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Saturday, September 02, 2006

Back in Black

Macy's has decided to insist that all their employees wear black from now on. To ease the drain on their pocketbooks, Macy's is allowing their employees an extra discount for a short time.

As someone wrote in Retail Worker (a forum for retail employees): "Anyone have any response to the new "all black" dress code? ...Do we wear armbands for all the stores that have died as a result of the "merger\takeover"?"

I thought this was pretty funny... but then, I was once a retail manager for a major, upscale retail chain in my checkered past. I saw the deaths of many stores as they were assimilated into Macy's.

This is actually a very kindly idea on the part of management, even though upper management is never deliberately kind to their employees. It's much easier on the pocketbook than the other possibility, where employees are not allowed to wear anything that is not currently displayed on the floor. Most retail employees get paid peanuts. That means their limited budget can hardly be spent on the latest fashions, unless they live at home with mom and dad.

An all-black wardrobe is a wardrobe that can be updated only when necessary, where everything matches, and you're always fashionably accessorized for a funeral or an Amish parade.

P.S. I just learned of Senor Caiman's recent loss which he mentioned in my last post. My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of this poor woman.

11 comments:

mikster said...

I think some of these retail chains rely on a high turn over rate combined with the fact that you have to wear what you sell to work there to remain in business.

If it wasn't for employees buying their shit they'd be out of business.

Miss Cellania said...

You have to admit, black is slimming. Hey! I have a closet FULL of black clothes left over from mourning, and I need a job! You think Macy's would hire me?

The Lazy Iguana said...

The all black look worked for Johnny Cash!

And it works for the burqa wearing segment of the population too.

Hooray to Macy's for being so inclusive.

High Power Rocketry said...

All black? I dont even get that as a good style for retail. I understand black top dress pants bottom, blue shirts, etc. But all black is just depressing.

Herb said...

Well, I'm sure someone on high thought it was a good idea.

Dave said...

Saur,

All black is weird. There are a bunch of young women who wear all black who eat at the Times cafeteria, but I think they cut hair.

I smell something fishy here. I think there's probably a secret agenda here to get rid of the Gentlemen sales associates. I wonder if Macy's is run by Goths or perhaps leasbians or possibly lesbian Goths.

Three Score and Ten or more said...

I will be interested to observe the results. I will have to drop in to Macy's the next time I go to Savannah. There was a comment about Macy's swallowing up a lot of the other stores. I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that Macy's (without changing the name) is one of those that was swallowed up a few years ago (By Federated, I think).

Nihilistic said...

Gives them a few extra minutes to sleep in too...No need to think about what to wear that day!

LZ Blogger said...

Funny post! ~ jb///

Biddie said...

Macy's sounds a bit lik e a cult..you know, like Amway.

mal said...

you think they might be going for the "Goth" look? A little black lipstick, eye shadow and nail polish would really work!

Macy' bought Marshall Fields, which bought Daytons....I do not care about Macys and Fields, but I do miss Daytons....