Retail Meltdown

this is the opposite of my day.

Shopping with your two year old is never fun. Let’s now add in annoyed and pushy sales people, mediocre merchandise and a total meltdown. Oh joy.

I don’t worry about dragging my son into stores here in Park Slope cause I am under the impression that they are expecting me to walk in with child. This place is best known for their stroller jams and pre-school arguments. Given the neighborhoods family focus, retailers are prepared for the occasional little person. Most of the boutiques have a pile of toys in the corner for tots to entertain themselves with, but that does mean that they will then want to USE them. They will want to take every piece out, chew on it, throw it, and scream bloody murder when you tear it from their tiny grasp.

After just five minutes in this particular store, the sales girls are both annoyed that my son and his little friend have taken out every toy they have, and trying to push boring merchandise on me. Then when I am forced to leave prematurely with a screaming child and empty handed; I get a nasty look. Listen, I worked retail, I get it. Every body wants to make a sale, and seeing the same moms who are “just looking” every day must get frustrating. But you are a clothing store in a hippie dippie, urban suburban, baby factory town.

Here are some suggestions; engage your clients, make it a fun experience, offer me a drink (doesn’t it look like I could use one?), pull out something other than a plain jane jean, turn up the music and play some old school Cindi Lauper (however, I am partial to Journey), look like you actually are happy you have a job, and please don’t push things on me…I get pushed around enough by my two year old.