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okay, it won't actually be a diary, but i think i'm the only active sephora employee on this website. i think this will be a little interesting for you to read...
i've been working at sephora (in NYC, in the snobbiest area ever, upper east side) for a year and 4 months. i've had more than enough experience to able to write this. not all of it is based completely on working at sephora, but it may also apply to the people that work at counters.
the reason why i'm starting this thread is 1. for me to rant in, 2. you understand your local sephora employees a little better, and 3. cuz i'm so cool.
part I
we have at least 20 brands in our stores, where we not only need to know makeup, but also fragrance and skincare. that's a lot of memorizing, unlike going to a counter. when you ask me a question and i take about 3 seconds to answer, it's cuz i'm going through everything in my head. i'm not trying to come up with a lie. seriously, it's like a fast-forwarding image that i see where i can scan gondolas (each individual brand's "home"), ingredients, trainings, etc. of course, if it's a simple, "which mascara do you recommend?" i'll come up with something quick after asking you what it is you're looking for exactly. if it's something that's like, "which mascara do you recommend that's hypoallergenic, doesn't test on animals, and my great-grandmother doesn't use?" yeah, it'll take me just a little longer to give you an answer. be a little patient. if you feel you can't, help yourself.
part II
an example: one day, a client came into the store and asked me for my help with a foundation. here's the conversation...
her: i need a new foundation.
me: okay, what kinda skin do you have?
her: (looks at me like i have 3 heads and points to her skin) this kind!
me: okay, is it dry, combina...
her: JUST GIVE ME A FOUNDATION!
me: i can give you any kind of foundation, but i can't promise you'll be happy with it cuz i don't even know if it'll work for you. what kinda coverage?
her: well, i see you need full coverage since you have acne. (this was when i had bad skin)
me: yeah, exactly. here's a foundation for a little... (and i pulled my temples up to show i meant lift) since you have sagging skin.
she got pissed and walked out. why wouldn't she? that stick was so far up her ass i knew she wouldn't stay in one place for long.
moral of the story: when you come to me and ask me for my help with foundations, be ready to answer some questions. if you're not asked any questions, i'd be a little hesitant to follow their advice. don't expect us to just hand you "the best-selling foundation ever!" cuz everyone's different.
the same goes for every other thing. an educated employee will not hand you just anything without asking your story. don't feel like giving it? once again, help yourself.
part III
some employees feel comfortable in one "world" (sephora term for color, skincare, or fragrance). i'm in fragrance, but i jump into color a lot cuz i know my shit and wouldn't mind helping someone who needed help there or in fragrance. however, i'm a little hesitant to go into skincare cuz i feel my other coworkers, like the experts, could definitely help the client better than i can and i don't wanna recommend the wrong thing. don't be offended if you're passed on. it's not that we don't wanna help you, it's just that we can't help you.
part IV
sephora is all about sampling something before you buy it, but i beg: DO NOT COME INTO OUR STORE FOR SAMPLES ON THINGS YOU DON'T PLAN ON BUYING. this takes time away from other people who truly need the help. it's especially annoying when we're really busy during a peak hour and you stop to ask me if you could have a sample of narciso for your bag so you can meet a hot guy on the subway.
an example: there's this client that always comes into the store for samples and she's never once bought anything. we don't work on comission, so we don't care if you don't, but the fact is she takes up our time, wastes our testers, and basically gets a free thing of whatever it is she's sampling cuz she's come in so many times, she could just fill up her own damn jar.
part V
some people are stupid. okay, a lot of people are stupid. i know that. those people never cease to amaze me. if i'm standing right there talking to you and you take a clinique lipstick and put it in the benefit gondola cuz the new lipstick i gave you appeals to you more, put the damn clinique lipstick in my hand since i'm standing right next to you, watching you put that down in the wrong place.
have fun on your next sephora adventure
i've been working at sephora (in NYC, in the snobbiest area ever, upper east side) for a year and 4 months. i've had more than enough experience to able to write this. not all of it is based completely on working at sephora, but it may also apply to the people that work at counters.
the reason why i'm starting this thread is 1. for me to rant in, 2. you understand your local sephora employees a little better, and 3. cuz i'm so cool.
part I
we have at least 20 brands in our stores, where we not only need to know makeup, but also fragrance and skincare. that's a lot of memorizing, unlike going to a counter. when you ask me a question and i take about 3 seconds to answer, it's cuz i'm going through everything in my head. i'm not trying to come up with a lie. seriously, it's like a fast-forwarding image that i see where i can scan gondolas (each individual brand's "home"), ingredients, trainings, etc. of course, if it's a simple, "which mascara do you recommend?" i'll come up with something quick after asking you what it is you're looking for exactly. if it's something that's like, "which mascara do you recommend that's hypoallergenic, doesn't test on animals, and my great-grandmother doesn't use?" yeah, it'll take me just a little longer to give you an answer. be a little patient. if you feel you can't, help yourself.
part II
an example: one day, a client came into the store and asked me for my help with a foundation. here's the conversation...
her: i need a new foundation.
me: okay, what kinda skin do you have?
her: (looks at me like i have 3 heads and points to her skin) this kind!
me: okay, is it dry, combina...
her: JUST GIVE ME A FOUNDATION!
me: i can give you any kind of foundation, but i can't promise you'll be happy with it cuz i don't even know if it'll work for you. what kinda coverage?
her: well, i see you need full coverage since you have acne. (this was when i had bad skin)
me: yeah, exactly. here's a foundation for a little... (and i pulled my temples up to show i meant lift) since you have sagging skin.
she got pissed and walked out. why wouldn't she? that stick was so far up her ass i knew she wouldn't stay in one place for long.
moral of the story: when you come to me and ask me for my help with foundations, be ready to answer some questions. if you're not asked any questions, i'd be a little hesitant to follow their advice. don't expect us to just hand you "the best-selling foundation ever!" cuz everyone's different.
the same goes for every other thing. an educated employee will not hand you just anything without asking your story. don't feel like giving it? once again, help yourself.
part III
some employees feel comfortable in one "world" (sephora term for color, skincare, or fragrance). i'm in fragrance, but i jump into color a lot cuz i know my shit and wouldn't mind helping someone who needed help there or in fragrance. however, i'm a little hesitant to go into skincare cuz i feel my other coworkers, like the experts, could definitely help the client better than i can and i don't wanna recommend the wrong thing. don't be offended if you're passed on. it's not that we don't wanna help you, it's just that we can't help you.
part IV
sephora is all about sampling something before you buy it, but i beg: DO NOT COME INTO OUR STORE FOR SAMPLES ON THINGS YOU DON'T PLAN ON BUYING. this takes time away from other people who truly need the help. it's especially annoying when we're really busy during a peak hour and you stop to ask me if you could have a sample of narciso for your bag so you can meet a hot guy on the subway.
an example: there's this client that always comes into the store for samples and she's never once bought anything. we don't work on comission, so we don't care if you don't, but the fact is she takes up our time, wastes our testers, and basically gets a free thing of whatever it is she's sampling cuz she's come in so many times, she could just fill up her own damn jar.
part V
some people are stupid. okay, a lot of people are stupid. i know that. those people never cease to amaze me. if i'm standing right there talking to you and you take a clinique lipstick and put it in the benefit gondola cuz the new lipstick i gave you appeals to you more, put the damn clinique lipstick in my hand since i'm standing right next to you, watching you put that down in the wrong place.
have fun on your next sephora adventure