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Spent: My Accidental Career in Retail
“I thought I was destined for great things. Turns out, I was meant to sell blue jeans.”
Dana Goldstein had dreams of being a foreign correspondent, covering the news from a far off land. When she graduated from journalism school into a recession, her visions of globetrotting were replaced by the reality of needing to pay her bills and eat.
Working in retail was meant to be a temporary measure, a stop-gap on the road to her future as a journalist. Ten years later, she had found herself accidentally well into a career, lured by the steady and reliable paycheck.
But she was a crap manager, at least from the corporate view. Dana put employees first, took risks with merchandising that did not always play by the rules, and opened her mouth to call out the stupidity that sometimes trickled down from head office.
Over the course of decade, she witnessed fights among customers, stopped thieving employees, and blew the whistle on managers having sex on company time. Within these pages, you'll meet a compulsive gambling nun and a billionaire heiress who only wanted to work as a cashier.
Join her on the journey as she explores the best and worst of humanity, viewed from the sales racks and the sales floor.
Dana Goldstein had dreams of being a foreign correspondent, covering the news from a far off land. When she graduated from journalism school into a recession, her visions of globetrotting were replaced by the reality of needing to pay her bills and eat.
Working in retail was meant to be a temporary measure, a stop-gap on the road to her future as a journalist. Ten years later, she had found herself accidentally well into a career, lured by the steady and reliable paycheck.
But she was a crap manager, at least from the corporate view. Dana put employees first, took risks with merchandising that did not always play by the rules, and opened her mouth to call out the stupidity that sometimes trickled down from head office.
Over the course of decade, she witnessed fights among customers, stopped thieving employees, and blew the whistle on managers having sex on company time. Within these pages, you'll meet a compulsive gambling nun and a billionaire heiress who only wanted to work as a cashier.
Join her on the journey as she explores the best and worst of humanity, viewed from the sales racks and the sales floor.
212 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2022
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 20, 2022
Read this book before you or one of your kids goes into retail! Such an eye opener into the world of retail that we consumers take for granted. Told in Dana's humorous way, we learn about the staff, managers, leaders and customers in what many consider to be the worst industry to work in.
August 11, 2022
In her third memoir, Dana Goldstein gives a no-holds-barred view into her retail career with candour, sensitivity, and wit. She strikes a balance between conveying difficult and sometimes terrible experiences on the job while also sharing places where she learned and flourished. After reading her laser-focused account, you will never see a neat pile of sweaters or an inviting display of books in the same way again. Thank you, Dana Goldstein, for taking us on the journey with you. We come out more open-eyed on the other side.
August 7, 2022
I only spent a few years of my career in retail, but WOW, could I ever identify with some of the hilarious and horrific stories author Dana Goldstein shares in this new memoir. She doesn't sugar coat anything. And the "rules" she shares along the way are 100 percent-spot on! It's a quick read and well worth it.
August 4, 2022
An Amazing Read!
Reading this book was a great experience. The author is a very gifted storyteller. She is able to reach the reader and maintain interest in such a way that one hates to reach the end of the book. There is something relatable for everyone, whether or not you have ever worked in retail. If I could give a ten-star rating, I would.
Reading this book was a great experience. The author is a very gifted storyteller. She is able to reach the reader and maintain interest in such a way that one hates to reach the end of the book. There is something relatable for everyone, whether or not you have ever worked in retail. If I could give a ten-star rating, I would.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews