by Rosie Clarke
‘Yes, me too.’ Maggie looked happy at the idea.
‘I think that’s where they will put me.’ Sally made a wry expression. ‘I wanted clothes. It’s what I know best, but it sounds as if we’ll be working together – at least that’s something…’
The front door was opening and Beth, Maggie and Sally were among the first admitted. The woman who had interviewed Beth was holding a clipboard and directing people to their various departments. Beth hardly had time to take in the look of luxury on all sides – tiled floors of grey marble, glossy pale wood and sparkling chandeliers overhead were all a blur as the floor walker spoke to them. Her excitement and nerves were churning inside her, making her mouth dry and the palms of her hands damp.
‘Ah yes, Miss Ross, Miss Grey – and…’ She frowned at Maggie over her gold-rimmed glasses.
‘Maggie Gibbs,’ she supplied timidly.
‘Ah, the junior… Yes – you are all to report to the first floor. You may use the lift, if you know how to, if not take the stairs.’
‘I can work the lift,’ Sally said confidently and led the way into the small cage, sliding the outer and then the inner doors closed and pressing the buttons on the wall next to it. ‘We had these at Selfridges… I expect there will be an operator when we open…’
‘Did you work at Selfridges?’ Maggie looked at her in awe. ‘Why did you leave?’
‘Because the floor supervisor couldn’t keep his hands to himself,’ Sally said with a grin. ‘He was always touching me as I passed him and I’d had enough. At least we shall have a female supervisor here.’
‘Yes – Miss Hart is a bit of a dragon, isn’t she?’ Maggie said ruefully.
‘I’ve known worse,’ Sally told her grimly. ‘You stick with me, Maggie love, and I’ll put you right.’
The lift had reached the first floor. Sally opened the wire cage and sliding doors and they trooped out into a large department with glass counters covered with paper wrappings one of which had been torn open, things that looked like hat stands still wrapped in layers of brown paper, and many large cardboard boxes.
As the girls hesitated uncertainly, a woman who looked to be in her early thirties walked in from what they later learned was the stockroom. She looked directly at them and smiled, coming forward with her hand outstretched.
‘You must be my assistants,’ she said. ‘I am Rachel Craven. I’ve had experience of running a haberdasher for a while. During working hours you will address me as Mrs Craven, but I hope we shall get on well and perhaps become friends.’ Her bright eyes moved over them. ‘Miss Sally Ross, you are my senior assistant, because you have the most experience…’ She looked at the right person. ‘I’ve been told why you left Selfridges – and if you have that kind of trouble in future, come to me first and I will sort it.’
‘Thanks,’ Sally nodded.
‘Now, before we go any further, I should tell you what I know about the store. We’re on the first floor and next to us are the dress and lingerie departments; above us is the men’s department, which is subdivided for suits, coats, hats, gloves, underwear and shoes, and next to that is the shoe department. The women’s shoes are also on that floor, a mistake I feel, and also children’s clothing. On the third floor is a restaurant which serves snacks like a cup of tea and a scone for both customers and staff, also the staff rest room, where you may go if you feel unwell. On the fourth floor is Mr Stockbridge’s office, Mr Marco’s room and the accounts office, which is where we send our invoices and cash for change. Then, of course, there is the basement…’
‘What happens there?’ Maggie asked.
‘It is the domain of our caretaker, who brings up our stock and keeps us all going…’
‘Only one?’ Sally Ross said. ‘We had several at Selfridges…’
‘I dare say we’ll manage for the moment.’ Mrs Craven turned her gaze to Beth. ‘I think you must be Miss Beth Grey, you are the second assistant, but you will have the gloves and scarves counter, and Miss Margaret Gibbs, you will be my assistant for the time being. That means you tidy up after I’ve served a customer and fetch whatever I need. It will also be your job to dust and remove covers in the mornings. Miss Ross has leather handbags and costume jewellery – two counters – and I am in charge of the millinery. If one or the other of you is very busy, I may send Miss Gibbs to assist you. I shall, therefore, instruct all of you in the way merchandise is to be handled, how to address customers and how to take money and send it by way of our ingenious machine up to the office for change. For a start, if I am free, I shall supervise the money taken, but there may be times when I simply do not have the time and you will have to do it alone.’
‘Yes, Mrs Craven,’ they all said and she smiled.
‘I am sure I don’t have to warn any of you about personal hygiene. We insist on clean short nails, no make-up or perfume for work and your hair must be tidy and clean.’ Her eyes swept over them. ‘Nothing to complain of here… Good – now I think that we shall have Miss Ross in the role of customer for a start. You will serve her with gloves, Miss Grey – and you will watch, Miss Gibbs…’ She turned her brown eyes on Sally and Beth noticed the glint of mischief. ‘I want you to be as difficult as possible, Miss Ross – so that our ladies understand just how much patience it takes to be a sales assistant in this kind of department.’
‘Where do I stand?’ Beth asked and was told to take her place behind a counter which had several graduated wooden drawers inside. Most of the wrapping had been taken from this counter and Mrs Craven snipped away the rest with a small pair of silver-coloured scissors that hung from a chatelaine at her waist.
‘Now, Miss Ross, address the assistant – and tell her you need the gloves to match some shoes for a wedding.’
Beth took her place and Sally approached. She looked at the counter, appearing to study it, and then touched her hair. ‘Miss, I need some pale grey gloves,’ she said in a voice that shocked Beth, because it sounded high class and completely unlike the voice Sally used when speaking normally. ‘Size five and a half please…’
‘Yes, madam,’ Beth answered in her normal tone. ‘We have silk and leather… would you like to see both?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Sally turned up her nose. ‘I don’t want cheap leather – and silk is difficult to keep nice. Don’t you have anything else?’
‘The knitted gloves are more for winter,’ Beth improvised. ‘I can assure you that these leather gloves are beautifully soft and well made…’ She pulled out a drawer at the back and pretended to take some gloves out, placing them on the counter.
Sally pretended to pick up one pair, looked at them, shook her head and then picked up the next. She smoothed her fingers and admired them for a moment and then sighed.
‘The leather is good – but they’re too dark. I need something lighter… What about those – I’d like to try those, please…’ She pointed to another drawer in the counter.
Beth went and pulled out another drawer, pretending to take out more gloves. Sally went through the motions of picking each pair up again and comparing them, and then shook her head.
‘These are too plain. Do you not have something with a bow or a little fancy fastener? It is for a special occasion…’
‘I’m not sure, madam,’ Beth said and turned to Maggie. ‘Miss Gibbs, would you ask Mrs Craven if she could please come for a moment – and if she is busy, ask her if we have any more grey gloves not out on show…?’
‘Excellent,’ Mrs Craven said. ‘That is always a good ploy if the customer is too difficult. However, you have made the most common mistake all shop girls make when they start…’ She turned her bright gaze on Sally. ‘Can Miss Ross tell you what that is please?’
‘Do not get too many items out at once,’ Sally said promptly. ‘If a customer says she doesn’t like something and asks to see other examples, then put away the ones she rejected in your personal drawer at the top. You can sort them when you’ve finished serving. Otherwise, if she is dishonest, and e
ven the posh ones sometimes are, you may lose things like gloves, scarves, costume jewellery…’
‘That is why I’ve put you in charge of that section as well as the handbags, Miss Ross,’ Mrs Craven nodded approval. ‘The leather handbags are the most expensive items we stock and some of the jewellery is too good to be classed as costume jewellery. They are handmade, individual silver pieces from America, and must be put away in my office safe at night…’
‘Oh, I didn’t realise.’ Sally’s expression brightened. ‘I like handling good things. When will the stock arrive?’
‘Not until next week,’ Mrs Craven said. ‘Today is to be given to learning how to serve our customers, where the different departments are – and also learning the rules, which are quite strict. We do not allow assistants to eat or drink anywhere in the store but the restaurant, or the staff restroom, which is on the third floor.’ She paused, then, ‘I think it is quite expensive to eat in the restaurant, and my advice would be to bring sandwiches and take them to the restroom in your lunch break. I would advise you to find somewhere cheap to have a cup of soup midday if you prefer; your tea break will be in the staff room and is no more than fifteen minutes in the morning and afternoon. You take it in turns and being late back is liable to a fine of one penny a minute, as is arriving late in the mornings. We work until five thirty, finishing when the last customer has left the department, even if that is several minutes past our time…’
‘Do we all wear the same style dress?’ Beth asked. ‘Are we allowed to make our own or do we have to buy it from the store?’
‘You will be given one dress and any other you buy or make must be the same style. Mine is a slightly different style, but you three all have the same. It has a white lace collar, which you can change rather than washing the dress every time. If you choose good material, sponging should be sufficient.’
Beth nodded, feeling relieved. She would be able to buy material from the market and ask her aunt to make the dress.
‘What are the other rules?’ Sally inquired.
‘You are expected to be here by a quarter to eight in the mornings. First of all, we shall be addressed by the manager and told of any important events and then we say prayers. It will be frowned on if you do not attend the briefing. After that we tidy and prepare the department for customers.’ She placed a sheet of paper on the counter. ‘Study the list and you won’t forget…’
Sally nodded. ‘I can see there is a pulley system to send the money up to the office. Do I have to check every payment with you, Mrs Craven?’
‘Unless I am very busy, I would advise you to do so for your own benefit, Miss Ross. However, you could ask either Miss Grey or Miss Gibbs to check if that is easier.’ The supervisor looked at Beth and Maggie. ‘The reason I advise you to have someone check what the customer gives you is because occasionally you might be told you were given more than you were – and it is awkward. We would then have to confirm it with the office and they might be busy, which could cause a problem… I find it is best to write on the invoice the denomination of the note given and repeat it to the customer before you put it into the capsule and send it upstairs.’
Beth and Maggie nodded. It had never occurred to either of them that their customer might say they had given more money than they had. There was such a lot to learn.
‘There are so many rules,’ Maggie whispered to Sally anxiously. ‘I shall be frightened of breaking them without knowing.’
‘You don’t smoke, so you don’t have to worry about that one,’ Sally consulted the list Mrs Craven had placed on the counter.
‘I’m glad we can’t, I don’t like it,’ Maggie replied softly.
‘What other rules are there?’ Sally asked.
‘No jewellery is allowed to be worn other than a wedding ring – engagement rings must be left at home. Taking them off and leaving them in a handbag is unwise – as is leaving more money than you need for the day. Clean handkerchiefs are expected and shoes must always be polished. No ladders or holes in stockings, in case they are seen if you bend down – Miss Ross, I think you are wearing perfume today. Please do not do so for work.’
Sally nodded. ‘Sorry, Mrs Craven. I think it’s on my dress.’
‘I think it unnecessarily harsh, but it is one of the rules,’ Mrs Craven smiled at them. ‘I think I’ve covered most things – and if you think the rules are severe, remember that until recently many large stores insisted that their girls live in a hostel of the firm’s providing. Had that been the case, you would have had strict rules there, as well as a curfew of nine o’clock at night…’
‘Don’t tell me, I know,’ Sally groaned. ‘The hostel I live in is murder. The rules here are easy compared to some there. I hate it and as soon as I can afford it, I’ll get a place of my own to rent.’
‘You would live on your own?’ Maggie stared at her in surprise and Sally grinned.
‘Just give me the chance – but if I could, I’d live with other women. Friends I could trust would make it more fun…’
Beth smiled but her aunt would say the idea was reprehensible. Aunt Helen would not think that a young woman should live in lodgings without an older woman to supervise her, unless she was a widow and forced to it.
‘Well, we’ll remove some of this paper,’ Mrs Craven said, looking about her with a frown. ‘The cleaning staff should have done it, but they haven’t got round to us yet. I want it off so that we can see what space we have available and then we can do some more training…’
Beth accepted a pair of scissors and she and Maggie began to snip away the brown paper and pile it in a corner so that they could see the counters more clearly. For the millinery, there were two tall glass counters with glass shelves, where the most expensive hats would be on show, and another counter where the hats would be placed on stands, both on top and inside the glass. Several hat stands came out of more brown paper, most were adjustable and could be placed either on counter tops or dotted about the department.
‘I shall do the displays,’ Mrs Craven told them, ‘but you will keep them free of dust, Miss Gibbs. I’ll show you what to do as we go along…’
Beth studied the counter she’d been given. There were about twenty graduated wooden drawers, which would show off the gloves and scarves on display.
‘If I were you, I would use one side for gloves and the other for scarves,’ Mrs Craven said, coming to stand by her. ‘It is a good idea to put colours into separate drawers, and keep glove sizes together if you can. Perhaps the black and grey at the bottom and come up with the brighter colours and finish with white lace and cotton at the top – and the closed drawer at the top is for you to place your order book, your receipt book, your pen and scissors, and it is a good idea to put things in there if you need to refold or tidy up. The bags printed with Harpers logo will go on a shelf underneath the counter. And if you have to leave the counter, put your items away, as I warned earlier, otherwise you may return to find something missing. It is very difficult if you have to ask what happened to a scarf, for the customer will be outraged and march off…’
Beth felt that she had learned a great deal that morning. The time flew by as they worked and asked questions, and it wasn’t long before the girls were told they could take half an hour for something to eat or drink.
‘We shall work for two hours this afternoon, but then you may go,’ Mrs Craven said. ‘However, I shall come with you now and show you where the other departments are…’
‘Thank you,’ Maggie said, looking relieved. ‘I don’t want to get lost and be fined for being late back to work…’
‘I think we can be lenient today,’ Mrs Craven smiled at her. ‘But, Miss Gibbs, the rules are meant to be kept – and I shall be strict once the shop is open…’ She hesitated then, ‘Just one more thing – and this is personal – I am widowed and have no children. I tell you this so that you know and will not be embarrassed by asking questions about my family…’
None of the girls answered, beca
use it would not be appropriate to offer sympathy to their superior. Mrs Craven nodded her head and smiled.
‘Very well, I think that is all for the moment…’
4
Sally took Beth and Maggie to a small café a short distance away. It was clean and busy but the food was cheap. For sixpence they could buy a double sandwich and a pot of tea.
‘I thought we could share,’ Sally said. ‘If three of us came, they would give us extra cups and it would only cost us tuppence each…’
‘That is much cheaper,’ Beth agreed, ‘but you wouldn’t get a lot to eat…’
‘We could buy three buns for a penny ’appenny’ Sally said. ‘We could easily cut the sandwiches into three, have a cup of tea each and a bun to fill us up… it’s just an idea. Of course, on warm days we could sit out in the square on one of the benches and eat a packed lunch…’
‘I wouldn’t mind sharing sometimes,’ Maggie answered first. ‘I can bring a sandwich most days, but it would make a nice change to visit the café…’
‘I’ll be cooking at night and I’ll bring a few bits in,’ Beth said. ‘Do you think they will notice if we eat our own stuff?’ She looked at the woman behind the counter, who smiled and nodded to her but looked as if she could be formidable if she chose.
‘That’s Bessie, and her husband, Mike, owns the café,’ Sally said and nodded to the woman. ‘I helped her when she fell down in the street and took her to the hospital in a cab. She lets me do what I like – as long as we buy a pot of tea and a sandwich, she’ll turn a blind eye to the rest…’
‘You have some useful friends,’ Maggie said admiringly.
‘We mustn’t take too much advantage,’ Beth said, ‘but in the summer we can sit out and eat our food, though not in Soho. My aunt would have a fit…’
Sally’s eyebrows went up, so Beth took the opportunity to explain her aunt’s strictness.
‘We could go to Bedford Square if we walk fast, but it takes so much time to get there and back, that’s why I come here. I only just made it here some days when I worked in Woolworth’s and had to run all the way back…’