Black Friday…or Thursday, the day that strikes terror in the hearts of even the most seasoned retail worker is almost upon us again, with the stampede of bargain hunters vying to be first through the door, having left Thanksgiving festivities early or skipped them all together in order to waiting in line for hours for the stores to open in hopes of getting the best deals. Lack of sleep, long lines and crowded stores can be a recipe for calamity as proven every year with news stories of shopper’s gone crazy. The kick-off to the holiday shopping season just might be the most harrowing day to work in retail and it’s important that you take care of yourself so that you can effectively handle the flood of deal seekers.
Here are some tips to help you survive the experience:
Stay calm – Prepare yourself mentally for customers who decide to take out their retail frustration on you. Come to work well-rested and no matter how rude someone becomes, remember that it is not going to help matters to be irritable back to them. Keep things in perspective by seeing the situation as an outside observer would, do your best to diffuse tense moments and then let it go. Remind yourself that a calm demeanor and a good sense of humor are often the best tools in your box.
Know your products and where they are located – Especially the ‘door-busters’. Also be prepared to offer alternatives for when inevitably, the most sought after items sell out.
They call it a restroom for a reason – At your wits end? Take a bathroom break for a couple minutes of serenity. It may not be the most enchanting place to take a few cleansing breaths….but no one is going to intrude on you in there.
Stay ahead of thirst and hunger – Dehydration can cause dry mouth, headaches and dizziness among other things, keep a water bottle where you can get to it…often. Keep up your strength with shelf stable snacks like a handful of nuts or dried fruit.
Search out holiday spirit – You know there are going to be customers absolutely bursting with it! Let their undiluted happiness make you smile and maybe even have a bit of fun on the busiest day of the year.