Death of the High Street means young will lose out on learning vital skills
I WAS standing behind the till when a woman stepped up with her daughter, a pair of shoes in hand for me to scan, and said: "Give the nice lady the money". Lady? Surely she couldn't be talking to me. I was 16 and had just landed my first job in High Street store New Look.
I'd never been called a lady before.
It was in that moment I knew I was no longer a stroppy teenager. I was an important woman with responsibilities and a boss who wouldn't condone my mood swings. I had a job to do. So when it was announced that New Look are closing 60 of their stores I felt overwhelmingly sad.
Sad for the decline of the High Street, sad for the 980 jobs facing the axe. But, most importantly, sad for those young adults who might never learn the basic life skills that a part-time job offers. I worked for New Look from 16 to 24 — mainly at its branch in Cheshunt, Herts — and can honestly say I would be half the woman I am today without that invaluable experience behind me.
When I first started I lacked common sense, rarely used my initiative and my "skills" comprised of probably writing an essay on rock formations. My part-time job provided me with the vital practical know-how that my state secondary school failed to instil in me or any of my friends. It was a rite of passage and everything I learned under those unflattering neon lights and pounding dance music I carry with me today.
To know that I am part of a dying breed is worrying. It is no secret the High Street is in dire straits. Consumers are flocking to shop online, with 16.
5 per cent of retail spending now occurring digitally — a number which is expected to rise. The Office for National Statistics announced in 2016 the headcount in shops fell by 2.2 per cent, more than any other industry group, with more than 62,000 jobs cut.
Just last month Toys R Us and Maplin fell into administration putting 5,500 jobs at risk while Debenhams announced it is cutting 320 store management roles. The British Retail Consortium said major retailers employed three per cent fewer staff in the third quarter of 2017 — the steepest decline since the BRC began measuring employment in 2008. These job losses hit the young the hardest.
In London 54 per cent of all retail jobs are held by people under 34. If retail employment continues to fall at this rate, Britain is at risk of losing its proud work ethic to a generation of uninterested workers who will instead be employed by e-commerce giants. Robot-like employees working in warehouses are no match for the people-facing prowess learnt on the shop floor.
But the weekend job is dying out.
A recent survey by Oxford Home Schooling found that only three in ten parents aged between 25 and 34 thought part-time jobs were a good thing, claiming it is too distracting from schoolwork. Snooty families would probably think retail is not glamorous enough for their cabinet precious offspring, but it taught me more than any classroom could. Yes, retail is hard graft. I worked long hours. I dragged rails of clothing around and lugged heavy boxes from the stock room — all with a smile on my face.
Working for a fast-fashion brand meant there was never a dull day. Whether untangling necklaces or polishing mirrors, being busy became my default setting — a far cry from the lazy teenager who would moan if she had to get out of bed at midday. Now, I can spot an intern who has had a part-time job a mile off.
They have an unwavering work ethic and sense of professionalism that others lack. Those who have worked will busy themselves and do extra to impress. Those who haven't will wait to be told what to do.
Back then, receiving my first pay slip was like winning the lottery. No longer did I need to rely on my parents to buy me those must-have trainers. I could afford them myself. I picked up more shifts where I could because I liked the feeling of working hard to get the things I wanted.
Even if that did mean saving up my minimum wage salary to blow it all on a girl's trip to Magaluf — another rite of passage for very different reasons. Personal grooming was important, too. Our "uniform" was to look presentable and stylish wearing New machinery Look clothes. And I learnt to respect authority. In my school, misbehaving would get you a detention.
Big deal.
But if I did something wrong at work, I could risk losing my job, my independence and my income. Strong communication skills were vital. I met all sorts of customers and became an expert in the art of customer service. Working independently on the till points was important, but it was teamwork that really got us through.
When we had to launch the Boxing Day sales or re-dress the window displays, we had to work together or fear the area manager's wrath. My store had predominantly female staff. The camaraderie provided me with the attitude to head up an all-female Fabulous Daily team now. I met some of my best friends in New Look, many of whom still work there and have carved out successful careers.
But now I couldn't go back to work there if I wanted to. No one can. New Look in Cheshunt is one of the stores earmarked for closure. And with its death — along with many other stores — part of the backbone of Britain starts to crumble and it's a serious blow for the wider economy.
High Street chains, with their large network of shops, have more properties to pay business rates for than online retailers that run their operations from a small number of warehouses. Last year Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said the Government must revamp business rates to stop bricks-and-mortar shops closing and help them compete with internet retailers. So maybe think about that next time you make that online purchase.
Now.
.
.
can I interest you in a New Look store card? GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 for
I'd never been called a lady before.
It was in that moment I knew I was no longer a stroppy teenager. I was an important woman with responsibilities and a boss who wouldn't condone my mood swings. I had a job to do. So when it was announced that New Look are closing 60 of their stores I felt overwhelmingly sad.
Sad for the decline of the High Street, sad for the 980 jobs facing the axe. But, most importantly, sad for those young adults who might never learn the basic life skills that a part-time job offers. I worked for New Look from 16 to 24 — mainly at its branch in Cheshunt, Herts — and can honestly say I would be half the woman I am today without that invaluable experience behind me.
When I first started I lacked common sense, rarely used my initiative and my "skills" comprised of probably writing an essay on rock formations. My part-time job provided me with the vital practical know-how that my state secondary school failed to instil in me or any of my friends. It was a rite of passage and everything I learned under those unflattering neon lights and pounding dance music I carry with me today.
To know that I am part of a dying breed is worrying. It is no secret the High Street is in dire straits. Consumers are flocking to shop online, with 16.
5 per cent of retail spending now occurring digitally — a number which is expected to rise. The Office for National Statistics announced in 2016 the headcount in shops fell by 2.2 per cent, more than any other industry group, with more than 62,000 jobs cut.
Just last month Toys R Us and Maplin fell into administration putting 5,500 jobs at risk while Debenhams announced it is cutting 320 store management roles. The British Retail Consortium said major retailers employed three per cent fewer staff in the third quarter of 2017 — the steepest decline since the BRC began measuring employment in 2008. These job losses hit the young the hardest.
In London 54 per cent of all retail jobs are held by people under 34. If retail employment continues to fall at this rate, Britain is at risk of losing its proud work ethic to a generation of uninterested workers who will instead be employed by e-commerce giants. Robot-like employees working in warehouses are no match for the people-facing prowess learnt on the shop floor.
But the weekend job is dying out.
A recent survey by Oxford Home Schooling found that only three in ten parents aged between 25 and 34 thought part-time jobs were a good thing, claiming it is too distracting from schoolwork. Snooty families would probably think retail is not glamorous enough for their cabinet precious offspring, but it taught me more than any classroom could. Yes, retail is hard graft. I worked long hours. I dragged rails of clothing around and lugged heavy boxes from the stock room — all with a smile on my face.
Working for a fast-fashion brand meant there was never a dull day. Whether untangling necklaces or polishing mirrors, being busy became my default setting — a far cry from the lazy teenager who would moan if she had to get out of bed at midday. Now, I can spot an intern who has had a part-time job a mile off.
They have an unwavering work ethic and sense of professionalism that others lack. Those who have worked will busy themselves and do extra to impress. Those who haven't will wait to be told what to do.
Back then, receiving my first pay slip was like winning the lottery. No longer did I need to rely on my parents to buy me those must-have trainers. I could afford them myself. I picked up more shifts where I could because I liked the feeling of working hard to get the things I wanted.
Even if that did mean saving up my minimum wage salary to blow it all on a girl's trip to Magaluf — another rite of passage for very different reasons. Personal grooming was important, too. Our "uniform" was to look presentable and stylish wearing New machinery Look clothes. And I learnt to respect authority. In my school, misbehaving would get you a detention.
Big deal.
But if I did something wrong at work, I could risk losing my job, my independence and my income. Strong communication skills were vital. I met all sorts of customers and became an expert in the art of customer service. Working independently on the till points was important, but it was teamwork that really got us through.
When we had to launch the Boxing Day sales or re-dress the window displays, we had to work together or fear the area manager's wrath. My store had predominantly female staff. The camaraderie provided me with the attitude to head up an all-female Fabulous Daily team now. I met some of my best friends in New Look, many of whom still work there and have carved out successful careers.
But now I couldn't go back to work there if I wanted to. No one can. New Look in Cheshunt is one of the stores earmarked for closure. And with its death — along with many other stores — part of the backbone of Britain starts to crumble and it's a serious blow for the wider economy.
High Street chains, with their large network of shops, have more properties to pay business rates for than online retailers that run their operations from a small number of warehouses. Last year Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said the Government must revamp business rates to stop bricks-and-mortar shops closing and help them compete with internet retailers. So maybe think about that next time you make that online purchase.
Now.
.
.
can I interest you in a New Look store card? GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 for
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