Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Round and round she goes, where she stops...

Nobody knows.

Certainly not me.

(I originally wrote this in December, but it was deleted with the “old blog.” It’s now updated with the new fun below.)

Oh, the merry-go-round my career has become since relocating to Massachusetts.

In NYC, I was the golden girl. Promoted out of Federated Merchandising into an assistant buyer position at Bloomindales in ONE year. When they promoted me, I was actually given a choice as to where I would like to go. That NEVER happens, but it happened to me.

So, I start my job at Bloomies. Hard work, perseverance and being in the right place at the right time got me promoted to a full buyer in ONE year. Again, this rarely happens at a corporation like Bloomies, but my talent as a merchant was recognized and rewarded.

Well, rewarded with promotions rather than money. Bloomies is known for being cheap. Especially with it’s homegrown talent. The worst raise I ever received in my life was after six months as an assistant buyer for them. Hell, I actually took a slight pay decrease to take the assistant buyer job! A step back to take many steps forward is what I thought at the time, and for the most part, I was right.

I was a buyer there for five years. In the handbag division, (sigh) which is where my addiction for all things Fendi, Prada, Marc Jacobs, et al was born. But after five years and no further growth opportunity arising, I got antsy. See, the handbag buyers in my division were the ol’ timers. Years and years under their belts, very happy in their current positions, and they showed no intention of giving up their jobs.

I get the call one day; asking if I’d be interested in interviewing with a company outside Boston.

Sure.

Long story short… Filenes Basement wants me to buy handbags for them. They are trying to reinvent themselves and want me, along with all of my designer contacts. They wine and dine me. Bring B and I to Boston for the weekend to make me an offer. $20.0 raise. $10.0 signing bonus. Six figures?!? NICE! Wait... they’ll also pay for the move and packing. They’ll help us find a place to live.

The whole nine yards baby.

Just as an aside, at this time in our married life, B had decided that his lot in life was to throw in the towel and go to work driving a van delivering car batteries for a high school friend. So this way he could wear jeans every day, as well as spend all day doing batties (yeah, he’s Jewish – can you believe?!) He had been doing this for just about five years and was truly miserable being treated like shit on a daily basis, but refused to do anything about it because his friend “relied” on him.

Well, this was my way of getting us out. I took the job. We moved. B was none too happy about it, but considering my salary supported us for the most part, it really wasn’t his place to complain. Though, he did anyway.

Thus started the merry-go-round.

The Basement filed Chapter 11 six months after I took the job, eliminated my job three months after that (oh yeah, I was six months pregnant with Little Dude at the time of the lay off... fun times!)

Next.

I went to work for another Boston based retailer. Then... they decided to pack up and move their offices to Charlotte N.C. to save money. I was offered a relocation package, but I figured if I felt like a fish out of water in New England, I could only imagine how much worse it would be in Charlotte.

Next.

I go to work selling for an old friend who manufactures belts in NYC. I fly to the city five times a year for market week, work out of my home, and handle all of his top accounts, including my old stomping grounds (and job) Bloomies. Well, belt business turns south, as it has a tendency to do, and my boss/friend decides that he really needs someone in the city to handle the day to day nuances of handling such major accounts.

Say it with me people…

NEXT!

It takes me NINE weeks to get a new job (yes, I was a single mom at this point...MORE fun times!) The job I currently have. The one I’ve had for just over three years now. Which for the most part, is pretty damn awesome.

I get the flexibility I need regarding the boys, their school, and life in general as a single mom. I don’t have to travel. I get to play with pretty product, analyze and run the business. The team I work with is great; we all play well together.

I get to work yesterday to find out that the rumors have come to fruition. We’ve been sold. Purchased by another specialty retailer who plans to leave us intact, but help us find the profitability and growth we’ve been missing these last two years.

I’m trying to stay positive. Really I am. But if my past job experiences in this state are any indication…

I left NYC… why?

So, it’s now the end of April. Our almost new-mommy company has been in our offices on a daily basis for about two months. Analyzing our business; sorting out the loose ends. Figuring out who stays and who goes. The company is throwing a "retirement" party for the EVP of Stores next Monday (think he's going? < /sarcasm> )

I’m pretty confident that I'll have a job after the deal goes through next week. Our division is held in high regard, we are the ones who actually UNDERSTAND the business. And our almost new-mommy company has never been able to keep anyone in my current position.

So, life goes on as usual. Day to day business; meetings galore. I had my review today. The Company average is a 3% increase.

BALLS.

Will that even cover my gas for the next year? I’m thinking… NOT.

But, I'll count the blessings. Awesome review with raise (albeit average, but at least not under the average.) I have a job, as well as a severance package that has been approved by our soon to be new-mommy. Hopefully it won’t be implemented.

I guess I’ll find out next week.

Think I should hold my breath?

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