesitant at first based on my previous experience with the company but I really needed a job. I applied and got the job out of fifty of us, only 10 got the job. I worked here for five years before landing a much better job in wholesale/retail working with designers, architects and their private clients. I worked in this industry and the ladder for the next 8 years. I was running a great store, had a great salary, a place of my own in the city. Then the economy tanked and working in an industry where luxury was not a neccessity did not help at all. With the economy went my job, my six year relationship with my fiance, my apartment in the city, my worthless degree, and ultimately, my self-confidence. I went back to the parents' with my tail between my legs and my cat Clyde at my side.
     No this is not a pity party nor is this blog about my personal life. I believe everything happens for a reason: I am going back to school for something I really want to do, I live with an amazing boyfriend who totally gets me (most of the time), and I have a job that pays half the bills (could be worse, could be no job). So it's not so much about my personal life's rants and raves, but it is essential as a writer to give the back story of where the author is coming from when he writes about his experiences today. My blog is about my experiences in retail and the funny, and not so funny experiences in the retail industry. I will recall some experiences from the past as they come up but ultimately from my current fiascoes. I hope you enjoy the tales as this is a form of therapy for me to unhash all the bullshit that happens to me and coworkers.