Merry Christmas

Wishing all of my blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Has online shopping put a nail in the retail coffin?

This is the last week of my Christmas job, my contract ends on Christmas eve. I must admit I'm really going to miss the job, as well as all the people I've been lucky to work with over the last couple of months.

The run up to Christmas got me thinking about how retail has changed over the last few years. I heard on the radio that Monday 21st December was the crucial 24 hours in which retailers could meet or fail to meet their sales figures for the end of the year.

The main problem with retail is that consumers are more and more often opting to spend their money online. It is simply so much easier as a consumer to sit in the warmth of your home, in front of the computer and have everything you buy delivered to the door...

Consumers can avoid the queues, the cold weather, the (lack of) parking, pavement rage and being laden down with big, heavy bulky bags...
It simply makes sense, doesn't it?

However, there are several things that you don't get with online shopping: the personal touch.
Apart from maybe a quick chat with the delivery driver, there is no human contact during your shopping spree. There are no sales advisors who can help you choose the best item, make recommendations to you or to have a bit of a laugh with and raise your spirits!

Another downfall with online shopping is you don't have the item until it's delivered.

Many people would prefer to have their shopping with them in their hand after spending their money. Even with companies offering speedy delivery services, there isn't the same guarantee of getting your stuff... Not in time for Christmas / birthdays / anniversary / ever!

Sometimes you want the safe knowledge that your purchased items are with you and not on the back of a lorry somewhere between your home, the depot and timbucktoo!

As an option, I would use online shopping to order hard to find  items, perhaps an item from overseas, but I admit I prefer to go into a shop and browse-buy, flirt with the pretty sales assistants and leave with my shopping in my hands.

What are your thoughts on the online shopping vs retail shopping? Leave your comments below!

- Thelittlerich  

How much can a job change your life?

Hi folks! I'm sorry that I havent blogged for ages... I have a lot going on over the last few months, so thought I would write about my updates in one blog, as a way of catching up...




Working in a toy shop: Brilliant fun!

 I think the biggest change is the fact that I now have a job!
It is a part time vacancy, working for a local toy shop in town over Christmas, but it's amazing the difference that getting a job has made to me!

I've secretly always wanted to work in this shop - being a big kid at heart I always imagined it would be quite fun.

When I applied and was called in for an interview, I actually told the manager that I wanted the job because I wanted to play with the toys! Ha ha!

(This approach worked though, because I pretty much nailed the interview and left feeling on a total hype!)



Picking up my uniform...


After being out of work for over a year, and having sent out literally hundreds of applications for job vacancies, now I have found a job I feel a lot less stressed out, frustrated and fed up!

I really enjoy the job, and despite only being within the position for a few weeks, I've had a few of my colleagues mention that I'm doing a really job!

In fact... In the short time that I've been there, I've managed to prove myself to my manager. He has been great and has asked me to work in two seperate stores (he is the manager of both of them!) and because my contract ends before Christmas, he has recommended me for another local store!

I am not sure what he said, but he must've put a very strong recommendation forward because basically I've been head-hunted!

I went into the store that is offering me the job, and without even undergoing an interview I was asked when I could start! Not only that - today they called me up to ask what size uniform I require!

It really is true that once you are in a job, finding another one is soooooooo much easier! I've been emailing my CV and covering letters out for months before I got this job, and now I'm in it, I've secured a permanent job from it!

Yaaay!!



Meer-ry Christmas!



I've also been focusing on a new hobby... Needlecraft! I've been bitten by the bug to sew and stitch fabric together and be creative!

I mentioned starting up a needlecraft hobby to Jan, and she seemed to think it was a good idea. She told me she likes to make the cross-stitch patterns!

If I'm honest, I'd never heard of cross-stitch until she showed me what it was... However we found a couple of kits in a local hobby craft shop, and I started by making a small cross stitch pattern of some meerkats.

I was very pleased once I had completed it, I think it looked pretty cool! 

I fancied making some other stuff, and so I tried making a teddy squirrel from a kit we bought. After maybe 4 or 5 hours of sewing and about half an hour of stuffing I had managed to piece the kit together and make a squirrel!

Stitching up a squirrel....

The following night, I decided to trawl the internet and see if I could find any other soft toys to make... I discovered a great teddy lamb pattern to follow and ended up making my very own lamb, out of my daughters old sleep suit.

I made this! Not Baaaaaad, is it?!

I will admit that the lamb is the one I am most proud of - in my opinion it looks quite professional! I've given it to my daughter and she loves it! (Her reaction was to cuddle it and go "Awwwwww!").

Our next step is to invest in a sewing machine and start making more things, such as cushion covers and other items!

When I showed some of the photos of my creative handywork to a few friends, some of them mentioned that I should make more soft toys and sell them... Who knows - maybe I can start to sell some of my creations online?!

If I don't update before Christmas, then I wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and whatever festive seasons greetings you wish to celebrate!

- Thelittlerich.