Story type: Localized news
Beat: Holidays
By: Gracie Lewis
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y--Whether they are working at a clothing store or a video game shop, retail workers can agree on one thing: working around the holidays is tiring and stressful.
Jessica Reilly has been a sales associate in the clothes department at Target in the Champlain Centre for three years. She was first hired for seasonal work during the holidays and has worked two Black Fridays and two Christmas Eves.
"Retail can always be taxing, but during the holiday season it can be downright painful. You work long, extended hours with a packed store at all times," Reilly said.
During most of the year, Target's hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. During the holiday season, Target's hours are extended from 7 a.m. to either 11 p.m. or midnight.
Reilly said the biggest sales during the holidays come from the electronic and toy departments, with clothing coming in at a close second.
Target also increases its sales budget during the holiday season. Reilly said managers usually aim to make $100,000 per day. If they continually don't make the budget, they lose money and can't have as many people on the sales floor.
"This, in turn, upsets customers who have to wait and they take it out on us. It's a vicious cycle," Reilly said.
According to Joel Wood, manager at Game Stop in the Champlain Centre, said Game Stop is busier around the late holiday season rather than Black Friday.
“The busiest day of the year for us is the day after Christmas where children flood our store hoping to use the gift cards they got for Christmas,” Wood said.
Game Stop has extended holiday hours like Target, but Wood said they are rarely efficient.
“The only customers who wander in during the extended hours seem to be just browsing”, he said.
Game Stop hires three to nine extra holiday employees who work from around Thanksgiving to late January. If they do well during the holidays, Wood said they hire them as regular employees.
Cassandra Fernandez is a model at Hollister Co. in the Champlain Centre who worked her first Black Friday this year. "Working during the holidays, especially Black Friday, is every retail workers worst nightmare," she said.
As much as Fernandez dislikes interacting with grouchy customers during the holiday season, she said there are some positives that make it worthwhile.
"I have great friends and a nice manager who I work with,” Fernandez said.
Sources:
Joel Wood:
Cassandra Fernandez:
Jessica Reilly: