The beginning of a life as a department store employee
About 10 years ago, I was a job-hunting student. "I want to work in a position where I can help customers through customer service." That wish came true when I joined a major department store. That was the beginning of my life as a department store worker.
"I graduated from the School of Business Administration, and I'm sure I have the best marketing sense among my classmates. I also love customer service. I'm going to get promoted quickly and put on a great event," I thought, full of unfounded confidence and motivation, but I was the type who "hides his claws when he's competent." I was a very quiet new employee.
My boss told me, "It's well known that there are new recruits who are not energetic at all."
As a new member of society, my days were filled with exciting and busy experiences.
One day, something strange...
One day, I saw an elderly customer walking with a load of rice that looked very heavy. When I asked him, he said he was carrying it to his car in the parking lot. I wanted to help him, but I couldn't because of instructions from my boss. I just saw the customer off and couldn't do anything...
One day, a customer asked, "Can I get a bag that fits the size of the wine I bought?" After a senior employee responded, the customer walked away dissatisfied. The senior then said, "There's no such convenient bag, so it can't be helped." The moment I heard those words, something inside me snapped.
It is very difficult for a large company to respond to the "small requests" of each and every customer. And it may not be the best solution in terms of cost performance for the company. However, I believed that the value of a department store lies in being sensitive to those "small requests" and genuinely pursuing ways to be of service to customers.
"Maybe my way of thinking is not useful to this company..."
Uchimura Glasses and Watches
About a month later, my life as a department store employee came to an end with "364 Days."
Since it was a major department store, the only people who left within a year would probably be those who caused a scandal...
But there was a place where I could realize this dream. That place was my father's store. I had no intention of taking over the business and no interest in it at all, but I thought I could meet customers as much as I like and pursue the pure purpose of being of service to them. He decided to take over Uchimura Glasses and Watches .
Pure Pursuit
"You should try working at this company for at least three years."
These are the words that many people said to me when I was thinking of quitting my job at the department store. It has been about 10 years since then, and I have never regretted it.
"The trouble with not working for three years"
・I can't use Excel, I can't use PowerPoint, and I can't even create materials.
However, I can be of service to customers through eyeglass and watch repairs.
I am proud to say that I am able to be of more help to customers than I was when I worked at a major department store. However, I believe that the reason I am still able to pursue ways to be of help to customers, even in my own way, is because of those "364 days" at the department store. I will never forget this, and will continue to pursue purely what I can do for customers from now on.
I couldn't have done it, but I really respect my classmates and colleagues who are still working hard with a strong will to change large companies. Even though we are in different positions and in different ways, I want to have a relationship where we can inspire each other.
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