This past week the rumors were confirmed that "the little bookstore that could" would be closing next summer. In August I was given 15 year service award by the very company that is closing my store, its shiny, gold (faux, of course) and is proudly displayed on my 15 year lanyard, the very lanyard that gets caught in between stacks of books and desk draws, leaving me gasping for air and I am quite certain its out to do me in, the bitch. I'm not really shocked by this revelation, the rumors have been rampant for years now and although its 8 to 10 months out, the reality has been draining, because its just not me losing a job I love, its my employees as well and now that its official, dealing with their emotions has sucked my energy. It has been a dreadfully long week.
Over the years staff members have come and gone, but many of my original staffers remain in one capacity or another. The seasonal folks that run the Calendar Store for me 3-4 months of the year and swear each year that their never coming back are even sad. I have a superior crew and they are certain to find places at the big box bookstore moving into the mall. The big-box is actually the same company that I work for, so many ironies, woohoo. I won't be making the move to the big-box, they pay their supervisors significantly less than I make now and refuse at any point in my life to take a step backwards, I can't afford to, especially within the same company I work for now, how fucking lame is that? I do appreciate the fact that my boss respected me enough to be up front about the closure, they never disclose a store closure until a few months prior to the closing, to prevent loss prevention issues and prevent people bailing in search of a secure position in life, (how dare they?). The bosses have even started looking into opening an Outlet store for me to run, I'm flattered and if that comes to fruition, then I may come back, who can say?
The store is running in the top three of the District, the top 15 of the Region and in the top 100 of the company for the first time in years. So, our goal as a team is to continue keeping the numbers high and leave on top of our game. I know my bosses would like me to stay with the company, but I'm ready to get on with the second half of my life. I was too busy with parties and concerts in my youth to be bothered with an education, so I'm going to get me an edjuamakation, most likely in multi-media & web design, I need to create, I have the talent and I'm grabbing the bull by the horns and riding the bitch till it passes out, again, woohoo. I'm looking forward to school, unemployment checks and the severance package. I'm not looking forward to having to pay more for my books, Hell, I'll miss the discount more than I'll miss the job. I won't miss retail at all, I won't miss working 8 gazillion hours a week during the holidays. However, I will miss my peers and co-workers. 15 years is a long time with one company, but these people are part of family and will not be forgotten. 19 years selling books has been a joy, but its time to move on, for me at least. I'm looking forward to the future, I'm scared, but ultimately excited.
Retail is changing, all the stores will be huge and the little guys will go bankrupt so that the consumer can have all the choices their minds, most likely, can't handle. Our society is moving at warp speed and now even Scotty has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember how to slow the engine. In the future, Malls could be open 24 hours for your convenience, Sundays included. I will NOT miss retail. It's a 24 hour world now, as for me, I'll continue taking things at my own pace, like retarded turtle of sorts, slow, methodic, wave at the fast rabbits, draw pretty pictures and animations and while I'm at it stop and eat some foliage just for the hell of it. Yum, life is tasty.
