Posts by tag
life lessons
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: The Last Day
In the final chapter of Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer, the author looks back to the feeling of a last day at work.
Computers and Retail
Brian Brehmer looks into how computers have made ordering a milk deliver anything but easy. Retail Tales is back.
Our Year of Living Ridiculously
As lockdown leaves her student community stranded, Annalise Murray and her flatmates get creative with the help of TikTok and an abundance of television.
Somewhat More Than Zero
Leah Mueller, the voice of everyday America, returns to Talking Soup with a tale of love, music, and work from 1980s Chicago.
Which One Today?
When the desire arises, Ken Cumberlidge occasionally wishes he could wear women’s clothes. In this personal essay, he reflects on what this might mean in modern society.
Have You Suffered an Injury at Work That Wasn’t Your Fault?
Brian Brehmer, no stranger to being injured in the workplace, again descends into bureaucratic hell in order to make a compensation claim.
Hamantaschen
A family tale of emigration, tradition, and future. Becca Miles joins Talking Soup with a story as carefully crafted as freshly made hamantaschen.
Vengeance is Mine
The writing process is a long and hard one. If at first you don’t succeed…find an inspirational arachnid. Graeme Hunter joins Talking Soup with a tale of rejection, acceptance, and joyful vengeance.
The Night Shift
A liminal zone, where daytime rules need not apply. George Aitch looks into the experience of working the night shift.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: Invisible Employees
Brian Brehmer looks into an unusual phenomenon in the world of retail; the invisible employee.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: Too Many Managers
Brian Brehmer has a look around him and sees managers, managers, and more managers.
Some Blockchain with your Cheese Sir?
Frank Sonderborg muses on cryptocurrencies and Blockchain, and wonders what it all means for the world…and the wine industry.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: Inclement Weather
Brian Brehmer goes into the absurd world of retail in conditions of inclement weather. Tornado? Hurricane? Snow? You’d better believe you are expected to clock in.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: Job Titles
Brian Brehmer goes into the confusing world of job titles in the joy of working in retail. This is how management get away with paying you less.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: The Transfer
Brian Brehmer is torn from the relative comfort of his store to be transferred to another, then another, then another. It can only be Retail tales.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: Inventory
Brian Brehmer describes the utter soul-destroying misery of an inventory in the world of retail.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: The Job Application
Retail veteran, Brian Brehmer, looks into the life-sapping questions on a standard job application form. It can only be Retail Tales.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: #17 The Interview
The begin of any descent into the world of retail always starts with two simple words: Job interview.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: #16 The First Day
After this, I was handed over to a department, given a walkie talkie with which to communicate and told to work. The department I received first? Men, shoes and baby. Seems I could not escape shoes even if I tried.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: #14 The Time Clock
In a perceived act of corporate evil, it seems that the time clock at work is operating on a different wavelength from the rest of the world. Time for Brian Brehmer.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: #13 The Customers
In his column, Retail Tales, Brian Brehmer looks at the essential, but often unpredictable, aspect of retail: the customers.
Retail Tales with Brian Brehmer: #11 The Annual Review
After a year of mind-numbing repetition, Brian faces up to the enticing prospect of reflecting on his actions in the annual review. Retail Tales, with Brian Brehmer.