Dear Manager,

As you know, this year I will be participating in the Camp America and so will be leaving the company...

On the 10th of May, I'm leaving the trendy accessory shop where I work. It's all in the name of exams, and then floating off to America for three months.

I feel a bit sad about it all really. It's the first job I've had which I've actually enjoyed. Well, the first proper job. I loved the Record column, but that took all of half an hour of my time, normally still in pyjamas on a Sunday morning. But the shop's different.

Ok, so I know I haven't lasted long elsewhere. Two months stuffing bears in the Bear Factory, a week and a bit in the hell of a certain clothes strore. That was justified though, the manager was a complete fruit loop. She's actually known throughout the company and beyond as being a complete fruit loop - and not in a good way.

Not only will I miss the great big whopping discount which I get, but I'll miss the girls. It's a rarity, my shop. And I will keep calling it 'my' shop while I still can. It's an all-female environment, but it's not all that bitchy. Ok, we say the odd catty remark but it's generally done face-to-face. We don't have the snotty, fashion retail girl thing. In fact, most of us are completely mad.

Our manager, for instance. She likes to dance on the shop floor and threaten beatings with a ruler.

Our assistant manager has been known to answer the phone with, "GAFFER SPEAKING!" only to realise it's an outside line.

We've had the days where we try on the slippers and skate across the shiny floor. Dress-up days where we just try on whatever we fancy from the shop floor and can't be bothered buying. Swanning around in the bridal hats and smiling at customers like it's normal behaviour. The days where we play games - points for slotting certain words into conversation, Easter egg hunts and the account card competition. And of course there was Pyjama Weekend.

On a more personal level, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the last two years. I have loved my time with the company and gained a lot of valuable experience and happy memories. I can only hope that what is to follow in my future career can be as positive.

Yours sincerely,
Lindsay Cochrane

Posted: Friday 25 April 2008 21:35:41