Which Department ?

I've been so tired lately not much energy to update. Business has been pretty bad i guess, because time passes so slowly. I'm looking forward to the dialogue session with the VP on thurs, it would pretty much help me to make some decisions on where my future would be.

Somehow one of the managers think that i would suit PLAYLAB more as it's more of my age kinda thing and working at basement which sells pots and pan or level 2 which is ladies or level 4 which is children is not suitable for me. But i somehow realise that i use to work in a pub filled with aunties, i use to be a sunday school teacher and teach children and i guess i'm better at serving ladies. Haha

I'm pretty confused because i feel that if you are good, anywhere you go is the same. I'm not good yet, i'm aiming to be good =) haha

Quote of the day: Is the grass really greener on the otherside ?

Half Day, Half Way

Half day today as i claimed my OT, as well as half way through my attachment period. It's been quite an experience so far trying to handle all the attention that has been given to the scholars. I realised that all the scholars faced smilar problems.

We came into Tangs as scholars, naturally it would be human for the rest of the staff at Tangs to be threathen that we are here to steal their ricebowl & gain promotion faster then them. True to an extend, but it's the working world and the strongest survive. But i guess they did not know that our promotion would actually be the same as them. My objective here is to help improve the service standards, promotion is secondary.

Giving away comissions has been a problem for my two other scholar friends, not so much for me as the staff in my department has got pretty good sales themselves. As attachment students, we do not have any comissions so it was only natural for us to give our comission away. But somehow people kinda abuse us and just because we are new they wanna eat us.

That abuse kinda made my friend break down, it's really sad as they just bully her because she's new. If someone tried to do that to me, let's just say that i would be no pushover and i would not let anyone bully me. The working world is like that all newbies get eaten alive.

Quote of the day: Do onto others what you want others to do onto you

Midnight Madness

Work ended at 12 midnight yesterday. Every last friday of the month Tangs closes at midnight. My day at work passed pretty fast today due to the fact that quite alot of people visited me. 3 of my teachers visited me at work today although none of them teaches me but one of the teacher was very nice, she bought me a cake. Then i saw like another 3 of my friends and before i knew it, it was about 10 plus.

There was a short break about 9 and i met up with 3 of my scholars @ Tangs. We actually talk about the common problems that we faced. Haha that has to be confidential but it sure was meaningful. We are all lookin forward to the dialogue session that we would be having with our VP.

I had a dialogue session with my retail manager, talked about some of the stuff that she was supposed to share with me. It lasted about an hour till my colleague came in and took me away wahhah. I think that my manager is actually pretty experience and listening to her stories about difficult customers actually helped me to improve as a retailer. I did make a suggestion that midnight sales should be held at the beginning of the month instead of having it on the end of the month. So if they ever shift midnight sales to the beginning of the month, it's my suggestion!

Anyway, it's almost 3am and i am working at 10am tml so i better hurry to bed. The good news being i work till 430 tml den i can go home heh. Good night folks !

Quote of the day: Life without love is like a tree without blossom & fruits

Life @ Work.

One of the best part about being a retail associate is that you help customers with their choices. It somehow reflected upon me that whenever i help a customer choose a present for someone, how happy that someone is depends on me. Wahhaha

Today's like the official gift wrapping day, hmm i gift wrapped like 4 presents today. Not that i really know how to but somehow the nice aunties at Tangs are always available to help you. I don't like gift wrapping haha but there are always those ready made ones. =)

I'm off tml and i'm goin back to school to do some report for my IA, at the say time check out the SC Presidential Elections events that is goin on at the forum. I hope i could finish 80% of my report tml. *grin*

Quote of the day: To be great is to be misunderstood

Rewarded Yet Again.

Hardwork paid off again, There's this noticeboard next to the staff lift in Tangs. They would put up feedback forms & compliment letters from customers to staff. The two senior staff from my department had compliment letters on the noticeboard & I'm just glad to be the latest addition to the board. It was a pleasant suprise this morning as my colleague told me that i was mention during morning briefing for my customer service. BTW there's like only 3 forms on the noticeboard.

Back to reality, I slept at 4 last night. I was could'nt stop thinking about what should i do with my career, what's the next step and stuff. Alot of people told me that i should just go work in a high end boutique like LV or PRADA. That way it would be easier to get noticed. But honestly i dont really like all the attention that i'm having already. I hope i don't sleep at 4 tonight, i'm confused.

Quote of the day: Success is not a journey, it's a destination.

The Strongest Survive

Work has been good, I learn new stuff everyday. I was on my way to work today and i was reading my horoscope. It said that someone whom i trust would betray me today. It's so true at 11.59am i found out some stuff haha. Oh well what can i say? life is like that. You can't trust anyone. Especially when you are new, everybody wants to eat you up. I'm sorry but sadly i'm not affected. What doesn't kill me just makes me stronger and more motivated to work. In the working world out there, the strongest survive.

Quote of the day: Trust is gained, not given.

Not So Happy @ Happy Daze

I was looking for a place to chill to watch football, so my friend suggested that we head down to Happy Daze. We went there about 7, only 1 couple sitting at the far end table. I was given a table blocked by pillars. I think their management's pretty screwed up as well. The people keep walking around for no reason and when their ass banged my table they did'nt even apologize. Maybe they should consider not having any reservations on match day. Because i spent like 60 bucks on food & drinks and the 10 people infront of me reserved the table and just ordered a few drinks. What kinda service is that man ? I stayed for one half and the next half i went over to a friend's place to seek shelter. The only consolation was that Man Utd beat Liverpool 2-0.

Quote of the day: The purpose of a business is to create & keep a customer, all business activities must be focused on this central purpose.

Feedback Forms

*smiles* The day that i've been waiting for, i finally got a feedback form from a customer without requesting for it. I was serving this lady, normal service & stuff didn't do anything special just introduce her to some clothes & stuff. Doing my normal stuff. When i asked if she would like to make payment, she said that she was waiting for her daughter to arrive to make payment. So while waiting, i gift wrapped her merchandise.

When her daughter arrived, the staff around me sort of greeted her & stuff, I was like oh okay so she's a Tangs staff so i can't ask for feedback forms. So i just pack her stuff & thank her for shopping at Tangs, then i was kinda curious who she was so i asked my supervisor who that was. She said that the lady's the assistant manager at Tang & Co.

I was like hmm okay, then as i was walking back to my area, the lady said:" My mom wrote you a feedback form" & the next minute the feedback for was in the hands of my supervisor. I was kinda stunned though, i didn't even remember if i did said thank you. Haha thank you if you happen to be reading this!

I must say that in the retail line, it's the little things like this that make you so motivated to work even harder. I love my job, i really do.

Quote of the day: High achievement always take place in a framework of high expectations.

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Hot Mamas & Stocktakes

Hot Mamas ! My favourite kind of customers, these kinda customers are usually very nice people and there is this sex appeal thing about them that they are so hot even though they are of such an age. It's not that i have a thing for older woman but it's really nice serving them.

Hot Mamas would listen to your advice and your taste haha. It's really nice serving customers like that who hears your feedback & stuff about the products that your store carry. It's a fantastic feeling when they actually purchase what you have to recommend them. It would put me on cloud 9 if they actually come back to the store to find me, it builds my potential regular customer base.

Stocktake isn't easy at all when you work in a departmental store. We did stocktake for the Nike merchandise today and i must say a big "Thank You" to the rest of my colleagues who took the initiative to plan & count the stock in advance. It ain't easy planning for a stocktake, it requires alot of planning for rack fixtures and where you place your items & stuff. I admit i didn't do much haha but my supervisor told me like the manager wanted a more senior staff to do it so I just helped in the counting part together with e rest.

Work has been a lil better today. Working is actually pretty easy, just be a silent worker, don't talk much and just let your results prove the rest.

Quote of the day: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast hmm Survivor Retail.

Dang!

it's been a day of total communication break down, prob my worst day so far @ Tangs. Thank God for a supervisor who stood by me. Let's not talk about it. i learnt the 3Bs of retail - backstabbers, bitching & busybody. I need to be careful with my words & i must try not to be so arrogant. Dang!

Quote of the day: Never bend your head, hold it high, look the world right in the eye.

Update on my Attachment

I can't smile today, no idea why. Guess it's not the best of days. Attachment has not been very fruitful. I felt that i haven't learnt much and that i'm placed there with high expectations. It's funny how Tangs can put like 5 attachment students together in a same department. I know i must take the initiative but sometimes you don't even know what's goin on.

I am beginning to wonder. 7 full timer, 1 part timer & 5 attachment students. How do you actually increase the Tangs service standard like that? So many attachment students just come and go.Of the 5 attachment students. 1 is from China, 1 is from Poly & 3 of us are from ITE. Each category of students has got different learning scope.

I felt that they should have spread us out to different departments, at least if we are attached to the longer serving ones we could have learnt more. The average full timer staff @ my department is about 6 months to a 18 months. But let's look at the bright side, at least i'm not posted to Vivo Playlab where the supervisor isn't really retail trained. *grin* ( I would never forget how he stared at me when i took up my friend's lanyard to take a look).

Somehow the competition for promotion is pretty tight in Tangs. Malaysians in my department work really hard & they are really nice too. The salary in Singapore is much higher then Malaysia's salary, that's why they are much more motivated to work hard. The truth is that if you really want it, you have to work for it.

It's been 17 days of work and i only manage to have 2 session with my supervisor. We were told there was suppose to be more. Well can't blame her it's not easy & she's busy. Oh btw Happy Birthday to my Mummy. I love you lots even though you are not gonna be reading this.

Quote of the day: Great work are form not by strength but by perseverance

The Security Talk

I went for some security talk about Tangs this afternoon, I must say that the guy is really experience, hmmm 19 years of working @ Tangs Security. He was going through all the issues about security and how to handle scenarios like lost & found, fire, theft & err cheeko peks.

It was like a talk for all the attachment students, both Poly & ITE students. The Poly students had the chance to see how ITE students actually behave in a classroom scenario & i was looking at my Poly friend across the room, i bet she said OGAYS like a 100 times ? In short, she's just shock that why ITE students behave like that.

ITE students are still humans after all (my teacher always say that when they start shouting around), maybe we are just late bloomers? Academically we might not be as competent as our Poly/JC students. But when it comes to the hands on approach. I believe that ITE students learn faster. I do admit that some ITE students are actually pretty loud people & they proberly don't know much etiquette but we are still humans after all.

Quote of the day: Ability is nothing without opportunity

Return Customers.

I had my first return customers today! This two ladies whom bought a bag from Tangs last week came back today to look for me. No not complaint, they wanted to get another bag for their friend so i just recommended. It's because of customers like this that make my retail experience interesting. I saw them standing there so i approach them and the first thing i had to do was guess their names haha. I manage to guess one of their names and the other girl i needed a lil hint. Very nice customers, i hope they enjoyed being served by me. I really hope they come back haha.

My working place was bomb by some submarines. Mothers who bring their little missiles, kids i meant, to tear up retail outlets. This kids destroy the folded tee-shirts, run around the retail area & mess up the visual merchandise. Oh well i guess it's all part of the job. The retail experience.

Actually i feel that the retail line could be quite a humbling experience. You serve all kinds of people. Maids, Cleaners, Construction workers & when you need to let them try shoes on you actually kneel down. But i shall remember wat a pastor once said to me. Jesus was the best server but he wasn't a servant. *show teeth*

Hmmm yea that's about it on a Sunday, i'm still trying to work hard to stand out. It's difficult when i need to compare myself with another colleague to see what's the different. I lack of competitive advantage for now, but i have already decided my strategy. *grin*

Quote of the day: It's the little things that you do that make the big things you are yet to do.

Vivo City

Vivo was like super crowded today, i visited Vivo Tangs and i dont think i would want to work there because of a few reasons:

1. The standard of service there is not as good when compared to Tangs Orchard. No one greeted me la! Try coming to Playlab Tangs, i dare say 88% of the time you would be greeted!
   
2. Rumors are spreading that most of the staff who went to Tangs Vivo want a transfer back to Tangs Orchard.
   
3. I don't think my colleagues from Tangs Orchard wanna go Tangs Vivo so it's good to hear from people whom got experience.
   
4. If i'm transfered to Vivo i would have to start from scratch again, knowing new people, adapting to the enviroment and stuff.
   
5. It's a new supervisor at Tangs Vivo,the supervisor at Playlab Orchard has got more retail experience.
6. Vivo is too far away from my home. An hour of bus ride hurts.
   
7. Vivo Tangs is still new, not too sure if the crowd is gonna be stable after a year.
   
8. The nearest food centre is actually pretty far away. I got no money to go to restaurants.

That's about it actually.. haha Vivo City is a pretty nice place to go for a date i guess. If not nothing much yet because most of the shops aren't open yet. I foresee that Vivo City would be quite a popular place in future once the Intergrated Resorts are open. I predict lots of tourist as those who visit Sentosa would visit Vivo as well.

The 3rd level of Vivo, you could soak your legs into the water and have your meals hmmm pretty cool except the fact that the water's pretty brownish haha. I would need to type out some assignments and then go prepare for tml.

Quote of the day: You think with your mind, feel with your heart. That's what love is all about

why can't things go my way ?

It's sadda-day ! I was wondering why can't things go my way all the time. I thought like hmm if everything went my way, where's the thrill in life ? I woke up feeling kinda lonely, i have no idea why but it's all good now. Shall blog again when i'm back from Vivo.

Quote of the morning: In seeking happiness for others you find it for yourself.

Friday the 13th

I'm off tml. I wanted to go somewhere to chill after work, but i did'nt felt like paying $25 to enter zouk just because my friends were there. *shake head* I use to club alot, and waste lots of money on alcohol. Damm but i still wish i was outside, but it's okay i shall come home & rest because I am gonna check out Vivo City tml. (It's the new shoppin place at harbour front for those that still don't know). They got like Tangs there.

Work was pretty alright, had my first session of OJT (On-Job-Training) with my supervisor. It's like a booklet where the supervisor goes through all the stuff about Tangs, from the history to the correct procedures. Work is getting a lil better now i guess, crap around alot with my colleagues. I need more feedback forms, please drop by and fill one up for me ya?

There are some friends who promise to be there for you whenever you are down but when you are really down, they are like all gone? Not talking about anyone in particular but i thought of this on my way back. These friends are like people who give you an umbrella on a sunny day and once it rain they take it back. Same goes for people in relationships who would promise you that it would never end. *grin*

Quote of the day: The time is always right to do what is right.

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Most Difficult Customer So Far...

He left me dizzy i swear...

A pregnant woman came to Tangs this afternoon, she was looking for a pair of shoes for her husband. It was pretty fun serving her and telling her abt what kinda shoes guys like and how to match it with clothes, the different type of material & brands of casual shoes and what's the trend blah blah. In the end i got a comment card from her which wrote: "excellent service from staff". It was pretty cool.

Later in the evening i saw her again this time with my most difficult customer to date. He came and he requested to try like 5 Different kinds of shoes.He then told me his size in UK den he told me to get a pair of shoe in US size. Got me a little confused but still manage to get him the shoes as PUMA shoes are a little more difficult to find. Here comes the best part... trying of the different sizes of shoes.

He wanted a UK10 & 1/2 den he wanted another pair of shoes in US9, den another pair of shoes like UK10, den like another pair of shoes and on and on i don't know how many sizes he tried. In the end he settled for a pair of shoes in UK10. The reason being of the different size is because he likes to wear his shoes a lil bigger hmm like two extra fingers. Sometimes one finger err he doesn't like to wear it just nice and the best part is every pair of shoe has got a different cut. I prob took out like 8 or 9 boxes of shoes easily in 15 mins ?

But it's all good. Every difficult customer you serve, you learn how to handle them in a better way, to provide the better service.

I was working at the "other side" of PLAYLAB today cos one of the girls was on MC. Hmm it's pretty fun working there, i get to learn all about the labels that Tangs carry. Can get pretty boring at times cos like due to lack of customers but still it's pretty fun if u have strong product knowledge on each of the products which PLAYLAB carry as each LABEL has a different story.

Quote of the day: There is no such thing as failures, only feedback.

My Fellow Gemini

Many thanks for being such a loyal reader, it's really good when someone gives you comments & feedback on the things that you say and do. I'm still pretty new to this blog so i only read ya comments like now. To many i may sound like real arrogant cos i'm like a scholar and stuff, deep inside i know i'm just a normal sales associate so bear with me if i sound arrogant. I really wish my colleagues would give me a chance to get to know me better cos i don't really feel part of the team yet. Btw ya I'm hainanese, but i can't make chicken rice. =)

Well my relationship came to an end last night, not because we don't love each other anymore but maybe because a clash of characters? I don't know much but we haven't seen each other for like close to 4 months? I guess i have to move on, i'm 21 and adult life has just began. I do admit i'm a SNAG - Sensitive New Age Guy. or rather over sensitive @ times.

I could totally understand how you felt when you told me your sister was in England. Because for me my dearest sister became an air stewardess when i was 14 , then when i was 17 she flew over to England to study for 2 years and now she is happily married in Greece sippin wine all day. I do miss her too. To add to that my brother left to study in America for 4 years when i was 15, at least he is back now.

My back hurts, but not as much as my heart but still i would need to get over it. It sounds cheesy ya but that's a fact.

Quote of the day: I don't believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.

Hi Welcome !

i learnt two words that could make any customers smile instantly, it works on 98% of the Singapore human population and the other 2% prob dont smile cos they prob not fully human (crap) anyway the two words are Hi Welcome! wait 0.2 seconds & watch their faces glow instantly. Cool ya ? why not use this two words instead of just standing there like a mannequin? I prob said like hi welcome 72 times today haha greeted most of my customers.

MY BACK HURTS !!! FARK !!!! Was receiving stock today den do half way farkin pain man. The pain is so unbearable that when someone tries to poke me *ahemm* or when i laugh it hurts so much. I feel a lil better now with my Tiger Climb Mountain Plaster =)

OFF FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS ! hehe TANGS rock doesnt it untill den... Hi Welcome, Thanks You for shoppin @ Tangs !

Quote of the day: Patience & time do more den strength & passion

Sundae on a Sunny Sunday

Work as usual, doing the usual. I believe that there are lots & lots & lots of stuff to learn in retailing i learn new stuff like everyday. Product knowledge, Visual merchandising, Mastering the Tangs Service Standard & blah blah blah. I'm proberly not a retail connoisseur yet but would hope to get there some day though. Don't laugh because at least i have a dream, do you?

I received some really good feedback from this Irish customer today, he said that i was very good but he felt that i was'nt natural. I did ask him alot of questions about what he really wanted and stuff, gave him time to consider (thats what he wrote in the comment card with a very good by the side) I didnt really know what he meant but maybe it's because he has been living in Singapore for the past 7 years and the service standard in Singapore prob ain't that high, but @ Tangs we adopted the treat the customer like a friend attitude. Well i'll try to improve from there then being more natural.

Damm i really hope i can get along with my colleagues, it's been something in which i'm pretty worried about ever since. I do not wanna potray such an arrogant image like i'm a scholar blah blah blah bullshit. Let's just say that i'm like everyone else, i'm willing to learn new things and i would always give it my all.

Quote of the day: No dreamer is ever too small, no dream is ever too big

The Long Chat

I had a long chat with my supervisor today, it was my first ever chat with her and all i can say is i'm impressed by the way she does things and that she would proberly set an example for the rest to follow.

Her tactic i suppose is to form a formidable team at PLAYLAB, so they could work for her and PLAYLAB can become one of the best in the department. She said that we could all share the effort & glory. Don't be mistaken i think she's a very capable supervisor who would protect her staff & go all the way out if she wants something.

Well i was asking her if i should stay at TANGS ORCHARD or TANGS VIVO, hmm she was telling me she hope that i stay as it's difficult having to train staff time & time again. I'm still considering which would be better for me but why not stay and learn from someone like her ?

I have a thing with Korean customers i don't know why haha

Quote of the day: two men look out of a prison cell, one sees mud the other see stars

Bring It On

Well my second day on the sales floor, i was trying to familiarize my self with the Tangs Service Standard. If we follow a SOP - Standard Operating Procedure, we can't go wrong. Pretty good day at work, we would all be wearing the new uniform tml. =)

I was talking to my colleagues about difficult customers today, they were telling me how terrible customers could be. I thought hmm the more difficult the customers, the bigger the challenge haha. I shall see who would be my most difficult customers in my 2 months @ Tangs. Pls dont come disturb disturb ah. wahahah

I realise that Internal Customers are very important to an organization as well. Internal customers meaning your own colleagues. If one person bad mood it's like a ripple effect, soon it would affect the morale of the rest of the customers. Be nice, keep smiling !

Politics - they are everywhere in any organization. It's bad when you do sales and dat comission is your rice bowl, hmmm you just got to fight for it. Even when you deserve it someone else would try to snatch it away. Beware or be square.

Quote of the day: If your job is customer satisfaction, your real job is problem solver

DAY 2 @ TANGS

It was pretty okay at Tangs for the first day, i was introduced to my supervisor & buddy who seemed like really nice pple not to mention the rest of my colleagues who were all very helpful too. Served a few customers including IVY LEE whom i did not realise till my colleague told me, but its good though because i want to serve every customer with the same due respect & mindset. Let's change the mindset that singaporean sales staff only focus on foreigners.

My focus in Tangs for the next 2 months would be customer service, going the extra mile. There was this customer with a big luggage wanting to go down the escalator, but i offered to pull the luggage for her and directed her to the lift. I believe that by doing more of such stuff one day my hardwork would finally be paid off.

I think i am gonna love the uniform at TANGS. We are in the transition of uniforms now but the new uniform is only gonna be worn this Saturday and only my department wears the special uniform. haah I was given two set of Industrie Jeans & Polo tee which cost like an estimated 500 bucks ? wahahah madness i know. Do check out the new uniform at PLAYLAB LEVEL 3 TANGS =)

BTW.. I'm off the next 2 days *grin*

Quote of the day: Always give without remembering, always receive without forgetting

IA Begins.

I reported to C. K. Tang this morning for my Industrial Attachment. I must say that the place has really changed alot since i last worked there 4 years ago. We went through a short presentation on Tangs followed by a short test on Tangs.

When the Assistant Vice President of Tangs told me that everyone knew me i finally realise why when i took the staff lift up to the office and i saw the half page news article on the notice board that featured "yours truly" in The Straits Time sometime back. That means anyone who took the staff lift who went to the office would know of my exsistance

I would officially start work at Tangs tml with added pressure due to the fact of my rising popularity in Tangs, say hello to the Retail World. I shall take a good rest and prepare myself for Tangs. IA Begins.

Quote of the day: Excellence is not a destination; it's a continuous journey that never ends

RC does Charity Work.

It's been a long time since i last did charity work, so for the past 3 days i was at East Point being the OIC of ITE CE taking care of the ITE CE Beauty Therapy Booth & Metta Welfare Association booth. I was more into the Beauty Therapy Booth as the Metta Welfare had senior volunteers to guide the students along.

It's been a hella of an experience working at the ITE CE Beauty Therapy Booth, i had the chance of running a real manicure business at a shopping mall plus I also worked with a total of about 20 different therapist (yes all girls wahah drool you jealous boys) My main point being i learnt a hella lot things like admin work, logistics control, financial reports, marketing strategies & a bit of fengshui.It wasn't easy working the long hours, but i crapped & lamed myself thru all 36 hours, i would like to thank all those people that i teased wahah, you helped me to ease past the 36 hours.

My back hurt alot, hmm i finally understand how u feel now scarletrose *wink* but the tiger climb mountain plaster which i pasted on my back helped alot. It's been lots of hardwork & time sacrificed for the event, but the satisfaction you get through this event is priceless. The real life experiences of running a business, networking with the volunteers & last but not least there was a purpose for this whole event which was to raise funds for charity.

A very big thank you to all the teachers & students that contributed to this event, without you people this event would not have been a success. If you happen to have supported us in a way or another, THANK YOU TOO !

Quote of the day: The harder you fall the higher you bounce.