Latest Posts by misscakeshop - Page 7
I'm afraid the washi tape ruined this.
What I Wish I Knew When Walking Into Retail as an Adolescent
I started working at age 18 and had a lot of difficulty with social cues. If I could teach you anything, it would be that being in public is going to be awkward and that is okay.
My first job was at a grocery store. I was so nervous entering my first shift that I remember my whole body shook with anxiety.
It felt like the entire town was in my line for the sole purpose of watching and judging me. My very first customer was this petite old lady wearing a red bandana in her hair.
Her words seemed to instantly soothe me, "Don't be so nervous; you are doing great!" I swear she could read my brain, and while this did not completely dissipate all fears, it was what I needed to hear at that moment.
Just as finding a comforting anchor is important, so too is the ability to have fun through social interactions. You will have so much more fun at your job if you can find ways to be friendly with potential customers.
Acting as a patron, I have had several grocery store checkout encounters that followed the tune of,
"Hi, how are you?"
"Oh I'm fine, and you?"
"Living the dream."
I cannot stress how boring and nuanced this exchange is.
To step up your retail game, I would highly recommend trying one of two things; either learning to recognize returning customers or learning more about the products of your store.
One of the best moments I've had in retail was when I recognized a customer having to come back in again that same day for something they forgot to grab for a holiday dinner and was able to immediately point them to the right aisle. When you greet each person that enters the store, you have a great chance of improving someone's mood. It's amazing how a simple acknowledgment can make a customer feel more comfortable in your store.
Equally important is being able to talk about a true admiration for a product or manufacturer. You would be surprised how a couple of deep debates about which M&M's trial flavor Mars should choose to make a permanent product can make 8 hours fly by in a wink.
Having a genuine love of a product can foster enthusiasm not just for your customers, but for you as well.
On the other hand, I have to advise you of one terrible social faux pas I once made.
I once picked up a tall cylindrical container on a lone night shift and inquired to the customer, "I have not tried this sauce. Is it any good?"
It wasn't until I flipped the bottle over and read ‘Personal Lubricant’ on its label that I understood what I was scanning. My customer did not answer and I never saw her again, understandably.
Finally, this last point is the heaviest and details a specific example of sexual harassment. If this is a sensitive topic for you, I would love to encourage you to jump to the last paragraph.
I continuously struggle with recognizing the difference between flirting and being sexually harassed. The only guidance I can give you is to ask yourself if you are feeling comfortable in a similar situation. If you are not, try to find your voice and speak up. If the other party can't back down after you request they stop, this is textbook harassment (of any form.)
Without further ado, here is my experience. When I moved from my first job as a cashier, I became a sales associate at a tech store.
I once dealt with a man who drives semi-trucks for a living. Anyone reading this who has been in retail or food service may know exactly where this is going already.
I can still recall his slicked-back greasy hair, backwards ball cap and terrible breath. The week leading up to this moment, I had decided to cut and brightly dye my hair. Immediately, my hairstyle seemed to attract sordid attention.
For over an hour, I remember explaining a product, setting it up and troubleshooting any issues that may come up. In between words, this driver made multiple crude remarks about his wild imagination involving me, him and my purple pixie cut. A friend that he had brought along with only encouraged him by laughing at each comment made. These varied from asking me on nasty dates to probing for my cell number.
I felt trapped by the long product setup and sales process as he made passes toward me. He thought that my eccentric hair meant that I was 'easy.' When I pointedly told him I had a boyfriend, he retorted with, "I know you would love to take a ride on my hairy bush."
I felt so sick about this last comment and was grateful when the sale was finished. I had tried so hard to handle a 'tricky customer' and deescalate the situation. It was only after he and his friend left the store that a coworker came over and told me how she wanted to scream at him to get out and couldn't believe how he was treating me. We then told our boss about the situation.
That same day, the truck driver came back in for product help. I was working in the back of the store when my boss came and told me, "Hey, your boyfriend came back. He's waiting for you." I could have strangled him.
Years later, I still have so much anger over this situation. I am disappointed in myself for not having self-respect or even recognizing the vulgarity of that particular sale. I held a longstanding grudge against my employer for treating me like fodder. And I held a strong hatred for this truck driver (and I'm sure this translated to an extreme hesitance when interacting with all semi-truck drivers in the future.)
In the final analysis of these events, I would like to reassure you that even though the public school system can't socially prepare you, you won't drown if you can remember to find peace, make genuine connections, and respect yourself.
Please let me know if this was helpful and if you would like me to write about more of my retail experiences!
Just an image for my profile on neopets :)
Creepy af Meepit (Is Apple Bobbing Bart in love with me??)
You finally decide on which item to pick out when you suddenly see a flash of pink. A Meepit? You stare at the place you last saw the creature but nothing else happens. You leave the stall feeling a little perturbed.
In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings, pundits, parents and media have jumped on video game violence as a possible scapegoat. Right after his tête-à-tête with gun rights advocates, Vice President Biden convened meetings with video game industry leaders. Then there was a "Videogames Return Program" run by a group called SouthingtonSOS, based in a community neighboring Newtown. The notion: On a designated day, anyone could redeem their old copies of “Thrill Kill,” “Postal 2” and “Call of Duty” for gift vouchers for more family-oriented, non-lethal entertainment. (In the end, that program was cancelled, likely due to fears of negative publicity.) Now, even as President Obama announced Wednesday four major legislative proposals and 23 executive actions to curb gun violence, suspicion still clouds the gaming industry. Even the National Rifle Association blames violent video games for this nation's blood lust. Perhaps violent video games aren't only "not so bad," but actually help keep the real-world killings where they belong — in our imaginations, as harmless fantasies. Remember rock 'n' roll? Comic books? Heavy metal and rap music? Dungeons & Dragons? We've all been down this clichéd road before. For now, anyway, we will not see the repeat of what often happens when our well-meaning citizenry seeks to demonize the latest scourge on America's youth. So erase the image of mountains of XBox and PS3 cartridges and discs set afire by angry mothers. Still, the search for for cause and effect remains a noble pursuit. If only we could stop our troubled young men (and so often they are troubled, young and men) from being exposed to X, then we wouldn't be asking ourselves, again and again, "Why?" In the case of Newtown, gunman Adam Lanza was a gamer. But he didn't fit the profile of the typical first-person shooter fan. He liked non-violent games such as Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, a game that teaches you how to dance, not how to blow apart the chest cavities of other dancers. Amidst all the soul-searching and finger-pointing, video game industry spokespeople are quick to note that no credible study shows a direct relationship between TV, movie or video game violence, and aggression. And, as those opposed to restrictions or bans on video games frequently cite, the youth violent crime rate is at an all-time low. Paradoxically, could it be that violent video games are an important outlet for aggression? That, on the whole, these games and "play violence" let us express anger and aggression in a safe way? Perhaps violent video games aren't only "not so bad," but actually help keep the real-world killings where they belong — in our imaginations, as harmless fantasies. It may seem counter-intuitive to suggest this. But in my experience, gaming — be it video games, or live-action role-playing, or D&D, or the greatest war game of all, American football — offer relatively safe, participatory narratives where we get to play good or evil, the aggressor or the defender, the killer or the killed. We engage in the fight. Our hearts race and our blood pumps. We have an emotional stake in the action, even if that action is largely make-believe. There are bangs and bruises from foam-rubber swords, and yes, concussions from errant tackles. But for men (and some women) who need to run and hunt and hit, I'll take a broken rib or swollen ego over actual carnage on the battlefield or playground. The vast, vast majority of players don't let their violent fantasies get the better of them, or others. We have perhaps civilized ourselves more quickly than our psyches know what to do with. Not long ago in our nation's Tame-the-Wild-West mythology, any trouble with the neighboring tribe was settled with tomahawks and shotguns. Centuries prior, in other eras, we settled scores with battle axes. Our species still craves action. They offer a hunt/shoot/kill scenario as a way to solve problems because, well, our psyches seem to need these visceral, adrenaline-rich experiences. Our most violent video games are another expression, another evolution of this same phenomenon. They're simply another way to feel the fear, scare away the zombies and save the day. They offer a hunt/shoot/kill scenario as a way to solve problems because, well, our psyches seem to need these visceral, adrenaline-rich experiences. That's why they sell so well. Vision quests, ropes courses, and roller coasters offer similar thrills. But we can't very well go deer hunting or jump out of airplanes every weekend, can we? In response to the Newtown deaths, a better question to ask might be this: Why does our culture continue to fail young, vulnerable men like Lanza — men often described as "intelligent but withdrawn," who disengage from society so completely as to become mass killers? In Lanza's case, he was described as "smart but shy," a "genius" and a "Goth." A skinny kid estranged from his father. A nerd. If some of these men are hopelessly mentally ill, then we need to do all we can to prevent their access to real guns. But sane or depressed, many men feel powerless. Many feel angry. Many feel disengaged. They just want a stake in the action. Video games might be the best outlet they've got.
Ethan Gilsdorf in ‘ Why We Need Violent Video Games ‘
This article is an all-time favorite one of mine. The man makes some good points!
Lovely Crocs Image Dump
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OOAK Project: I put a Yasmina Clairvoyant (I think) Bratzillaz head on a generic LOL OMG doll body I ordered from aliexpress. I did my best to match skin tones from the images and it's pretty close! I think this is such a good body and head match! Bratz heads are almost too huge for their bodies!!! And LOL OMG dolls have big bodies but even larger heads!! I feel good about marrying the two!
I was thinking of making her an overwatch Widowmaker Talon outfit. That butt would be perf. o////o
Daylight Savings S'mores, Thanksgiving Bacon-Wrapped Dates, and Halloween Ghoul-Dipped Oreos!
Sweets~
2 different February events! Had a Valentine's celebration at work! And a friend got married on the 25th!! ❤️
Sweets~
I took all of these photos, feel free to use the images, if you like! Some of them look sooooo yummy!
Sweets~
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Neo-Candles!
These candles are inspired by the Halloween Kiko, Baby Lupe and Alien Aisha
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My cat turned 5 today!
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I need that ebook.
