#retail support

[functionboosters]

The comfort zone that could kill your Retail Business  

Photo by Paula Schmidt on Pexels.com Why getting comfortable with isolation is the most dangerous habit a retail owner can develop!  Running a retail business is inherently isolating… whether you are the owner, director or partner. You are making dozens of decisions daily, depending on your role and responsibly, those decisions can be anything from the staff rota to inventory buys to customer…

The comfort zone that could kill your Retail Business  

[flannelpunkcalum]

k so. hi it’s me the retail manager anon again. and today for the first time a customer made me so upset, i had to go cry in the office for 20 minutes, lol! and i’m still super fucking upset (even tho i know i didn’t do anything wrong and my boss has my back) and i just really need to be held right now by cal with his big bear cuddles while i cry a little more and i want to also crawl in a hole forever and die

OH NO I'M SO SORRY god and he knows how much you have to eat with a smile every day so the fact that this made you cry has got him practically fuming - like as soon as he comes in to pick you up one of your coworkers is like "have you seen her yet?" and he's immediately worried and when he sees you with your eyes still red he's immediately reaching out to put his arm around you. When he smoothes his hand over your shoulder as you head to the car, you can feel the tension in his grip. He's fuming. He kisses you on the check as you head out, murmuring that he missed you and that you're gonna be alright - he doesn't press too much as you tell him about that fucking asshole and you were so tired and wound up crying for twenty minutes like an idiot - and even though you can feel tears pressing at your eyes already Calum cuts you off - he's not gonna let you talk like that. And he'd keep you wrapped in his arms for the rest of the night, even if you had to walk to the kitchen or something he'd still be glued to you. He'd be so caring all night - even the tips of his fingers would be at your temples, softly stroking along your hairline to soothe you until you calm down enough to doze off in his arms

[flannelpunkcalum]

lol! ok! so i’m a manager in retail. and it’s the day after christmas. and i’ve got angry customers and returns that can’t be done and a lot of theft to watch out for a major headache and one of my managers called out and my closing cashier called out and another one just didn’t show up and this is actually probably the worst day in retail i have ever had and i’m *this* close to having a breakdown in the backroom and i just really need soft cuddles from cal while i’m crying to help me lol

OH SHIT listen my askbox is kinda full right now but retail woes come first. You are so brave to be out there right now and I'd also like to apologize on behalf of all the assholes who didn't today. I had a lot of Calum fantasies that got me through long shifts at Starbs and I'll try my best to help you out.

So listen Calum was miserable when you had to work the day after Christmas but he helped you make a turkey sandwich or something and drove you to work, gave you a kiss on the cheek as you slipped out of the Jeep. He didn't know how bad it was gonna be or he would have found some way to have you call out sick. And yeah, that wouldn't have been fair for your coworkers, but Calum's job was to look after you.

When Calum comes to pick you up, he has to wait half an hour on the floor before you come out of the break room, eyes bright. It's not that he minded - he put a few things that shoppers abandonned back properly, and put a few melted drinks in the trash. The second you run to him with your coat in your hands, he's got his arm around you and you're out the door. He presses a quick kiss to your temple as you curl into his side. "You're done for the day, baby, I've got you now." He mumbles. On the drive home, you finally get to talk shit about that lady who had come up to you and chastened you for not having enough staff after you'd spent your entire fucking break on the phone calling for backup, all those fucking people trying to return merch that had obviously not been bought - it was just exhausting, and you were close to tears just talking about it. Calum rubbed your thigh with one hand as he drove with one on the wheel. "We're almost home, baby." He hums, in a low voice. He keeps the radio off, because he knows how you feel about Christmas music or Top 40 when you've just come off a shift. And as soon as you're inside, he's bundling you towards the couch, flopping down and pulling you into his chest so you can bury your head in the crook of his neck. Right now you smell like retail, but in an hour or two, once you get a chance to change into something of his, you'll smell like him. But not now. "I might actually fall asleep right here." You mumble into his neck, and he moves his arm to brush his fingers through your hair. "Sleep, baby." He murmurs. "I've got you."

[connectedcroydon]

Calling all foodies far and wide! We’re throwing a Guy Fawkes-themed official launch for Surrey StrEatery - Croydon’s exciting new food destination opening in the heart of Surrey Street Market

on: Wednesday 5 November, 10am to 7pm

at: Surrey StrEatery, unit 3, Bridge House, Surrey Street, Croydon CR0 1RH

10am to 7pm

Willow lantern and sculpture workshops - a lantern artist will be on hand all day to help you design and make bonfire lanterns to decorate the food hub.

Apple juicing - purchase a selection of apples and pears from Surrey Street market and bring them to the hub to make your own blend of juice.

Food! - and of course, delicious treats and dishes will be available to purchase throughout the day.

1pm

Ribbon cutting - with the Mayor of Croydon, councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed and councillor Toni Letts, cabinet member for economic development. Meet the delivery team and the traders involved in the project.

11am to 3.30pm

Bonfire night dishes - from our demonstration kitchen each of the traders will cook one of their signature dishes with a bonfire night twist.

3.30pm to 5.30pm

Guest demo chef – the guest chef will take to the stove to show you how to cook produce sold from Surrey Street Market. Recipes include Bread Bowl Cookery, Apple Dumplings and South African Bobotie.

5.30pm

Fireworks and music - an indoor sparkler display accompanied by live music.

6pm

Cocktail time - firework cocktail demonstration.

[connectedcroydon]

Join us for a chair and table building workshop on Saturday 18 October from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 19 October from 11am to 4pm, at the Surrey StrEatery, Unit 3, Bridge House, Surrey Street, Croydon CR0 1RH.

If you’re a DIY enthusiast looking for inspiration or even a complete beginner who has never powered a drill, come down and get involved! At the end of the workshop you will be able to take away instructions on how to build your own chair or table so that you can build one at home too!

The workshop will be on a drop-in basis. Children are welcome but must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

The chair, bench and table designs are from the 1974 Self-build (Autoprogettazione) project by celebrated Italian artist and designer Enzo Mari, whose works are featured in the Museum of Modern Art New York - plus an addition of one of our own designs by Manu Macaigne.

The workshop will be delivered by Sara Muzio, Nicolas Henninger and Steuf Lebourn of the Exyzt collective as part of a programme of activities at Surrey StrEatery.

Why not also pop by to the Croydon Arts and Crafts Fair at the same time, which takes place every third Saturday of the month between 10am and 4pm on Exchange Square (off Surrey Street). You will find craft items made by local people.

[connectedcroydon]

As part of the council’s retail support programme to help local businesses, an empty shop has been transformed into a vibrant temporary mini-mall.

Tiny Treats – wedding favours and café

UR-iD – embroidery and printing on clothes and shoes

Dalila’s Kaftans – ladies' fashion

Claire’s Closet – ladies' vintage fashion

Fieni Fashion House – African ladies' wear

Primavera Fitness – ladies' fitness wear

London Bridal Boutique – bridal and occasion wear

Lamilou & Madamoizelle – ladies' fashion and beauty

BornStar Clothing  – urban fashion 

LL Frames – artwork and picture framing

Croydon Pop-Up Emporium, 86-88 Church Street, Croydon CR0 1RB, will open its doors to shoppers on 16 June at 2pm. Opening times will be 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. You can download the flyer here.

[connectedcroydon]

The winners of the council’s Meanwhile Use competition were announced at a ceremony at Matthews Yard on 30 April.  Four organisations won prizes to develop their projects and bring life to empty spaces in Croydon.

Turf Projects are seeking to harness a wide range of skills and talents to bring contemporary art to Croydon. The organisers intend to use the money to find a base from which to operate and where artists can create their work;

Croydon Radio provides a voice for a large number of local community groups and budding broadcasters. They hope to find a space where they can set up a second studio and raise their profile further.

 And two runners up each won £1,000:

Mum’s the Chef – a community food project which helps mothers learn new skills and find employment;

Igma Artisan - a group of artists working with recycled materials and environmentally sound printing techniques.

The competition winners are using the council’s  meanwhile use toolkit.  The toolkit helps small enterprises, businesses and community groups find low-cost and low-risk ways to find a base for their initiative.

We look forward to all four organisations setting up their meanwhile uses in Croydon!

[connectedcroydon]

The council has launched a package of retail support projects to support new and existing businesses in Croydon. The Retail Support package will encourage and enable activation of Croydon’s underutilised spaces with enterprising new uses. These projects are being delivered with Connected Croydon, and are funded through the Mayor of London’s Regeneration Fund.