I'm a retail rookie after a lifetime of employment ... and loving it

Old dog. New tricks. It can happen.

I finished up my job at the perennials department in the greenhouse in mid-August. Took the remainder of the month off to relax and enjoy the summer sun. August rolled into September and I put my yard to bed for the winter season. And then, well, it happened. Boredom. I got bored. I’m rarely bored. Even when I’m not on the go, I have things happening. Even when I’m chilling, I’m reading or writing or, well, something.

I like being semi-retired and calling the shots on my life. I like the freedom, the flexibility. I’m happy to just bop along. But I chose not to travel this fall, which meant there was too much time to chill and, well, boredom set in.

So I took a deep breath, opened up an employment app and perused the 'help wanted' ads. I was looking for something seasonal because my plan is to travel in the New Year. A seasonal commitment has a short life span but would ease the boredom and throw some extra dollars into my travel fund.

There were a few opportunities that caught my eye but one was for a Canadian company that specializes in remedies that are 100 per cent plant-based. In addition to the remedies, they sell diffusers and diffuser blends, hand soap, skin care and a few home-cleaning products. I use a few of their products already, love them and wandering into their shop is heavenly with the intoxicating smells. 

Before I applied, however, I popped into the shop on the pretence of picking up a diffuser blend. I wandered. I chatted. And after I made my purchase, I asked this lovely lady if the seasonal opportunity was still available. She said it was, casually asked me some questions and then told me she’s the hiring manager. I had just had an informal interview.

She said she was looking forward to getting my resume and I left with feeling really, really good. I felt so good, in fact, that I went home and applied.

I got an interview, got the job and am getting settled in. So where’s the new tricks? I’ve barely worked retail in my life. Working for an airline, I have a ton of customer service but not much retail. And I work in a mall. A shopping mall. I work in a shopping mall with people substantially younger than me selling products that are fabulous that need to be rung up on a cash register … an online register … that I’m trying to learn … while learning about the properties of many essential oils.

I’m not bored. I’m not sure I’m young enough to do the mental gymnastics required with all this learning but I’m doing my best and I’m not bored. My co-workers, many of whom have years of experience in retail, are kind. In fact, the reason that I applied here and only here is that the company philosophy and values align with my own. Employees are treated with respect and kindness. Even though I’m only contract, I’m treated as if I am a permanent member of the team. My onboarding and my initial training are the same. The company is generous with their product and employee discounts and mine is the same as everyone else’s. 

My hope for this new adventure is that my team loves me and I love them and that they invite me to come back next holiday season. It’s so different than my work at the greenhouse and the twist is nice.

The routine and schedule are great. My days off are now productive. I’m not scared of working during the holiday season — if you’ve worked in aviation during the holidays, you can work anywhere during the holidays. 

I’m just a happy girl exploring a brand new happy world.