A FIELD GUIDE TO RETAIL
Identifying Customers in the Wild World of Shopping
Written by Mem Davis
- Do you work in retail or customer service?
- Are you jaded by humanity?
- Do you love people-watching?
- Are you in desperate need of a good laugh?
With a clear description of every individual and scenario encountered in retail, including an illustration for each main customer species. This book will have you laughing and shaking your head all at once over the absurdity of the human race.
Anyone who has ever worked in retail can tell you that customers come in all shapes and sizes, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Retail staff are the ultimate people-watchers, able to identify various customer species with just the briefest glance. Sometimes, this is a matter of survival on the shop floor.
Anyone who has ever worked in retail can tell you that customers come in all shapes and sizes, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Retail staff are the ultimate people-watchers, able to identify various customer species with just the briefest glance. Sometimes, this is a matter of survival on the shop floor.
In this people-watcher’s guide to the wild world of shopping, experienced retailer Mem Davis takes a lighthearted look at the various breeds of customer that inhabit Australia’s malls. By turns funny and shocking, A Field Guide to Retail will ensure you’ll never look at a shopping centre the same way again.
This is the ultimate guide to life in retail, where no-one escapes ridicule and the daily struggle is met with humour and compassion.
About Mem Davis
Mem Davis is a writer and editor who specialises in working with ethical business. She has successfully escaped a past career in retail and health and now spends her spare time appreciating the Australian bush and performing her original music with a bunch of talented and patient friends. She lives with her cat Rami, who ensures regular screen breaks and occasionally sends accidental emails by sitting on the keyboard.
“Mem clearly has a thorough understanding of the joys and challenges of retail. In my retail world I’m lucky that 99% of our customers are lovely but…that other 1%! I recognise every single one of them. People who haven’t worked in retail may think she exaggerates, but I can attest that these interesting individuals exist exactly as described. Mem has captured the funny and sometimes downright ridiculous side of retail to a T.”
Jess Bailey
The Cruelty Free Shop