by June T. Bassemir
"It isn't always easy."
There was no written test. as I
recall, l when I applied for a job in the upscale and successful Hempstead,
L. I. department store called Arnold
Constable. It was just an interview
with one of the men in the employment office who accepted my youthful good
looks, my sincerity and my recently earned H. S. diploma. It was the largest branch of the parent
company based in Brooklyn, NY
and was responsible for supplying the needs of a starved war weary fleet of
customers. Thus began my selling career
which has carried me through a life time of selling everything under the sun
except perhaps a four mastered schooner.
I joined the sales force of Arnold
Constable only a week or so after graduation in June and was assigned to
"Miss Johnson"; a stately lady of probably 50 yrs., leaning more on
the tailored side of femininity than not.
As the manager of the Nylon and Silk stocking department, she was a
pro who had all the right answers when complaints came in to her from irate
customers who carried with them, their recently bought stockings that had
"run" after just one wearing.
She politely listened to their complaints but then as the damaged goods
sat limply on the counter between them, she would back away refusing to handle
such, saying she couldn't touch them because they hadn't been washed. Of course, the customer was urged to go back
home and wash them and if they had the temerity to come back the next day or
soon after and continue their complaint with Miss Johnson, she would argue that
the run was probably due to being mishandled during the washing process. Ahhh yes, she had all the answers! Rarely did I ever see the customer win the
argument of stockings that had failed to satisfy after the first wearing. Miss Johnson was a valuable employee largely
responsible for the Arnold Constable Department store lasting on the corner
of Fulton and Franklin for as long as
they did.
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