Items

2000-02-15

Black Masks

I was looking at pictures from a year ago, and I see one from when I first evacuated my college campus. I was on my flight back home, the look on my face was clearly upset—but what stands out to me more is that I wasn’t wearing a mask. It’s blurry when I try to think back on details, but I guess at the time, mask wearing wasn’t yet mainstream. When exactly did that happen? I don’t really remember specific dates—does anyone anymore?--, maybe it was on a Someday or Blursday. All I know is that day, I was in the airport and on an airplane, breathing in other people’s air with no filtration. But about as soon as my previous statement became something to cringe at, it occurred to me that, “If this how it has to be for a while, I should at least make the best of it.” I wish I were referring to learning to bake bread or even watching Tiger King, but no, no, nothing that productive. Instead, I just retail-therapied the heck out of this new necessary accessory. If wearing a face mask meant I would be safer, I might as well find some pretty ones and enjoy this chance to hide my face behind some artsy patterns. Rumor had it they would be around for “a while” anyways. So, I called them an investment and spent too much time scrolling through Etsy shops. Those guys were on it! First, I ordered at least five masks off of in patterns with colors I liked or wore often, or the purple in my hair. They were nice, but the thrill wore off. That was the hardcore “stay at home stage,” so there wasn’t much need for them. Then I returned to school, glorious to be back mostly, but also to actually show my investments the light of day, while it was still seldom, in the first two weeks. Then something shifted. It was perhaps in sync with when I got the coronavirus. It was lonely. It was just me on the covid floor of my college, and a bunch of standard blue surgical masks. Believe me, I’m not trying to get pity, especially when I realized how I am of the luckier ones. But it did give me a new look on the not-so-novel (at least to me, now) virus. At that time, I wondered why I never “invested” in any neutral or plain masks, especially with it being such a generally somber time and all. The next time I was out shopping, I picked up the very first black mask I saw. Eventually I’d usually lose it, since I wore it out so much, so then I’d just do it all over again. My next “investment” was somewhere in the middle. A multi-pack or solid masks in five colors. I could probably count on one hand how many times I actually wore these. I was trying to bring back some color, but my heart wasn’t in it. They remained untouched. Instead, I started opting for the disposable masks my mom had found. That was when I learned that they make them in black. More recently, I ordered another set of solid masks. Three of the same, all in one color, just plain black. I’ve managed to keep track of all three for a while now. On especially good days, I might break out a brighter ones. But today is just regular, and I’m wearing a black mask as I type. I’ve noticed recently that many others seem to prefer a black mask too. I can’t help but think it’s representing a collective sorrow, or individual jadedness like myself. Maybe they just like the color black and all the social-distancing is just making me overanalyze the mere presence of others and their face masks. This is cliché, but I really am longing for the day we can see each other smile again.

2020-12-05

Why Sobeys is saying yes to ‘hero pay’ and no to gouging suppliers: meet the man who’s putting values first in a time of crisis

Sobey's agreeing to pay hero pay

2020-12-04

Walmart Canada to give 85,000 workers cash 'appreciation' bonus as COVID-19 surges

Article about how Walmart a large retailer will pay its employees more

2020-11-14

Be ready for new panic buying and shortages as COVID cases surge

Article on panic buying

2020-07-03

Coronavirus: Le Château begins manufacturing 500,000 hospital gowns

This article talks about retailers making PPE and by doing so they are allowing workers to keep working

2020-10-31

Eagerness to Celebrate

HIST30060. My first journey to the city after months of staying within 5km of my own home, you begin to take for granted the daily trips to university, the train and tram rides, and being around other people. I got to go to shops I haven't been to before and have discovered during lockdown as well as food that I have missed dearly and was a welcome change after so much monotony and repetition. These places were bouncing back after months of hardship and everyone seemed so keen to participate in society again. It's a first step towards normality, and I believe nothing speaks to that greater than seeing Christmas decorations on Halloween. It was October, and there was a giant Christmas tree in QV. Not many superficial things cause me to seethe, but it was over 50 days until Christmas. However, it's an annoying but nice way to demonstrate that there's a level of hope among everyone with the December holidays being a point in the future that everyone in Victoria holds dear. We hope that we will be able to travel interstate to visit friends and family for Christmas, that we can have gatherings at home around a BBQ celebrating Christmas and the holidays, but also the love we share for one another and the joy at being able to be together again. I believe this year will be the only one where I will not mind as much to see these decorations so early, as they demonstrate hope and a return to everything we know and love.

2020-03-31

Retail Workers Rushing to Fill Non-Essential Shelves

When the panic at the grocery stores happened, essentials were the first to go, but shortly after everyone was forced to stay inside, many were looking for a way to fill their time in their homes. People were creating crafts, sewing masks together, exercising, playing board games, you name it. It’s important because while grocery worker employees were overwhelmed with the demand of essential items that were selling before they could even get them off the pallets, nonessential items were flying off the shelves as well, making their regular duties even more difficult to keep up with.

2020-10-20

Face Masks. Corona Virus Media

This media is a photograph of several shoppers leaving Walmart all within 6 feet of each other and wearing face masks. I chose this image because I work in retail and experience and enforce this requirement on a daily basis. The reality of wearing face masks while completing everyday tasks is still something that I personally am getting used to. Face masks create a barrier especially in the workplace because it makes it difficult to communicate with customers and coworkers. When working in retail stores you are supposed to create and maintain a connection with the customer in order to push sales. This is difficult to do when wearing a face mask because you have a difficult time speaking and maintaining a distance while shopping, selling, and cashiering multiple customers.

2020-10-15

Do You Know I'm Smiling?

I pride myself on being a friendly southerner, mainly while out shopping or eating at restaurants. I know retail and food service employees have very difficult jobs, so I always try to be friendly, understanding and tip well. One of the ways I’ve always tried to appear friendly is by smiling. But now with the COVID-19 pandemic, masks are required pretty much everywhere. Essential workers are overworked, and now my face, covered with a mask from the nose down is hiding my smile. They cannot tell how friendly I appear; now I just have to try and say loudly(so they can understand me from behind the mask), that I don’t mind how long I had to wait, I understand they are busy, and it’s okay. I usually try to ease their concern with a nice smile. I never realized how much not being able to smile at people would impact me. I’ve never felt more pressure to “smile with my eyes” or “smize” as Tyra Banks would famously tell the models on the America’s Next Top Model television show. Life’s hard for smilers, no one can see our beautiful expressions with masks on.

2020-03-01

COVID and RETAIL

It shows a fresh perspective of someone working in retail during a pandemic.

2020-10-08

Essential Worker

The object that I have uploaded reflects several aspects regarding the pandemic as it presents an implication as to the spread of Covid-19 throughout the United States, methods regarding the prevention of the transmission of Covid-19, as well as the efforts of companies, in this case Dollar General, to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. On its own, as the mask of a Dollar General Employee from Sevierville, Tennessee, the object brings with it the implication that, in the event that evidence for Covid-19’s spread within East Tennessee is lost, there was at least a concern within the Dollar General corporation regarding the spread of Covid-19 into the East Tennessee area. The object, as a photograph of a mask, also provides information about the ideas circulating at this time to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, such as the donning of a mask to cover the mouth and nose. The object also informs regarding the efforts of retail corporations, in this instance Dollar General, to curb the spread of the pandemic through their establishments and across the nation, such as providing official masks for their employees to utilize. The uploaded object is important to me because it is a reminder of the various reactions, primarily from customers, to the spread of the pandemic within a retail-based environment. Among these reactions has been the bulk purchasing of certain products once they are restocked, specifically Lysol and alcohol but toilet paper and hand sanitizer were also frequently bought in the early months of the pandemic, as well as the influx of various hand sanitizer and face mask based products to be purchased. Aside from what items are frequently purchased, the customers of the store also react frequently to the implementation of face masks within the store as many comment on their lack of comfort while a minority speak positively about their benefit in preventing the spread of Covid-19, though the majority of customers make no comment at all regarding face masks.

2020-09

A moment of Peace

I am one of the thousands of retail employees that wend back to work during the pandemic. One one hand I was grateful to be getting an income again but on the other completely worried about how customers would treat me with all the new regulations. Since starting back I've had quite a few interesting experiences. A man dropping his pants in the store since the fitting rooms are closed, argued with costumers to put their mask back on, and sat in the sweltering heat to have lunch since we aren't allowed to eat inside. But within all of the turmoil and uncertainty there are moments of peace. For me it was just a few days ago as I was going over the Card Sound Bridge on my way to work. I usually blast music to pass the time during the drive and that particular morning the bay was incredibly glassy. For a moment the music and the way the water made me forget everything going on in the world. It was if the pandemic and all other chaos in the world melted away and there were only things to be thankful for. Although we are far away from things being normal again that moment reminded me that through tough times there are still things to be thankful and hopeful for.

2020-05-15

JCPenney Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Pandemics Causes Department Stores to Suffer.

2020-04-16

Journal of a Walmart employee

Journal entries.

2020-04-03

Working in Retail During COVID-19

03/22/2020

Standing 6ft apart at Trader Joes

This photo shows the chalk linea being drawn outside of the Trader Joes on Newbury Street in Boston, MA to keep customers 6ft apart while waiting in line. #HIST5241

2020-03-28

Tieks #sewtogether campaign

Tieks, an online retailer of foldable flats, started a campaign to get masks sewn for healthcare workers. Because of the shortage of masks, healthcare workers are reusing disposable masks or even going without. Tieks is offering gift cards for customers that sew masks and then donate them to local hospitals or other healthcare sites.

2020-03-24

"How Fear Can Spread like a Virus"

This image shows how crazy the hysteria has become, people are hoarding items for this "apocalypse" leaving store shelves empty. When they are fully restocked again, it's only a matter or hours until they completely sell out. However, not many are thinking about those in serious need of those supplies. The elderly have a higher risk of dying and need certain supplies, and families are finding it hard to find meat and other foods to feed their families because of all the hoarding.

2020-03-17

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