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15th out of 24 books
—
11 voters
Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail
by
Caitlin Kelly (Goodreads Author)
One woman's midcareer misadventures in the absurd world of American retail.
After losing her job as a journalist and the security of a good salary, Caitlin Kelly was hard up for cash. When she saw that The North Face-an upscale outdoor clothing company-was hiring at her local mall, she went for an interview almost on a whim.
Suddenly she found herself, middle-aged and mid...more
After losing her job as a journalist and the security of a good salary, Caitlin Kelly was hard up for cash. When she saw that The North Face-an upscale outdoor clothing company-was hiring at her local mall, she went for an interview almost on a whim.
Suddenly she found herself, middle-aged and mid...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 14th 2011
by Portfolio Hardcover
(first published March 19th 2011)
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aww caitlin kelly, you lookin' for some sympathy?? i got your sympathy right here: boo freaking hoo.
here's the lowdown: ms. kelly was a journalist. the economy tanked. she lost her position. so she got a part-time job working retail. it was harder than she thought it would be. so she wrote a book about how hard it is to work retail and how underappreciated companies make their sales associates feel.
did i mention that she started out with a whopping two shifts a week and then had to scale back t...more
here's the lowdown: ms. kelly was a journalist. the economy tanked. she lost her position. so she got a part-time job working retail. it was harder than she thought it would be. so she wrote a book about how hard it is to work retail and how underappreciated companies make their sales associates feel.
did i mention that she started out with a whopping two shifts a week and then had to scale back t...more
Despite my rating of this book, I actually enjoyed most of it. As a retail worker myself who aspires to do something "higher" class worthy I related to many of Kelly's feelings and share similar stories. I enjoyed a lot of the additional commentary from industry experts and case studies of successful franchise stores to demonstrate that not all of the retail world is completely doomed.
The only problem I had with this book was Kelly's consistent reminder that she is a veteran journalist and that...more
The only problem I had with this book was Kelly's consistent reminder that she is a veteran journalist and that...more
I was pretty disappointed in this book since I expected it to be like an updated version of Barbara Ehrenreich's classic "Nickel and Dimed." While there are some similarities to "N & D," "Malled" is really just a long rant by a privileged, educated (yet ignorant), and somewhat snobbish (and racist) woman who worked a whopping one or two shifts a week at a store in a New York City suburb. Yes, retail jobs suck and the pay is abysmal. However, the author -- unlike her co-workers -- wasn't tryi...more
In this memoir, a fifty-something journalist recounts her experiences in part-time retail work. Caitlin Kelly, having recently lost a steady job writing, turns to hourly work in a new North Face store. After landing the job and going through training, Kelly begins her “career” as a retail associate, although her time in the job really only lasts a couple of years (hardly a career). She describes the feeling of being a part of a cog in the machine of corporate owned and run business, of being a f...more
Caitlin Kelly has no idea what it is to work in retail.
Working one day a week, for just over two years, in a high-end store, in one of New York's most upscale malls is not "experiencing what it's like on the other side of the cash wrap". At best, what Kelly experienced was an extended research project to benefit her successful journalism career. Yet, she continuously writes about the difficulty of being on your feet for such long hours (again, for one shift per week) and how dreadful her pay is...more
Working one day a week, for just over two years, in a high-end store, in one of New York's most upscale malls is not "experiencing what it's like on the other side of the cash wrap". At best, what Kelly experienced was an extended research project to benefit her successful journalism career. Yet, she continuously writes about the difficulty of being on your feet for such long hours (again, for one shift per week) and how dreadful her pay is...more
This book was given to me by a favorite customer at my bookselling job. I had been thinking about reading it, and while i'm glad i did, i was not at all impressed. The author worked one day a week at a retail store for not even two and a half years, hardly a "career." Despite being a journalist (one who writes for a living!), i found the writing in this book to be awful. She shared the SAME anecdotes and details chapter after chapter. How many times do i need to be reminded that your fiance's na...more
I had such high hopes for this book! Thanks to the downturn in the economy, an older, educated career women has to go work in retail. Oh the horrors! Oh pah-leese. The women worked one, maybe 2 days a week at a retail store far from her home, so she didn't have to run into anyone she knew. Plus, it seemed like half her paycheck went into affording this job (always buying lunch, paying for parking and gas, etc) and even thought she never said that the point of her job was to write a book at the e...more
I am appalled by the amount of time I spent waiting to rent this book from my library. I only made it through the first two chapters before I had to put this down in absolute disgust. First of all, let's start with some clarification. If you consciously decide to get a specific job, search for and apply to said job, that is not in fact "unintentional." That is "on purpose." Ok, so moving on, what was the catalyst that prompted Kelly to seek out employment in retail? Children to feed? Can't make...more
I became interested in this book after I heard an interview with the author on NPR. The book describes her two year stint as a part-time salesperson at North Face, and the lousy working conditions that she experienced even at such a relatively upscale establishment (in a very wealthy suburban mall). Kelly's primary occupation is as a journalist, and she spent what seemed to be way too much time at the outset describing her seemingly fabulous previous career, the exotic places she visited, and th...more
When I first heard about this book, I was excited to pick up a copy, both because I have spent most of my working life in customer service, and because I currently work for the same company that she did. (I currently work in the E-Commerce department at The North Face, and most of my job duties involve direct customer service).
It is rare that I can't finish a book, even if it isn't great. But, I had to put this one down. It isn't a "riches-to-rags" tale. The book (as far as I've read) is basica...more
It is rare that I can't finish a book, even if it isn't great. But, I had to put this one down. It isn't a "riches-to-rags" tale. The book (as far as I've read) is basica...more
Once past the opening one-third of Malled, I transcended my admittedly classist disdain for what I thought would be another fish-out-of-water tale much like Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed. I came to appreciate Caitlin Kelly's straightforward reporting on corporate policies that view suffering employees as no more important than floor tile. But I had to get to the solid facts piled up in Chapter Nine before I actually began to warm to the book.
Prior to that, it was just another tale of som...more
Prior to that, it was just another tale of som...more
I thoroughly enjoy biographies. I love to get inside a person’s head and hear their life, their observations, the nuances, the challenges in their voice. I have to say, though, that this time I was anxious to finish this book and get the author our of my head.
http://100bookninja.wordpress.com/201...
I heard part of author Caitlin Kelly’s NPR interview last week and was intrigued by the idea of the book: displaced professional take a retail job to help make ends meet. As the economy continues to t...more
http://100bookninja.wordpress.com/201...
I heard part of author Caitlin Kelly’s NPR interview last week and was intrigued by the idea of the book: displaced professional take a retail job to help make ends meet. As the economy continues to t...more
Admittedly I've had my share of student's jobs in the world of retail too, many years ago. Reading Caitlin Kelly's book Malled, where she describes how she ended up working retail out of necessity, to bolster up her income as freelance writer, brought back both the good and the not-so-good memories of that time.
Coming from a journalistic background Caitlin's experiences as a retail sales associate for The North Face provides not only a very personal insight into her life, but even more so, it is...more
Coming from a journalistic background Caitlin's experiences as a retail sales associate for The North Face provides not only a very personal insight into her life, but even more so, it is...more
I'm lucky, I guess. I've never worked in retail, though my husband has--he spent many years working in a small specialty shop of the type Caitlin Kelly admires, and while like most jobs it had it's good point and bad points, the fact of the matter is, he isn't there any more. Kelly's basic thesis is that retail salespeople in the average mall shop are overworked, underpaid, over-managed and abused by customers so that the company for which they work, can make profits--and if the company does mak...more
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I'm not sure what heading or genre this would fall under per a publisher, but I enjoy when authors go undercover - or in this case just take on a second job - and then write about it from the employees viewpoint while providing statistics on the field. I did grow a bit tired of constantly reading about the author's ability to be a better salesperson than anyone else - in her one day a week turn behind the register. It also grew tiresome to hear her repeatedly...more
As a retail veteran myself, I found this book to be quite insightful when it comes to the good and bad side of retail. This is the account of a successful journalist who had to enter the workforce as a retail clerk at The North Face in a mall located in an affluent New York suburb. She describes the typical norm when it comes to the environment of a retail store; the impending doom that corporate offices play into a store whether their store location is successful or not; the sad reality of the...more
Caitlin Kelly is a journalist. Caitlin Kelly is a journalist! Caitlin Kelly is a journalist, damnit!!! She is a highly repetitive "author" who just might make you hate your own job - even if it's not in retail. Kelly worked in retail for two years (intentionally!), from October 2007 to December 2009. However, during the majority of this time she only worked ONE day a week for five hours. She believes this paltry amount of time gives her the right to bitch about everything that is wrong with reta...more
Oh, poor Caitlin Kelly, I feel for for, oh not wait, I don't! Your book was utter drivel to be honest. English isn't my native language, so a few years ago I would have blamed myself for not getting your aweful jokes and your style of writing.
Caitlin Kelly work in journalism for many years, until the economy tanked and she lost her job. So, she had to resort to working with the common man, in a department store. She started off with a back-breaking two shifts per week and had to cut down to one...more
Caitlin Kelly work in journalism for many years, until the economy tanked and she lost her job. So, she had to resort to working with the common man, in a department store. She started off with a back-breaking two shifts per week and had to cut down to one...more
6 likes · like · see review
Advanced, unedited galley from netgalley.com
Caitlin Kelly takes a job at The North Face in need of some sort of steady paycheck when writings jobs drop off around the time the recession. She first enjoys working retail but soon realizes that the environment is not the best. We experience her frustration with having too few employees, crowded storerooms, inadequate lighting and equipment all while trying to provide the best service. Letting us peek into (or relive) an environment that can make e...more
Caitlin Kelly takes a job at The North Face in need of some sort of steady paycheck when writings jobs drop off around the time the recession. She first enjoys working retail but soon realizes that the environment is not the best. We experience her frustration with having too few employees, crowded storerooms, inadequate lighting and equipment all while trying to provide the best service. Letting us peek into (or relive) an environment that can make e...more
The author works part time at a North Face in a upscale mall outside of NYC to supplement her decreasing income as a journalist during the "depression" of 2007-2009. There is definitely some interesting information about retail associates being treated horribly by large corporations with low pay, too much work, and the inability to advance. She was only working one day a week ( additional hours during holiday time) so I can't see how that helped that much financially. She constantly talks about...more
I have never before blogged but found this website in order to express my opinions about this book. Would give NO stars if possible!!!
The author whines about how tough retail is and then you realize she is working ONE day a week....and somehow manages to be compensated hourly at FULL TIME pay. Give me a break. She constantly repeats her situations and compares to her other/former job as a journalist.
I also worked retail, for a lark at a classy woman's boutique, covering lunches for 2-3 days a we...more
The author whines about how tough retail is and then you realize she is working ONE day a week....and somehow manages to be compensated hourly at FULL TIME pay. Give me a break. She constantly repeats her situations and compares to her other/former job as a journalist.
I also worked retail, for a lark at a classy woman's boutique, covering lunches for 2-3 days a we...more
"I'd never worn a name tag at work, only at conferences where I was an honored speaker whose words were taped and sold..."
I don't think it's possible to have a more clueless sense of entitlement. The premise is similar to Nickel and Dimed, where the author works in a low-paying job and talks about what she learns (my god! service industry work is actually hard! my coworkers are actual human beings! people are mean to us!), but Caitlin Kelly is just so profoundly fucking annoying. She worked one...more
I don't think it's possible to have a more clueless sense of entitlement. The premise is similar to Nickel and Dimed, where the author works in a low-paying job and talks about what she learns (my god! service industry work is actually hard! my coworkers are actual human beings! people are mean to us!), but Caitlin Kelly is just so profoundly fucking annoying. She worked one...more
7 likes · like · see review
As a former retail worker, I can completely relate to Caitlin's experiences throughout her time at The North Face. My first job was in food service at a local zoo and while I wasn't selling clothes, the rude customers, overwhelming demands set by the managers, and atrocious working conditions (especially in the summer) all contributed to the experience scarring me for life. As Caitlin says in her book, after I left that job I gained a greater appreciation for those who work behind that counter t...more
This book appalled me. The attitude that Caitlin Kelly demonstrates through this book makes me want to punch her in the face. This book makes her seem patronising and stuck up. Her experience in retail seems riddled with fakery and her constant need to refer back to the fact that she is upper middle class and that she is a well known and successful journalist is sickening. I was really looking forward to this book as it seemed to stand for everything that is wrong with retail in America and in a...more
Caitlin Kelly's Malled is an insightful, if sometimes tiresome, look at the other side of retail. Kelly, forced to get a job at North Face when her journalism career is cut back, finds the life of a retail clerk exhausting, but strangely satisfying.
Kelly's snarky, clean-cut writing style was enjoyable throughout much of the book, though, by the end, I'd heard enough from her. Yes, I get it, working retail is hard; you're on your feet all day, you make hardly any money, and people don't treat you...more
Kelly's snarky, clean-cut writing style was enjoyable throughout much of the book, though, by the end, I'd heard enough from her. Yes, I get it, working retail is hard; you're on your feet all day, you make hardly any money, and people don't treat you...more
Note: Review copy provided by Netgalley.
Although there are some fairly repetitive passages in this book, ultimately this was a worthwhile read. As a "recently" minted professional myself, I am having to come to terms with the prospect of finally accepting that there are no jobs in my chosen field. While Kelly has years, if not decades, of experience in her chosen field and is still pursuing freelance work, there are those of us who do not have freelance options and maybe this book will be of som...more
Although there are some fairly repetitive passages in this book, ultimately this was a worthwhile read. As a "recently" minted professional myself, I am having to come to terms with the prospect of finally accepting that there are no jobs in my chosen field. While Kelly has years, if not decades, of experience in her chosen field and is still pursuing freelance work, there are those of us who do not have freelance options and maybe this book will be of som...more
After hearing an interview with the author on NPR I was really looking forward to reading this book. Instead I thought this book was a poor excuse for a non fiction account of the retail world. I do work in the service industry and I have a really hard time feeling sorry for the author ( who CONSTANTLY complains about her sore feet etc) when she only worked 5hours a day once a week! I was hoping for greater insight concerning the huge percentage of our population who are in retail or the service...more
I'd expected the book to be complaints about the author's experience working retail but was surprised to find quite a bit of research-based information. A short chapter tells about fatal and nonfatal accidents amongst retail workers; another introduces us to professionals laid off during the recession and trying to get by on a retail worker's salary. As a part-time employee of a large bookstore chain, I can relate to the poorly-disciplined children, overturned coffee cup which damages three shel...more
I really enjoyed Malled. Unlike other tales of retail woe, Caitlin Kelly did not whine about working retail for 240 pages. She did extensive research on the industry, and worker relations within retail and interspersed those facts throughout her book. She wrote a fair and accurate book about work retail. She even admitted her own screw-ups, as opposed to blaming all of her woes on the evil "corporate office" and I found that really refreshing and somewhat endearing.
Overall, I really enjoyed Mall...more
Overall, I really enjoyed Mall...more
Caitlin Kelly has never been a position where she has needed to work in Retail. Suddenly she's an unemployed Journalist looking for a steady paycheck Retail has become the most enticing industry available to someone with almost no credentials. Suddenly she's stepped into a world full of customers, long hours and the joy of upper management.
As a former Retail Checkout Chick there are so many moments that Caitlin describes where I can't help but roll my eyes in remembrance of some of my more memo...more
As a former Retail Checkout Chick there are so many moments that Caitlin describes where I can't help but roll my eyes in remembrance of some of my more memo...more
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Dec 13, 2011 02:38pm
Dec 13, 2011 07:39pm