Work Day 1

So now you know how I got the job, let me tell you about my first day. Yesterday was my first day at west elm. It was a good day for me. I took the train in the morning. Got there looking good in my new outfit I bought. We had the morning meeting where the manager told us how much we should sell that day. Gave each of us our individual quotas. I was supposed to sell $800 in the 5 hours that I worked that day. I asked one of the 4 guys who was working if it was hard to meet the quota and if you got in trouble if you didn’t meet the quota. He said he has never met it and they don’t care that much. Two things crossed my mind then. Damn, Im not going to make quota, and alright it doesn’t matter if I do or don’t.

I’ll sum up the story now. So this guy came in and seemed to be in a hurry. I didn’t think he was going to stay around long enough to buy anything. I did what I’m supposed to do and said “Sucka get out or buy stuff”. He ended up buying a table and 2 $199 dinning chairs and some other stuff. So basically that sale and the other sales I had summed 1300. So even if you aren’t good with math you can tell that 1300 > 800. The managers where impressed that my first day I had sold more then anyone else on my shift and well passed my quota. So praise God for hookin me up with that guy. I really didn’t do anything. He knew what he wanted and I just happened to be the one to ask him what he needed. So the moral of the story is that God is dope and has got our backs. So that was a good start off to my new job.

but i wont tell you about today only selling $450 when my quota was 1500. the moral of todays story is that God is doper still and has still got our backs. Either way the manager said, “don’t get down cause we are impressed with you on the floor. The numbers aren’t always a good judge at a sales persons workings”

There you have it, yet another day of life in philadelphia.

Sweet As Resume

Here it is, the story about my new job. A couple of weeks ago two amazing people came to visit me. We hung out all day. did things like go to art museums, eat sushi, look at historical stuff, argue about Ben Fanklin and how dope he is and isn’t, and walk the crazy streets of Philly. It was a glorious day. We called it “day with Schwartz 2006”. Towards the end of the evening we walked past this Modern art/natural furniture store. We went in to see what it was all about. We all like Art and stuff in the creative scene. When we were leaving I thought Maybe I should ask for an App and see if they are hiring. So I walked up to the counter wearing my usual out fit, slim jeans, a band shirt, and my light grey zip-up hoody with a back pack on. Not really the best first impression outfit. When I got to the counter I asked the tall guy with the sweet mustache if they were hiring. He said “yeah we are” then the lady behind the counter said, “you look familiar” I never know if that is a good thing or a bad thing when people ask me that question. I am thinking, was there a rowdy kid dressed like me in here. So I said, “ ahh I don’t know, maybe I just have one of those generic faces...”

stache man” yeah we are hiring. heres an app. Just write at the top attention to Barb.”

So the next day I woke up and looked at the web page of the company (www.westelm.com). The reason I did this was to see the style of the layout West Elm had. I have been doing this thing were I design my resume to match with the style of the company. So I busted out a new resume that I thought fit into the mold of the company. I then got dressed up real nice. When I say real nice I mean, slimmies and a black button up shirt. When I got to West Elm I went to the counter. A man came over and asked if i needed any help. I gave him my app and my resume and told him that I came by to drop off my resume and that I was interested in working there. He looked at my app breifly then looked at my resume. He said “Wow, really nice resume.” I was totally stoked that he liked my, specially designed resume. I asked when I should be expecting a call from them. Two to 3 weeks was his reply. I asked if he had a business card. I then said “ can you hold on one moment” and he ran off. He came back a minute later and said “can you come back tomorrow at 10 for an interview. “

Then basically I went in for an interview the next day and had 2 other people, managers I might add, tell me that they really liked my resume. I would have to say the only reason I got this job so fast was because of my resume, and not the words on it but the design of it. So I will bestow upon you the images of my resume. Oo man it makes me laugh.

Homeless men, AMAZING salesmen!

I have come to a conclusion. Homeless people are great sales men. (some just suck at it but some are amazing at it. ) Let me tell you a little story about how I came to this conclusion.

Yesterday I had orientation at a furniture store, West Elm. During this orientation they told us sales techniques. They taught us that we should start with a friendly conversation and talk about the person who we are trying to sell stuff to first. Every one likes to talk about them selves. They also told us to never give people an option to say no. for example: “Do you want the couch with the coffee table or with the side table?” See right there the person had to chose one or the other. Or “Do you want the red pillow or the yellow pillow?” No choice but to take a pillow, haha sucker.

After orientation I went to the train station to head home. I had about a 20 min wait for till my train came, so I sat down on a bench reading and listening to jams till my train came. While I was sitting there I noticed some one walk up and stand next to me. I couldn’t see them real well because I was looking at my book. After the man stood there for a while I looked up and took of my head phones. There was this homeless man (or maybe just a darn good hustler) standing there. He said “what are you reading?”

I replied” Blue like Jazz”
He then said a name and asked me if I knew who the guy was. I said no, apparently the guy he named was a jazz musician that could play sax and piano at the same time. But alas I don’t remember the name. Sorry. I then asked if he played any instruments. He said “No. but I have a joke.”

I was thinking ok, I guess this is the point where I say what’s your joke. So I did just that.

Homeless man “So what sits in a corner and gets around?”

I was expecting a dirty answer. But all the same I asked “what”, he had my attention.

Homes replied “a stamp”

I thought that was kinda witty. My new train waiting buddy proceeded to tell me about 4 more jokes. I don’t remember what they were but that’s ok. After he finished the jokes he began to ask me a question that I couldn’t say no to. He said “I’ve been eating out of the trash for the past few weeks, and up stairs there is a deal where I can get 5 chicken strips for 2.50, so can you give a brother some money.”

I couldn’t say no the way he just asked it. It wasn’t a I’m hungry I want money. No. Or a Please give me money. No. It was a Do you want me to eat trash or chicken fingers. So I looked in my bag and gave the brotha some money.

After he left I kinda laughed to myself realizing, that man would be an AMAZING sales man. I should have told him to try to get a job in sales. I could have hooked him up with some clothes. He followed all the things I learned that day in orientation. I should just chill with the homeless to get my sales techniques. Maybe I'll hit the streets again with my drum just come up with some sales technique. It was amazing.

So there you go. I hope this late blog posting was still satisfactory.

Next post I’ll tell you how I got the job!!! YEAH!