Surviving the inevitable come-down.(Grit & Glamor: Epi.10)
Believing in success puts you on the right track, even when you doubt the path you have taken, even when others doubt it too, walk tall.
Previously:
As the strong sales from the first day of the sale continued, the newsletters and website updates proved effective, leading to an upward revision of the Shibuya store’s sales target at the July store managers’ meeting. Prompted by Ms. I’s suggestion, I launched a Rakuten Blog. The first post was a simple diary entry, but as I continued updating, I began to feel a sense of progress. However, at that time, Rakuten Blog did not have a photo upload feature. While exploring the blog’s potential, I learned from a blogger in Kyushu how to embed photos, and finally, I succeeded in creating a photo-inclusive blog. Additionally, taking advantage of the summer sale, we decided to invest 100,000 yen in the Shibuya store’s window display. The professional florist created a refreshing “summer retreat” themed display. The July sales results surpassed 40 million yen, and I realized the importance of utilizing my authority as a store manager. This experience opened a new stage for maximizing the store’s appeal to customers. 4.5 Prada, the Gym, and Me
4.5 Prada, the Gym, and Me
Still buzzing with excitement after reaching the 40 million yen milestone, I found myself walking down the street lined with brand shops in Aoyama. The displays in the stores were gradually shifting from summer attire to autumn fashion, giving a sense of the changing seasons.
As I gazed at the shop windows showcasing the latest autumn collections, my heart pounded with the anticipation of choosing a reward for myself. A customer’s bag had caught my eye, so I asked where she had purchased it, and she replied, “PRADA.” I thought, “I must get one too!” and that’s why I came here.
When I stepped into the Prada store, I was enveloped by the cool air conditioning and the luxurious scent. Bags were displayed with ample space on uniquely curved stands. It was a graceful moment as I selected the one I liked. Nervously, I told the clerk, “I’d like this one, please.”
What caught my eye was a high-quality leather bag in a matte gray shade. The front features a solid metal buckle, subtly engraved with the “PRADA” logo. Beneath the buckle, there is a small keyhole, giving it a classic touch. Delicate gathers on both sides create a soft silhouette, lending the bag an elegant impression. The handle is of perfect length to be carried on the shoulder. It seamlessly blends with both casual denim styles and formal dress styles. I thought it would endure through time, becoming a cherished vintage piece.
After completing the purchase and leaving the store, carefully holding the Prada shopping bag, I felt like I had taken the first step toward success.
One day, I suddenly thought, “I should join a gym.” I had the impression that successful people had a habit of exercising. A staff member, who had a famous businessperson as a grandfather, recommended a gym in Ebisu, so I decided to check it out.
The gym was located on the first floor of a building a bit away from the station. It was packed with machines and had an attached studio. The spa area even had a steam sauna. Considering it was between Shibuya and the nearest station, I thought I could manage to go, convincing myself it was a “step towards success,” and I became a member.
However, by the end of September, although I surpassed the previous year’s sales, I couldn’t meet the sales target. Neither the glamorous window displays nor the frequently updated blog had the expected effect.
4.6 Adversity
In early October, at the manager meeting in Kobe, I nervously presented our autumn-winter strategy. However my frustration at not being able to address the core online strategy and my anxiety over the lack of results made my words unconvincing. Then, a veteran manager said, “Why isn’t the Shibuya store selling well despite its excellent location?”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the room froze. My face grew hot, and my vision went white. Telling myself, “No excuses,” I struggled to remain calm. What saved me was the empathetic words of Ms.H, the manager from Nagoya. “I also managed the Shibuya store, and it’s tough there,” she said. After the meeting, she approached me and declared, “You’re doing everything right, so you will definitely succeed.” Her words felt like a ray of light in the darkness. Knowing some people support you is incredibly encouraging.
The next morning, during the morning meeting in the Shibuya store’s backroom, I spoke to the staff about yesterday’s frustration and my new determination. “Let’s beat the Yokohama store!” At that moment, I felt a renewed sparkle in the eyes of the staff and a sense of unity forming. It was a moment when we all took the first step toward a new challenge together.
4.7 The Insight Notebook
To output on the blog every day, I needed to also input. I opened a new A6-sized blank notebook. I wrote “Insight Notebook” on the cover in small letters and let the pen glide over the first page. As soon as the pen touched the paper, the conversation with manager Ms.H came vividly back to me. “You will definitely succeed.” Her words had a mysterious persuasiveness, and I felt a warm confidence growing inside me.
The staff working under manager Ms.H always ranked at the top in individual sales. What was their secret? She would scout her staff!
Due to a typhoon, I had to stay overnight after the manager meeting, and on the way back, I stopped by the new store in Shinsaibashi, where Ms.H happened to be. I saw her talking to a young woman. The woman’s initially puzzled expression gradually brightened as she listened to Ms.H’s words as if she were under a spell.
“Recently, the staff’s passion for their dreams is so high that it’s hard to keep it in check,” She said with a laugh. Behind those words was her belief in and guidance of each staff member’s potential. In hindsight, what I wrote on that first page was a vision of my future.
