Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions of a Cashier

I also enjoyed reading the capers surrounding the celebrity cardboard figures! Not being from America, I liked to read about some of the product lines mentioned. Even living in the UK, I had heard about the 'Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls' ,but I didn't get to hear about the fights that broke-out over these dolls! I understand that both toys are still available in stores today! There are some descriptions by Becky that I can indeed reminisce with: I also enjoyed reading about: The key cutting machine incident!

The Toilet Paper Shortage! Last but not least, the 'Final Thought' section of this needs to be read by everyone! It's not always greener on the other side! The old store photographs are great, and your extensive research work, Becky, has made this book so much more historical in detail. A thoroughly good, and interesting read. I recommend this book. Mar 20, Julie Haigh rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Everyone, fans of memoirs, nostalgia, shopaholics maybe?

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Recommended to Julie by: Read two of Becky Corwin-Adams' previous books. I just had a little look at it but I couldn't resist! It really grabs your attention and I just had to keep on reading. I read it in one day. This is another delightful mix of memories from Becky's life generally and her career in retail. I just love the way she tells abo Irresistible! I just love the way she tells about her memories. There was a comedian in this country who had a catchphrase 'It's The Way I Tell 'em'-this is true for Becky, it really is the unique way she recounts it to you-I can't pinpoint just what it is, but I always enjoy her writing immensely.

Her books in this series are relatively brief yet there is so much information in there and you learn so much. Many things I had forgotten about from years ago: People just don't value things so much now; they buy clothes then ebay them and on to the next to keep up with fashions-it's lovely to see how the author's mum waited ages to purchase a precious dress and both Becky and her sister 'got their wear out of it' and it was handed all down the family.

What a wonderful story.

Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions of a Cashier

Another is the story relating to the nativity set-Becky has still kept this. Things that matter, sentimental, not all material things-I really connected with this book; there are some family things handed down which money just can't buy. Amongst the tales, there are a few prime humorous incidents. Becky has quite a dry sense of humour and she just slips a comment in, it doesn't need any prelude, just tells it like it is and it is so funny, then swiftly on with the next.

The same is true for the 'deer incident'-that had me in stitches! This book isn't meant to be a comedy book but these few episodes just were so laughable to me.

Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions of a Cashier by Becky Corwin-Adams

My goodness-these shoplifting tales-the schemes people think up to pinch things or make money out of a store like taking clothes back for refund which have obviously been worn and not washed and even returning tents which have been used all summer! This was a real eye-opener for me as were the tales of some of the awkward customers. Dec 16, Cindy rated it really liked it Shelves: Being made to work at jobs you have no training in? Gaining a family of people that you wouldn't trade even when you no longer work together?

Such is the life of a retail employee. Having spent many years of my life on "the other side of the counter" as Corwin-Adams puts it, I really liked this book. I enjoyed the history that she shared in the beginning of the book and the pictures of the old stores, as well as the descriptions of the stores and what they sold and how they were run. Once she got to her experience working at Kmart, I could definitely relate.

I've had my own "Crazy Charlie" customers too many to count! Those people should read this book! If you've ever worked retail, especially for a big box chain, you can relate to the stories that Corwin-Adams shares. If you've never worked retail, you might want to read this and see if you do any of the things that customers do that drive us all crazy. Apr 29, Kristina Ludwig rated it it was amazing. As someone who has worked in retail, I much enjoyed Corwin-Adam's humorous anecdotes of shoplifters, managers, and other retail oddities.

I appreciated all the information in the book. I adore history, and learned so much about small-town retail stores of the past. I also learned little-known facts about stores we can still find aroun "Reminiscing About Retail" is a firsthand account of the author's experiences working in stores such as Murphy's and KMart from the early s to the early s.

I also learned little-known facts about stores we can still find around today, like KMart and why it advertises with a blue lightbulb. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about American history, or anyone who works in retail or knows someone who does.

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As Corwin-Adams writes, "Everyone should experience retail from the other side of the counter," but if you don't, this book is the next best thing! Sep 16, Deedra rated it really liked it. I listened to the Audible version. This is a fun rememberence of one families journey working at several department store chains through the years. The stories are funny and bring back memories for anyone who has ever worked retail.

I question the selection of a male to narrate a womans rememberence book. It was odd hearing his descripyions of his husband,children,etc,though Rich McVicar does a nice job. Jan 05, Wanda Hartzenberg rated it really liked it Shelves: I never get enough of this authors passion. In this case for shopping.

Yes the book is about shopping and how it feels to be on the other end of 'the customer is always correct'. I started working part time at the age of 16 as well. So I had plenty a chuckle at this authors description of life on the other side of the till. I also really appreciated the narrator as well. She sounded as if she needed to swallow a chuckle a time or two which made me laugh harder! John rated it really liked it Nov 21, David rated it it was amazing Apr 22, Jenifer rated it did not like it Jun 21, Luann Chambers rated it really liked it May 17, Janel Adams rated it it was amazing May 23, Cindy Snyder marked it as to-read Oct 19, Culler marked it as to-read Jan 28, Cleoxcat marked it as to-read Feb 04, Stacey marked it as to-read Feb 17, Zach Abrams marked it as to-read Feb 18, Gemma Murphy marked it as to-read Apr 11, Sarah Butfield marked it as to-read May 22, Karen Prince marked it as to-read May 24, Tory marked it as to-read Sep 29, Paula marked it as to-read Jan 07, Mickenzie Jensen marked it as to-read Feb 11, Rakesh Muthyala marked it as to-read Apr 01, Kimberly marked it as to-read Apr 11, Judi marked it as to-read May 31, Angelia marked it as to-read Sep 04, Saruta Valentine marked it as to-read Sep 13, Babs Hanson marked it as to-read Nov 04, Becky marked it as to-read Nov 29, Farooque marked it as to-read Feb 16, KathyD is currently reading it Mar 12, The glory days of department store shopping has faded away and we now live in a big box world.

I always loved shopping in downtown Defiance, Ohio when I was growing up in the '60s. My favorite store was G. The day I celebrated my 16th birthday, I applied for a job at Murphy's.

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I was hired a few weeks later. Retail was still in my blood. I always thought I would go back to work at Murphy's someday. By this time, most of the Murphy's stores had closed and new Murphy's Marts were built to replace the smaller dime stores.

We lived very close to Kmart in Bryan. The store was just a short walk across the field near our house. I worked at Kmart for a total of 17 years. Did you ever wonder what it was like to work in one of these stores? How difficult was it to operate a manual cash register before bar codes and scanners made the task much easier?