Walking Shoes: What a Long, Strange Trip it’s Been…

I’m retiring…my shoes, that is.
I received them when I first joined J. Crew, way back in the 90’s. All employees hired at that time received a uniform composed of a shirt, khaki pants, and a pair of shoes. As a stock associate I received the pair that you see in the picture. This was a new and exciting experience for me. My previous work uniform consisted of an dung colored, uncomfortable, and not-very-flattering nylon shirt that had my name on it. So with this wardrobe upgrade I was clearly moving up in the world.
So I’ve had these shoes for close to 15 years now. 15 years! Aside from being comfortable these shoes represent a lot to me. I’ve had them through 4 companies, numerous roles and job titles, and plenty of learning experiences. I’ve worn them through snowstorms and job interviews. They’ve been around the world and back again. If you could walk a mile in my shoes you would learn some things:
  • Not all retailers are the same. For example, I’ve learned the difference (the hard way) between working in a union and non-union store. I worked at Macy’s for 6 years prior to going to J. Crew. Macy’s in New York City is a union shop, meaning that you can’t be employed there without becoming a member of the local union. As a union employee I was used to certain benefits that, at my young age, I thought all retail workers received. Wrong! Aside from this different retailers have similar yet unique cultures. Going further, this can even vary within a company-each store can possess a unique variation of a company’s overall culture. So it’s important to find one that you truly fit into. If you don’t you won’t be able to succeed.
  • Hard work will open doors for you. As I mentioned, I’ve managed to move up through the ranks in my retail career. I don’t consider myself particularly talented. I do have a strong work ethic and ability to learn. When I decide to tackle an issue I don’t let go of it until I get it resolved. Sometimes that’s meant making huge mistakes and learning from them. It’s this ethic that’s gotten me noticed by those in a position to help me advance.
  • Take care of yourself. My shoes and I have lasted this long because of some simple maintenance, done routinely over the course of time. I’ve been in the retail profession for 22 years, mainly in store level positions. It’s a physically and mentally challenging environment. If you don’t take care you can easily get hurt or burned out.  
  • There’s nothing like grand openings! I’ve had the pleasure of being part of 3 in my career. When I went to work for J. Crew I was part of their opening staff for their then flagship store. When I went to H&M it was to be a part of their team for their newest Manhattan store at the time. I did miss the actual grand opening, as I was just returning from Norway where I was being trained for my role. I did get to experience a grand opening on a smaller scale when H&M opened a location in St. Louis (see the below video). And now I’ve achieved this again with Disney, opening their Times Square location, currently the largest for the company.

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