December 13th (the second Friday every December) is National Salesperson Day. This is to honor those on the front lines of sales, during the busiest time of the year. It can be difficult to be smiling and cheerful when working with the public in sales. I know, because my life has been spent in retail. During, and then after college, I have worked at JCPenney, F.W. Woolworth, Target, and Kohls – 53 years with the public.
I have put many hours during Christmas seasons, with shortened or missed Thanksgivings. It is good to have a holiday as this, to recognise public facing associates that sell. The last few Black Fridays, I was clocking in between 22,000 and 24,000 steps, perhaps 11 miles. I felt that my job was to help customers, and associates, make it through the day, and then the rest of the season.
While I have put in long hours for many years in retail, It is also where I met my wife. I can remember the first time I saw her in Lakehurst mall, at JCPenney (she was a “floater”-giving breaks to register associates-going from one register station to another. I was a “100” a glorified stockboy.) I walked up to her that very moment and asked her what I could get for her when she took her break?
With a puzzled look, she stammered, “an Apple.” I left smiling. Then I ran to the dock and told my boss that I had to quickly go to my car. Instead, I jogged across the mall parking lot to a grocery store, and bought the biggest apple I could find. I waited till she went on break, and followed her to the breakroom. I gave her the apple. It worked.
Later in our romance when we were shopping at the store, I stopped the store elevator between floors, with only her and I inside. I pulled out two cordial glasses, and poured some Peppermint Schnapps. “What are we toasting to?” she asked. “Hopefully, that you will marry me,” I replied, pulling out a ring. She put it on. I turned the elevator power back on, and we then went to a suprise engagement party (planned with her mom, dad, and I). I am glad she didn’t say no!
I have several books on sales. The first is rather rare book, ‘My Adventures in Selling” by Saunders Norvell, published in 1938.
Mr Norvell began his career in hardware, as a sales associate, then up to CEO. His book even though printed in 1938, rang true on how to deal with customers, calmly yet honestly. A lot of what he said in the book, was really what he didn’t say to customers, but by staying calm and listening a lot. It is a wonderful book.
Another book on customer service was one I kept on my desk at work, “The Customer is Always Wrong” “Retail Chronicles” edited by Jeff Martin, published 2008.
This is a book of true stories about upset or unreasonable customers, and sometimes about challenging co-workers or bosses. They are all wonderful stories about the retail life.
December 9th is also National Horse Day. I have several books about a special type of horse-Dala horses. These horses are a popular symbol of Sweden. My first book is “Wooden Horses of Sweden: From Folk Art to National Symbol” by Anna Marie Rädström, published in 1992.
This goes through the history of the Swedish horse. There is a strong love of horses in old Sweden. The story then shows how this love of horses progressed into horse carving, and then grew to represent Sweden. This is a very informative book.
I also have an old Swedish horse tale, “A Ride on the Red Mare’s Back’ by Ursula K. Le Guin, published 1992.
This is an interesting tale of the mystical powers of a Dala horse.
My mom had a collection of these horses. She gave me one of her favorites, one bought when she visited her aunt in Sweden. While this aunt had never met my mom (she was in her 90’s), she grabbed her and cried, because of how much Mom looked like her dad, the aunt’s brother. She had not seen her brother since he left for America in 1908. (Mom visited Sweden in the 1980’s.)
For Christmas last year, my granddaughter made me a Christmas ornament to honor her great-grandmother. She carved a horse out of clay, then painted and glazed it. It is a beautiful Dala horse. My granddaughter and I had taken Mom to a bookfair in Chicago years back, and then we went to the nearby Swedish American Museum; After that, a Swedish bakery. My granddaughter remembered the fondness my mom had for Swedish Dala horses.
As we get closer to Christmas, we all need to take a few moments to keep stories of family alive. Christmas time is family time. Sometimes it is about quality, not quantity, so make those memories count. Thanks for reading about these few.
Librarytomes 