Department Store Saleswoman
Did the diamonds in the case over there catch your eye? Or was it that fine linen jacket we just got in yesterday? Or were you just interested in a job? If you want to work as a saleswomen, you've got to have a spunky personality, gotta be able to make a good pitch. Make the customers feel at ease, stand on your feet all day. It's not easy being surrounded by all these expensive things you could only dream of buying. But you're somewhat of a looker. I suppose I could take a chance on you. Be here at seven sharp tomorrow morning.
Department stores started popping up in the United States in the late 1800s – the first three were actually in Chicago . The idea of a large store with a myriad number of household items in lavish displays stemmed from the combination of the general store and specialty stores (like hat and lace shops). The stores were an improvement for several reasons – the wide selection of goods under one roof, the assimilation of prices for certain types of goods (for instance a particular brand of soap was now the same price at any department store), the luxury of being able to get a refund or exchange for an unsatisfactory purchase, and the option for customers to browse, but not buy, while in the store (1).
In Sister Carrie, Carrie is introduced to the department store on her first day out looking for a job. Like most women, she is immediately drawn to both the store and the idea of working in such a place. “Carrie passed along the busy aisles, much affected by the remarkable displays of trinkets, dress goods, shoes, stationary, jewelry . . . There was nothing there which she could not have used – nothing which she did not long to own” (4). But after waiting in a line to see the manager for nearly an hour, her services are refused for lack of experience. On her way out, she feels the sensation of the higher-class customers looking down on her – a girl in simple clothing without a job. She seems to realize that even if she were to get a job here, the rift between her and the “good life” would still be great (4).
The sales staffs in department stores were almost entirely women. The life of these women was not easy – they worked long hours for little pay. Carrie noted, “They were pretty in the main, some even handsome, with a certain independence and toss of indifference which added, in the case of the more favored, a certain piquancy. Their clothes were neat, in many instances fine. . . ” (4). The first women employed in these stores made as little as four dollars a week, but some were paid up to twelve. As a result of the low pay, employers found themselves having to hire extremely poor, uneducated women. Often, high class customers clashed with these women and left the stores offended. Employers had assumed that the goods would sell themselves and that the rude, uneducated women working behind the counters would not discourage customers from buying (1).
Carrie had the fortune of becoming one of these customers after taking on the role of mistress to a rich bachelor named Drouet. On her first visit to Schlesinger and Mayer's, she spends a hefty nine dollars on a jacket. Her initial reaction is that she should not be spending money so freely (4). But after living with Drouet for a time, she too assumes the role of the other wealthy customers – at ease with and feeling deserving of her expensive purchases (4).
A new approach was needed. Department store workers were now expected to be excellent at sales. Womanly attributes – ease in working with different types of people and personalities, sympathy, and the ability to coyly manipulate – were sought in potential hires. Many women were also familiar with household items, which made it easier to sell the merchandise. Employees even got the chance to specialize. One woman might become an expert in shoes, another in make-up. The idea was to convince the customer that he should buy an item because it was fashionable or because everyone else had it. The sales pitch was very important (1).
But even with these higher expectations of the women workers, their pay did not go up. On top of that, just working in a store with such luxurious merchandise often lured employees into buying some of it. It was a vicious cycle in which the women would work hard only for the sake of spending their hard-earned money on the very frivolities they were selling. Some department store managers advised their workers to get another job on the side (many times the suggestion was prostitution), warning them that the pay was not going to cover the rent. The one blessing of being a saleswoman was the shorter hours (especially in contrast to women working in factories). In the early 1900s, big city department stores began closing their doors around six o'clock during the week. This cut the hours of employees to just a little over forty a week. However, closing times were not strict and employees were instructed to stay on duty until every customer had left with his choice purchase. Often, this left the poor saleswomen working overtime – which they were rarely paid for (1).
In addition to bad pay, women complained about the working conditions in the stores. National organizations like the Women's Trade Union League argued that women were horribly mistreated, having to endure, “bad lighting, inadequate ventilation, a lack of seats, squalid toilet and lunchroom facilities.” And the physical conditions weren't the only problem. Workers also were subject to “brutal and humiliating discipline, fines for infractions of rules, and prohibitions on the use of seats even where they were provided.” By the 1920s, saleswomen were slowly becoming more respected and gaining rights (1).
In the beginning, many women working in department stores were older (25 and over) as compared with women working in factories. Employers felt that maturity and experience were what would sell products. The older workers were also paid more money than their younger counterparts even though both were doing the same job. But by the 1930s, it was the trend to hire younger girls. Youth and beauty were wanted in order to sell goods. Many of these young girls were single and lived alone. The majority were white, as most department stores would not hire blacks, and some discriminated against Jews (1).
Also in the 1930s, employers began to offer pension plans to their workers. For instance, Macy's introduced health benefits to their employees who had been working for 15 years or more (1).
Not so bad, right? I know, the money's not so great. And the working conditions aren't the best. But say, you could always try prostitution on the side. Then you'd be set. You could even afford a thing or two in this store. Good work, honey. See you tomorrow.