Maybe someday I'll node the inside story about what goes on behind the scenes at a shoe store but for now I want
to express how frustrated I was at the New Balance store. Initially I
went in to see if they would have a good ankle stabilizer. While I was
there I thought I should try on some running shoes. Typically running
shoes have more support and cushioning than walking shoes so they are a
better option for people even if they aren't running in them. The first
two pairs I tried on were decent. After that the guy brought out two
pairs of shoes that could not have been more wrong for my foot type so I
gave him a solid F because if your entire job is recommending running
shoes you damn well better know what you are doing or you could
seriously damage someone else's foot.
So anyways the guy at the New Balance store doesn't have an ankle
stabilizer in my size, he didn't listen when I told him I had a high
arch and I specifically wanted a running shoe and he did not discuss
socks or orthotics even though I came into the store wearing clogs and
dress socks. After thanking him for his time I went to the store next
door which is a major competitor of ours. They carry most of the brands
we carry and a couple we don't. For a long time I've understood that
support is the key to shoes. Before I started working in shoes I used to
shop at that store and I went back because I work in a fucking shoe
store and can't get a black dress shoe that I can comfortably wear all
day long.
I do have to take some points away from the woman who worked with me
because she didn't measure my foot however with the exception of two
pairs every single pair she brought out fit me well. At my job our
district manager is always yelling at us. Recently I went to some
training that was largely ineffective. I got a lot out of it but what I
learned had very little to do with sales and quite a bit about the
people my company thinks are good at training. At work we have a
computer that tells us what type of an arch someone has. This is the key
to comfort under your foot so if you ever have the opportunity to have
this done for you be sure to take advantage of it.
The software I use at work has been set to recommend certain levels
of support only when certain pressure points are reached however there are times when I override what I see because of what people are telling me or what I see for myself. The only problem with that is people don't
really want to listen to what I'm telling them. Today I sold about $300
worth of stuff. One woman bought the wrong size of Birkenstock sandals
off of the Zappos website. She also bought the wrong size of another
shoe and I could have told her that she was going about shoes all wrong
but she didn't want to listen to me and what I had to say so I made sure
she knew what size of Birkenstocks to get from Zappos. I let her walk
out without any of our products which is perhaps a failing of mine but I
feel that people like her have tainted money and I'd rather not have
any part of that even if it means a larger check for me.
Today I had this sort of A-ha! moment after I bought a pair of three
hundred dollar orthopedic shoes. A lot of things that I had
subconsciously known became clearer to me, it was almost like I had
voices in my head echoing things I tell my customers except this time I
was talking to myself. It's true that I don't need a lot of shoes but I
do need good ones. Shoes that are wardrobe builders are what I need. If I
have basic brown I should pick up a pair of basic black shoes and if
the shoes are good for me and I'll wear them quite a bit and they are
good for my body then maybe I can't afford not to get a pair especially
if none of my other shoes will accomodate an ankle brace.
Recently my family qualified for group health insurance. That's a
good thing but the job I have is not. I'm not going to quit today or
tomorrow but my days there are numbered and I tore up the sheet that
asked me to commit to another year of working where I do. Today I
realized that I have a lot of knowledge I can't use where I'm at. I have
the ability take comfort to a level that most people don't understand,
don't appreciate and aren't willing to pay for so why should I work
crappy hours for low pay anymore? From now on I am going to start
looking for jobs where I enjoy the work that I do, that don't require me
to miss out on things my children are doing and that pays me well
enough to support the lifestyle I've decided I want for myself. This
might take some time but I've been working on my resume and I am a
superb networker so I'm confident that if I am patient the right job
will be there for me when I really need it.