Retail Warriors: The Front-line Of Fashion
CLEO Singapore|September 2017

Fronting a luxury brand in-store can seem posh, but the job usually involves more grit than glam.

Claire Soong
Retail Warriors: The Front-line Of Fashion

As far as retail jobs go, getting to work in the world of luxury fashion is pretty much as good as it gets. Sales associates (or SAs, as they sometimes call themselves) are the gatekeepers between high-end products and their buyers – they bridge the gap between Birkin bags and the tiny percentage of the population that can afford them. And if movies are to be believed, they’re usually impeccably groomed and pretty sophisticated themselves.

But don’t be fooled by the glamorous facade – working in fashion retail is more than just discounts and uniform smiles. Many would envy the 30 to 50 percent discount that brands tend to offer their staff, but ironically, low salaries usually mean associates often aren’t able to afford the products even at staff prices. Retail is also known for weird hours (5am start times for restocking), and astronomically high selling targets that have to be met, often without reward. So the work to look polished and pristine usually involves more grit and less glam.

Behind the scenes

Working retail is commonly regarded as a fairly simple occupation. However, the job involves a lot of physical and emotional labour. While working in retail isn’t an Olympic sport (although it’s maybe just as competitive), it requires associates to be in relatively good shape. Most stores need their associates to be fit enough to lift heavy boxes, arrange displays, and stand for long periods.

Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av CLEO Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av CLEO Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA CLEO SINGAPORESe alt
Staying Clean
CLEO Singapore

Staying Clean

Go green! Here, find out about Lush’s non-stop mission for sustainability and reducing impacts on the environment.

time-read
2 mins  |
March - April 2020
#ASK Team CLEO
CLEO Singapore

#ASK Team CLEO

Add these to your cart ASAP, so that you get your skin sorted from A to Z.

time-read
1 min  |
March - April 2020
Pastel Goth
CLEO Singapore

Pastel Goth

Wanna stand out from the typical blush toned lipstick crowd?

time-read
1 min  |
March - April 2020
What Eco Beauty Means In The Biz
CLEO Singapore

What Eco Beauty Means In The Biz

This is just the vegan-ning. We break down what’s what, and why you need to be a convert for your skin’s sake.

time-read
2 mins  |
March - April 2020
Power To Your Flower
CLEO Singapore

Power To Your Flower

Skincare for down there? Believe there is — as we roadtested TWO L(I)PS products that were created for the skin in our bikini area.

time-read
2 mins  |
March - April 2020
Stephanie Poetri Talks Career And Life After Going Viral
CLEO Singapore

Stephanie Poetri Talks Career And Life After Going Viral

The internet can and will make you famous. Here's how Stephanie Poetri Made her hit song in just two hours.

time-read
3 mins  |
March - April 2020
CLEO Singapore

The Fame Game

With so many celeb beauty lines in the market (and underway), do we honestly need them all?

time-read
3 mins  |
March - April 2020
Try A Plant Based Cleanse So That You Know What You're In For
CLEO Singapore

Try A Plant Based Cleanse So That You Know What You're In For

Think you want to turn plant-based? #TeamCLEO took on a seven-day cleanse and this is how it went.

time-read
2 mins  |
March - April 2020
She's All That
CLEO Singapore

She's All That

To all the films we fell in love with! #TeamCLEO caught up with Lana Condor for the newest To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.

time-read
5 mins  |
March - April 2020
Women, Power!
CLEO Singapore

Women, Power!

Time to tune in to some empowered women characters. On your watch list: The Witcher and Sex Education which are both on Netflix.

time-read
6 mins  |
March - April 2020