is hard bloody work!

If you go to Joann’s today, remember these things:

1.  You will have to line up at the cutting table or the register.  If you are lucky there will be more than one body at each station so you will get serve quickly.   More likely than not, you will be in line for 10-15 mins on a good day.

2.  Just because someone works in a fabric/craft store, don’t assume that person knows jack about crafts or fabrics.  We are there because we need a job, not because we are experts.

3. If you are in a line for a long time, do not take it out on the person serving you. Yesterday, a number of customers apparently were so disgruntled about the ‘lack of service’ they literally threw their baskets at the person, stumping out, saying they weren’t going to come back. By all means, don’t come back but don’t blame the person serving you for the long line, blame the company (write to them on mass, that is the only way companies will take notice and probably not even then.)

4:  Yes, you have had a tiring day but think before you act, so have many of the cashiers that serve you, had exhausting day.  Like most retail jobs in this area, the average pay is between $7-$9 an hour ( above min way in TX).  If you are single person or single parent, there is no way you can survive on that salary, so most have at least one other job.

5. If you want a large amount of fabric, go online and don’t expect it TODAY!   Yesterday, at the end of my shift (8pm) a woman and her wedding planner walked in expecting to find 46 yds of a particular material in a particular colour.  The ‘bride’ was fortunate, although the bolt she had in her hand,  which should have been a maximum of 10 yd,  actually had about 25 (I don’t know as someone else took over for me).  Actually an wedding planner worth their salt would know that and order on line, so make sure you get a good wedding planner if you need one.

6. if you see a fabric you like and take a sample, note the SKU number. One silk fabric looks very much like another silk to me and most others.  Also if its a fabric you like, take as much as you can as more than likely the next day it will be gone and there is no guarantee we will carry it again. Again, take a note of the sku number or keep your receipt if your need more, so we can find it for you if we have any.

7. Find out the delivery day for your store.  Ours is Thursday and most is out on the floor by the middle of the afternoon.  If you need a fabric, Thursdays and Fridays is the best day for new lines.

Well, that is my little rant.  Most customers are regulars, know the above and are really really nice. I love hearing about people’s projects as I am cutting a stack of materials. Yesterday, a young lad came in and bought 4 different colour burlap and so trim to make vegetable bags for Mother’s day.  Apparently, they grow a vegetable plot together, so she is always looking for suitable bags to store their produce in. What a lovely and unique gift!  That sort of thing, can’t help bring a smile to your face, even if you are having a crappy day.

Of course, there are always the cashiers, cutters or floor staff who look like they are having the crappiest day of their lives regardless ( we have a couple of those, I might be one of them) but actually most of the time, that is their ‘look’, talk to them nicely and suddenly their faces light up. (but then again maybe not.)

Back to the cutting table in 90 mins for 6 hrs and then its a weekend off…whoa woo!