---How to handle the ups and downs of your career and slay it---
*AnniDoll: Hey Holly honey, you being c**ty or what? (just testing your swear filter) :P You haven't updated your blog in a while. So where you at?*
Here I am, back with a bang! Thanks to my fashion fam for the great interest and the anticipation of the next update! I'm legit flattered by the attention from my fierce followers! As some of you may have noticed, I took a break from my blog. And it was necessary! A lotta things happened in my life, so everything was super stressful.
But the is my return to form! I'm ready to dish on the latest (mis)steps in my professional and personal growth. I bet you haven't forgotten about Tia and me, so I don't have to dig up the whole info drop (aka looks and measurements and all that stuff). Just think bubbly, big booby buzzerfly and moody, big booty passionista!
All right, everyone! Hold on to your wigs because here's the tea! Over the course of the last week, I've learned an important lesson. Working life is a series of ups and downs! Think rollercoaster, not racetrack! Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down, but none of it lasts forever. It's the lows, however, that motivate us to work harder. #HighsAndLows
To be straight with you, things are looking up. But it took a long way to get there because I had to cross a deep valley first. And that took its toll on me. Ever since I confronted Tia about her hookup with Matt, our relationship has been seriously strained (or more like strung to the breaking point). Remember how my bae had accused me of being condescending and patronizing? That accusation legit hurt because it was the last thing I wanted. In truth, I was just looking out for my friend, trying to keep her from making a bad decision. No ulterior motives there, I swear! #TheTruthHurts
In the end, our dispute had escalated into a huge fight, and we've hardly spoken to each other since. To make matters worse, the tense situation spilled over into work. With all the stress going on in my life, I was much more sensitive to the dudebro's douchebaggery. As a result, I became increasingly annoyed with his rude antics. But it didn't stop there because I took the pent-up tension home, which led to a series of clashes with my mom.
As you can imagine, it wasn't easy to return home after standing on my own two feet for so long. As if! It was nowhere near what it's cracked up to be. Actually, it would be lit to live in my own four walls again. If I could, I'd move out of my mom's basement in a flash (but don't tell her that). #HomeSweetHome
That feel when I walked into the retail store in the morning. Not even my morning pumpkin spice latte helped! Fun fact? The more I got annoyed by Matt's macho moves, the more Tia embraced them. Their hookup wasn't without consequences. The genie was out of the bottle! And now, there was no putting it back in. Every time our resident fratboy pulled off another cringe move, my bestie's response was extra (aka extra bubbly and extra lively). And there was nothing I could do about it except roll my eyes and shake my head. I can't even with this toxic tandem!
As I said before, there's a silver lining. It looks like the vale of tears has been overcome and it has brought some important realizations. First of all, the tension with Tia has made me reflect on my behavior. I must admit that during our argument I failed to see things from her perspective. Upon reflection, I realized that I need to get better at putting myself in her position so I can empathize with her feelings. If a fling with the douchebro is her way of relieving stress, it's not my place to take issue. I'm in no position to judge her. #MindYourOwnBusiness
Apparently, a jerk with clout (instead of a friend with benefits) was the thing that did the trick for her. So what? This is a new millennium, and everybody can fly their freak flag. Maybe, I should take a hint from Tia and find my own type of hookup. After all, my bestie has been right about one thing. There's not much to do in this boring-ass town. #SelfReflectionSunday
Too long didn't read! So let me sum it up for you, guys: Kiss and make up, that's what Tia and I did. We talked about our feelings and reconciled. We agree that we've been friends for way too long to fall out over something so insignificant. In the end, it's us against the world - always and forever! #NationalBestFriendDay
All right, guys! With that problem solved, it's time to turn this professional pitfall into a performance peak. In fact, there have been significant changes at Vonderstone. The store manager has been promoted and is now working at HQ. Apparently, the company owner saw this change in leadership as an opportunity for brand extension. With more and more stores in the shopping mall closing down, the rent for space has fallen. So, this is a favorable situation to expand and open new shops. #SeizeTheMoment
For this reason, the company has rented a second store. As part of the expansion, Mr. von Stein has segmented the audience. One store is targeting business casual attire while the second store is focusing on leisure wear and fast fashion. Obviously, the goal is to make a profit! That's why they didn't hire new employees but split up the existing staff. #BusinessMinded
As far as I know, there are two winners of this restructuring. The older floor manager who worked long and hard for a promotion and finally got it. He's now tasked with managing the new business store and has taken two salesclerks with him. That makes Matt the second winner! He's now in charge of the original store, with Tia and me as the retail clerks. Mr. Privilege deserves this promotion... said no one ever! #StoryOfMyLife
As part of the restructuring, our store has undergone a rebranding. And in his new role as store manager, Matt was involved in the change process. That's why his first order of business was a surprising move... for absolutely nobody. He decided to change the uniforms of the salesclerks! Yeah, guys, you read that right! This should be the main focus when reviving a brand. #IronyOff
Anyway, Vonderstone is now targeting a more stylish and fashionable audience, so the uniforms are supposed to represent the latest fads. This year, cut-outs are the biggest craze. That's why our camisole shirts have become sleeveless tank tops with small, diamond-shaped cut-outs on the side. Only, the color scheme has remained the same (aka myrtle green). This makes the outfit bang on trend - especially when combined with a plunging neckline. #FashionFabulous
In a similar vein, the black leggings have become shorter and tighter. Since hotpants are super popular, we're now wearing black booty shorts with an all-over wet look. To stay ahead in fashion, you have to be unique and exceptional, so the fabric is minimalistic. It only covers about two-thirds of our buns. But trust me, it's gonna to be the next big thing! And here's another pro tip: If you haven't invested yet, the wetlook style is a trend that keeps on giving. #TrendAlert
In my opinion, the new uniforms are a bit extra (as in too tight and too flashy). But what do I know? I'm not an expert in fashion marketing, I'm an up-and-coming designer! But it sounds worse than it actually is. In general, the green tops are long enough to cover our bottoms, so there's no need to get in a tizzy over nothing. #NoBigDeal
In any case, Tia has embraced the changes a lot faster than I did. No wonder! After all, it's a lot easier for her. The new deep-plunge tank tops highlight her awesome assets, so she can flex her rack. By contrast, my big bottom feels like it's going to rip the fabric and burst out of the shorts at any moment. This keeps me on my toes throughout the whole working day as I have to be hyperaware of my surroundings at all times. It's fair to say it's real stressful! #SelfAwareness
Oh yes, that's right! Before I forget: Footwear is now also an official part of our uniform. And so, our mandatory work shoes have changed as well. Due to her height, my blonde boo has always been obsessed with high heels, so she jumped at the chance and decided to wear black pumps with 5" stiletto heels and 1" platform to match the black booty shorts. Walking around in heels that high would legit kill my feet. So, I opted for black pumps with a 2" wedge in quilted leather. It may not be quite as high, but it's two trends in one, giving me the unofficial title of fashion queen at Vonderstore! As you see, all is fair in love, war, and fashion. #FierceFashion
Anyway, the new uniforms went hand in hand with a new sales strategy. With only two retail clerks, the times of saying 'dunno' are over. Instead, we get to advise customers on all things fashion. As I said, the valley is turning into a mountain. But there's more! We're also responsible for increasing sales now. For this, Matt has given us a brand-new strategy. Does anyone else know what situational selling is all about? It means diagnosing the customer's situation before determining the most effective sales approach. #CuttingEdgeSales
As you know, theory is one thing and practice is something else entirely! For this reason, in-store execution is much simpler and more straightforward. Whenever we advise female customers, we have to start the conversation with the current fashion craze. Whenever male customers enter the store, however, we're instructed to use a more implicit icebreaker. Namely, we're supposed to take the bottom of the top, gather one side in each hand, and tie a knot underneath our bust. Can you believe it? We're actually told to expose our bellybuttons and taut tummies while highlighting the short and tight wetlook hotpants. What a bold marketing strategy! #GoBigOrGoHome
But then again, this is basic marketing! If you want to revive interest, you have to be brash. You can't pull punches! Instead, you have to push your comfort zone! And that's exactly what Vonderstone is doing with this new strategy! Ultimately, we must work together to make it a success, even if I personally think it's a tad too male-centric. But we all encounter barriers on our way to the mountain top, right?
Whatevs! It's already working! More men are entering our store than ever before. And that's crucial because men aren't shopaholics. The biggest hurdle is getting them into the store in the first place. The rest is easy. Men aren't fashion experts, so they're content to stare at the salesgirls' cleavage during the sales pitch before buying all the high-priced items we recommend. Sorry, not sorry! #BreakingBarriers
By contrast, women are legit shopping queens! And that's fire because it means we can have real fashion talks. They're much more discerning, not buying as indiscriminately as men. Instead, they're interested in my expertise, so my college knowledge comes in handy. And let me tell you, once women get in a flow, they go on real shopping binges! #ShopTillYouDrop
As you see, the benefits make up for the cringe... almost! Not gonna lie, though, there's still a small problem! It's real awkward when male and female customers enter the store at the same time. Then the two sales strategies collide! And that's exactly what happened yesterday when I was advising two middle-aged women on one side of the store while Tia was consulting two younger men on the other side. Let me give you a little spoiler: It didn't go well! #CultureClash
"Oh my...! Fashion, it's really not for everyone." The brunette soccer mom remarked when she noticed that my bestie was showing off her wetlook booty shorts and knotted top.
