A Day in the Life of a Retail Assistant #103 Hi everyone! The weather is certainly brightening up here in Norfolk! And we have had a lot more customers coming in because of it!
Monday was a bank holiday and we had loads of online orders! Sharon and I was picking the orders whilst Sarah and Porscha packed them and booked them on Royal Mail. It reminded me of the old days where it was always me and Sharon in the shop, picking all of the orders and serving the customers. Meanwhile I served a great gentleman who I had never seen before. He said it had been a while since he last came in but he was going to a Jazz event and wanted a few cigars to enjoy whilst he was there. I suggested an Avo Heritage Robusto, AVO was created by Avo Uvezian, he was a Jazz musician so I felt it went hand in hand with the customers event. Previously the customer was recommended a Romeo y Julieta, so I suggested the No. 2 as the tube would protect the cigar and he could keep using it for other cigars at other events. He left very happy and I certainly enjoyed serving him.
On Tuesday, I was picking online orders, there were loads to pick and it felt like I didn’t stop! In between order picking, I created the leaflets for my cigar subscriptions. Whilst I was making the leaflets, Porscha walked past and said “I didn’t realise you had to do so much to create a leaflet”. It really shows how much effort I have to put in to create the cigar subscriptions. Not only do I have to talk to suppliers and make sure we get the best cigars possible, I also have to make sure I have the leaflets ready. However, I am lucky to have a great team around me to put the subscriptions in their boxes and ready to go. I also served a lovely lady who wanted to get a couple of cigars as presents. She was amazed at how beautiful our shop is! She said she will make sure she brings the rest of the family next time.
On Thursday, I was picking online orders with Josh. Together we picked all of the orders very quickly! Afterwards, Josh organised the deliveries and I worked through stocking up the humidors and ordering more stock. We have certainly been getting through our stock and so ordering daily is becoming essential! I also emailed all of our stores to organise the June shop newsletter. I have decided to take a different approach with the newsletter, I usually ask for three items they wish to promote and work with what they have. This time I asked for three items they have had for a little while and need extra help promoting, I will also be coming up with specific promotions for them to use in each individual store. This means every store will be unique in what deals they promote! I thought it was a really good idea!
On Friday, I was in the shop and I had a brilliant day! I started by creating a brand new display for our pipe room! As the weather is getting nicer and summer is coming, I thought I would give it a bit of a beach theme! I used the Vauen Hawaii range of pipes, as it has lovely bright coloured wood and I found an old poster which also had a beach theme. I also put out some rather unique looking pipe ashtrays, as they were both black I felt a white pipe would compliment, so, after a bit of research I noticed that Vauen also did a range of white pipes called the Edison. What do you think of my display?
I also served a regular of mine who is 90 years old! He always comes in for his regular pipe tobacco (Bosun Cut Plug), but this time we had none left! So he tried something new – Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug. In the afternoon, I completed the Cuban stock count on my own as our shop was overflowing with customers getting the warm weather weekend cigars!
On Saturday, it was the new dream team of Josh, Will and myself! Firstly we got through all of the online order pickings and then we started to give the shop a good clean! Due to the placement of our windows, the sun shines through brightly! However, the downside is the dust it brings with it! So we all got the dusters out and cleaned everything! I’m not a fan of cleaning at all but together we did a good job! The 90 year old gentleman came back in for a new lighter, I suggested the Honest Penryn Pipe Lighter with Pipe Tool in Gold. He also said the Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug was better than his regular tobacco! It shows no matter your age, you should still try new things once in a while!
I hope you enjoyed this weeks goings on and I hope to see you all in Norfolk very soon
So long for now
Oliver
