I realize that this blog did not get updated as frequently as others, and that much more time and effort could have been expended in making it beautiful, but I think I did find things out about myself and my project in the course of it.
My Reflections post in particular opened up a whole new area of interest for me. (Why is it that people rely so heavily on technology when there are already people around? This is particularly true, in my opinion, about people who text while hanging out with their own friends. Is the company not fulfilling enough? Is there just a human need to be around as many people as possible?) The blog opened up this line of thinking where as a written reflection may not have (and it saved me from a cramped right hand).
I do believe that blogging is something I'd be more apt to do outside of class. It's something that I have done, on and off throughout the last few years (on and off seems to be a default for me, so my inconsistency on this blog is really not atypical for me). However, I always tend to see a blog as something to introspect over personally, rather than professionally. As was seen in my Reflection, rather than expanding on a topic for my own project, I went on a tangent for something else, it's just something that I, as a person do quite frequently.
The other concern I had with this blog was purely tactical. I had to create a new email address, one that is out of my immediate attention, thus the blog attached to it fell to the way side. I could have changed my homepage or left myself self email reminders to bring to attention 'Yes, A, you have another email address now,' but to be honest, I don't have that much foresight. This did, however, teach me that as a student, as an adult, I severely need to ensure to set reminders about deadlines and stick to them. (And also brought to light how horrific my spelling is...)
I do think I will continue blogging, under my primary email, and probably not again 'professionally', but it is a great way to introspect and see everything from a different angle.
So, until that time... I'll be out and about, just taking a Look.
Ta!
-AG
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Reflections
I have noticed throughout my observation that "Just Looking" seems to be a phrase that does not discriminate. Class, age, time of day... a majority of shoppers use it and there are very few patterns otherwise.
This leads me to wonder... Is this phrase a learned behavior? Do children pick it up from parents, and do they even realize that they're using it?
When I described the basis of my project to a friend outside of the class, she herself admitted that it's come to be reflex for her to say that she's "looking" while shopping. She said it almost pops out without forethought, and she works in retail!
So, my new question is this (though it has little to do with the project, and is more of a personal life-question):
Is there something inherent that makes us afraid of interaction?
During work, I've noticed plenty of customers furiously texting or making phone calls while shopping in order to avoid interaction with sales people-- I've even seen a few "fake" phone calls, where people pretend to be on the phone rather than speak with me.
So maybe the real question is this:
Is there something that makes people afraid of others that they don't know?
Why is it that people shop in groups?
Why is it that individual shoppers need to use technology to interact with someone else as they shop?
Is it self-esteem?
Is it to dispell anxiety?
Is it to keep them from feeling lonely?
This leads me to wonder... Is this phrase a learned behavior? Do children pick it up from parents, and do they even realize that they're using it?
When I described the basis of my project to a friend outside of the class, she herself admitted that it's come to be reflex for her to say that she's "looking" while shopping. She said it almost pops out without forethought, and she works in retail!
So, my new question is this (though it has little to do with the project, and is more of a personal life-question):
Is there something inherent that makes us afraid of interaction?
During work, I've noticed plenty of customers furiously texting or making phone calls while shopping in order to avoid interaction with sales people-- I've even seen a few "fake" phone calls, where people pretend to be on the phone rather than speak with me.
So maybe the real question is this:
Is there something that makes people afraid of others that they don't know?
Why is it that people shop in groups?
Why is it that individual shoppers need to use technology to interact with someone else as they shop?
Is it self-esteem?
Is it to dispell anxiety?
Is it to keep them from feeling lonely?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Catching Up!
A brief glimpse into one of my observations:
The store was unusually cold, I had been informed when I arrived that a technician came to turn on the Air Conditioning, but had set the gage too low. The associate, Tess*, who was working had made the decision to break dress code (white/black shirt, black/khaki pants) and tug on a light brown sweater over her uniform's apron.
I began browsing the shelves, this particular day spent out of unform, greatful for my own sweatshirt, my nose already begining to run from the cold of the store. Two teenage girls entered the store-- wearing flip-flops and shorts-- immediately remarking on the frigid temperature before turning and leaving before Tess had a chance to speak with them.
It was a Wednesday evening, a time and day that already has relatively low traffic, and it was another forty five minutes before another customer entered.
This shopper was in her mid-forties, wearing a sweater and pants, but she still shivered upon entering the store. When Tess spoke to her, she waved the associate off and said that she was "Just Looking!" in a curt tone. She then moved quickly towards the back of the store, selecting items seemingly without thought and proceeding to the checkout.
She didn't speak to Tess at all as she checked out, and left immediately. As soon as she exited the store, her posture relaxed and she tugged at her sweater.
Perhaps, in the case of the store's atmosphere, this particular night was inhospitable to shoppers.
*Name Changed
The store was unusually cold, I had been informed when I arrived that a technician came to turn on the Air Conditioning, but had set the gage too low. The associate, Tess*, who was working had made the decision to break dress code (white/black shirt, black/khaki pants) and tug on a light brown sweater over her uniform's apron.
I began browsing the shelves, this particular day spent out of unform, greatful for my own sweatshirt, my nose already begining to run from the cold of the store. Two teenage girls entered the store-- wearing flip-flops and shorts-- immediately remarking on the frigid temperature before turning and leaving before Tess had a chance to speak with them.
It was a Wednesday evening, a time and day that already has relatively low traffic, and it was another forty five minutes before another customer entered.
This shopper was in her mid-forties, wearing a sweater and pants, but she still shivered upon entering the store. When Tess spoke to her, she waved the associate off and said that she was "Just Looking!" in a curt tone. She then moved quickly towards the back of the store, selecting items seemingly without thought and proceeding to the checkout.
She didn't speak to Tess at all as she checked out, and left immediately. As soon as she exited the store, her posture relaxed and she tugged at her sweater.
Perhaps, in the case of the store's atmosphere, this particular night was inhospitable to shoppers.
*Name Changed
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Presence
One thing I think my topic relates to very well is the financial recession. Less people are out shopping, and those that do venture out to their local malls often spend more time window shopping than driving the economy.
Watching customers as they avoid sales associates and really brings the condition of the area's financial hardships to light. As I mentioned in my Methodology section, the city in which the store I observed is located was a former manufacturing based community. While one major employer has opted to stay in the area, others have closed or relocated to states with other incentives, forcing employees to find work elsewhere or to take unemployment.
However, according to this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36257858/ns/business-retail/, the past month's figures in sales (and retail especially), has been looking much more promising. In fact, of all of the businesses mentioned, one in the article that is thriving is a sister-company to the one that I observed in.
Whether this reknewed hope for the retail industry affects the amount of people shopping, or the amount of people that allow themselves to be assisted is uncertain, but one can hope.
(Though, perhaps these improved sales figures were soley because of the presence of tax returns...)
Watching customers as they avoid sales associates and really brings the condition of the area's financial hardships to light. As I mentioned in my Methodology section, the city in which the store I observed is located was a former manufacturing based community. While one major employer has opted to stay in the area, others have closed or relocated to states with other incentives, forcing employees to find work elsewhere or to take unemployment.
However, according to this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36257858/ns/business-retail/, the past month's figures in sales (and retail especially), has been looking much more promising. In fact, of all of the businesses mentioned, one in the article that is thriving is a sister-company to the one that I observed in.
Whether this reknewed hope for the retail industry affects the amount of people shopping, or the amount of people that allow themselves to be assisted is uncertain, but one can hope.
(Though, perhaps these improved sales figures were soley because of the presence of tax returns...)
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