Read Reid's Blog

July 29, 2004

After some Wheaties, a banana, and heading to Bank of America to drop off some checks, I was off to the Galleria for a 12-5 shift.  I stopped by to say “Hi” to Andrea at Gymboree and then up to Express.  Today was a big day, since Lily, a regional manager was visiting the store and that meant we had to be looking really professional, sophisticated, and all that jazz.  That also meant that the top sales people would be working the floor that day, and I was happy that it included myself covering the men’s side.  So, the managers have lots of confidence in me, which is cool.  Holly, on the other hand, was nervous the entire time, making sure the store looked perfect and that everyone was doing something and knew our selling model, conversion and other Express jargon and the focus of the company on pants and making plan and all of that stuff.  I felt like telling her to stop freaking out, but other people had already said that, and she couldn’t stop being nervous.  I just kept busy on the men’s side, which made her happy that the men’s side of the store was going to be alright. 

Eventually Lily came, along with Kathleen, another regional manager type person I met briefly at the Chesterfield Express.  They first observed the store from the outside, which made me feel like a fish in a fishbowl.  So, I did the good thing and walked around and straightened clothes that had already been straightened before and also spoke with customers and smiled and tried to look ‘professional’.  They then watched the women’s side, and then came in my side.  Lily spoke with me for a few minutes.  She asked me about how it was working on the men’s side, how I sell pants to the men, and ways I try to increase conversion.  I had good responses to everything and nothing caught me off guard, so it was a good discussion.  She seemed happy with all of my responses, which was fine because then she moved on to grilling other people in the store.  Stacie said Lily was very impressed with me, so hopefully that means more hours in the future.  After she left everyone was able to take it easy, and before I knew it, it was time to leave.

I headed over to Andrea’s house, and slept in the car in the driveway for a bit.  When I woke up, Eric and Hilary were looking outside at what seemed to be me, which made me kind of embarrassed.   Paige came and the entire Ginsburg family went to Sports Page, a restaurant Andrea’s father’s twin brothers own.  They had really great burgers and homemade chips, which were really good!  I want to go there in the future.  We then headed back to Andrea’s, and couldn’t think of anything to do since we were all full and it was raining.  We hung around the kitchen, talked to Hilary about colleges and I ate some weird carrot mush that was actually pretty good.  I tried to do a Rubik’s cube but forgot everything I had learned before and was shamed.  Then, driving home in the rain to my house.

Here’s what I wore to Express hehe.  Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t do justice to the silk burgundy tie that blends well with the dark green stripes on the shirt: