We were supposed to get the honor of having a private tour at the famous Harrod's, but of course communication among their workers was less than adequate. They said they didn't have our name in their system for that day. Fortunately we made the best of it and grabbed coffee before heading up to the top floor of Salon de Perfumes where they sell some of the most expensive perfumes in the world. Prices range from a couple hundred pounds to 150,000 which is their most expensive bottle.
We were chauffeured from section to section by the head of the floor, a wonderful man named Paco. At one point he sprayed my wrist with a bottle that was worth 600 pounds...I should have never washed it off! He also gave us FREE samples that were probably worth 30 or so pounds.
My favorite was the Japanese perfume called Floraiku, and each scent/bottle comes with a unique haiku about the scent’s inspiration. If you buy the “combo” deal as I like to call it, you get what looks like a bento box like you’re at a Asian restaurant. Very different. Very cool.
I found that retail here at Harrod's was different than luxury brand stores in the US. Their website includes an "Our Values" page that their goal is "to service the needs and aspirations of our customers." Based on how the employees on the perfume floor treated us, I think they are living up to this well. Unlike some American stores, they didn't look down at us once like we didn't belong there, even though we absolutely couldn't afford the majority of their products. Paco and section leaders still pitched their products to us like we were ready to buy them. It wasn't like the scene from Pretty Woman where the store employees wouldn't sell to her because she looked poor (and like a hooker).
Another thing I noticed was how each section worker came out to greet us in the hallway. I have never noticed stores in the US do that, but maybe I just haven't been paying attention.
Each perfume had its own scent but also its own style/design. It made me wonder if someone would buy a bottle solely because they were fond of the packaging, and if they would buy it for the scent even if they didn't like the bottle's design...Maybe they would just pay extra to custom design their own.
Paco explained to us that Harrod's is a big deal mainly because high end brands present Harrod's with scents and bottles exclusive to this particular store. This means that people can only buy certain scents from brands at the Harrod's location.
After getting a personal walk through of the perfume floor, we walked through the shoe and purse section, and I was very close to buying a purse only to realize I do not have money for this. Although my professor purchased a fun purse, so I'll just live vicariously through her.
After getting a personal walk through of the perfume floor, we walked through the shoe and purse section, and I was very close to buying a purse only to realize I do not have money for this. Although my professor purchased a fun purse, so I'll just live vicariously through her.
Then came lunch. If you have never been to the food stalls in Harrod's, please go. Every food you can imagine is there. From raw meat, dumplings, rotisserie chicken, to sausages, they have it all, and it was all delicious.
Do you consider working in retail "meaningful work?" If we look at Work and Life's chapter 12 where it tries to connect meaningful work, meaningful life, and happiness, can we find that relationship at Harrod's? This makes me think of every high schooler complaining about their job at Target or Kohl's or some other retail/department store. I've never heard someone LOVE their job at one of these types organizations. Does that change if the department store is one of the most luxurious stores in the world? The employees at Harrod's seemed to love their work and appeared to be passionate about selling expensive perfumes. This raises my question of do they believe this is meaningful work? Do they believe this work is allowing them to lead a meaningful life? Are they happy because of this work? Happiness might be the bigger role here because they might not think this is meaningful work, but they may be quite happy. I'm sure the pay isn't horrible, and they must get free samples every now and then. My guess is that a Harrod's employee may not believe they're leading a meaningful life with their work, but they are happy.
9/10 experience at Harrod's only because I am too poor to purchase all the marvelous products they sell.
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