Hazards of the Trade

by Phyllis L Humby

Hazards of the Trade is a personal disclosure of nearly twenty-years of humorous and sad reflections from the naïve start-up of a small-town lingerie boutique to the ultimate farewell. The era began with retailers in impossibly high heels and designer suits attending the Ontario Fashion Exhibitors market at the prestigious King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto and ended with buyers in rubber-soled shoes and sweatpants at the Congress Centre near the airport. While high-end fashion shows and buying trips might seem glamorous, evading a stalker and trying to evict a rabid squirrel from the shop might not. But it was all part of being in the Trade. That, and so much more. About the author: Phyllis L Humby is a seasoned writer who tells it like it is. She’d already given up her day job when she indulged her passion for writing. Having always worked with the public, Phyllis amassed a catalogue of character traits which she cast in short stories published in international anthologies and journals. Not only does Phyllis enjoy writing fiction, preferably with a twist, but her nearly twenty years in the retail lingerie forum provided plenty of fodder for her memoir Hazards of the Trade. Life experiences balance the fictional connotation of her writing. There are no fairytale endings.

190 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2020

About the author

Phyllis Humby lives in the municipality of Lambton Shores, Ontario, Canada where she indulges her passion for writing award-winning short stories, from chilling thrillers to comedy. She is the author of memoir Hazards of the Trade, contemporary novel Old Broad Road, and its sequel On The Rock.

Reviews

[Kathleen Mogk]

A sheer delight to read. It made me laugh, cry and nod my head in remembrance of those days of craving beautiful lingerie, waited on by professional women in an intimate area and all wrapped up in a pretty box. All us girls were in that era together! Sadly those days are gone but Phyllis L. Humby delightfully captured the heart and soul of those days. Written with honesty heart and humour a must read! Would recommend it to anyone.

[Gloria Pearson-Vasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and entertaining from cover to cover. Most enjoyable.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a lighthearted narrative and her memoir is just what I needed to cheer me up. Phyllis Humby does a delightful job at recounting her years as the owner of a lingerie boutique in a small Ontario town in the 1980's and 90s. Highly recommend it.

[Paul Sutter]

For a book that will make you smile and laugh, you cannot go wrong with HAZARDS OF THE TRADE. The book is noted on the cover as “An intimate reveal of the 80’s and 90’s lingerie boom.” Phyllis Humby was the owner of a small town lingerie shop. This was back in the 1980’s and 1990’s at a time when smaller shops were the go to places for shoppers, who wanted very personal service. She looks affectionately at many of the customers were part of the business, and helped evoke lasting memories so many years later. When one is in retail they truly meet all kinds, which is what Phyllis did, and she writes about those experiences with humour and honesty.
She recalls some phone calls, that she knew were people being having nothing better to do than make crank calls. They were usually kids out for their own amusement. Phyllis in the chapter A Man’s Presents, discusses how shopping in lingerie shops was definitely out of the comfort zone for many males. They did not want to be there in the first place, so their goal was to get in and get out with their dignity intact. It was more an arduous task than something they looked forward to, many making it a once a year habit at Christmas especially.
The author also encountered the bane of all businesses, the shoplifter who comes to steal and never to buy. She found more than her share of empty hangers knowing the item had not been sold, but rather stuffed into bags, purses, or pockets.
There is a particularly moving chapter called Cocktails at Four, revolving around a woman whose body slowly was facing the ravages of Multiple Sclerosis. She came to the store less frequently and ordered her lingerie over the phone. She wanted one of her purchases to fit into a bra box, keeping the purchase most secretive. She also invited Phyllis over to her residence for cocktails at four, which she never took her up on the offer.
As many similar stores likely faced, the owner had more than her share of males who got excited around lingerie--fetishists, cross-dressers and the like, which back four or so decades obviously did not get the same response as some might today in the LGBTQ community.
All good things did come to an end, and when Humby finally packed it in, there were no regrets, just warm memories and feelings. You will get the same sort of warm feelings when you read about her myriad of most remarkable experiences.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. Phyllis was able to share wonderful stories of her experiences, while owning and operating her small town lingerie boutique, and allowed the reader to feel like they are right there with her.

[Stacy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and well written read. Each chapter flows into the next with ease and anticipation. I laughed out loud more than once. Who would think a memoir about owning a lingerie shop in a small Ontario town could be so entertaining!

[Debbie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humour is often difficult to write but Phyllis L Humby weaves her wit seamlessly in her memoir and debut trade book Hazards of the Trade, virtually launched by Crossfield Publishing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bravo, I say, and not because I know and have followed the journey of this seasoned writer for a long time (which I fully disclose here), but because she has a special gift.

Gregarious with a natural flair for creating entertaining stories, this Canadian writer and columnist often lights up a room with her infectious laughter. This unique ability to razzle-dazzle and woo her customers (and readers) is evident throughout her book.

Aptly subtitled: An Intimate Reveal of the 80s and 90s Lingerie Boom, her memoir shares the inner workings of a boutique she owned and operated in a small but prosperous southwestern Ontario community.

Definitely an entertaining book to read while escaping from all our COVID-19 concerns!

A longer review appears on my blog Kites Without Strings: https://okunhill.wordpress.com/2020/0...

[Stephanie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who loves lingerie, I was super excited to read a book about the trade, however this book just fell flat for me.

I found it repetitive and boring, lacking in any sense of a linear storyline or cohesion. Even within the chapters - that all read like essays - the narrative would bounce from story to story. I just don’t feel like I learned much about the lingerie trade other than the place where the shopping takes place moved a few times (mentioned approximately every other chapter in great detail).

This book gives no insight into why she decided to open the store, how it became profitable, or where it fit in the lingerie world of the time. I feel like it barely scratched the surface.

[Wendy L. Scott-Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazards of the Trade is an excellent title for this book about owning a lingerie shop in the 80's and 90's.
It was interesting to hear about all that goes on behind the scenes in this kind of shop. I hadn't realized that her clientele would be comprised of not just women but men, exotic dancers, and unfortunately perverts. Some of her stories were quite hilarious and some were downright scary to even think about.
This story has enlightened my naïve experience with small town business owners and what they face each day in their trade.