#StrikeProblems

#StrikeProblems

After 9 years of continued education, college faculty across Ontario decided that in 2017 they were going to strike. The five-week period was mentally, emotionally and financially frustrating for both parties. Adamant about their rights it wasn't until the government demanded a return to the classrooms that the strike was over, so we wanted to see how students from different colleges felt about the strike:

"It was emotionally draining and frustrating especially because we never knew when we were going back" ~ George Brown, Graphic Design.

"One of my profs asked me how my vacation was? Vacation? Yeah cause sitting around waiting to know if you can go back to school is a real "vacation" "~ George Brown, Construction Management

"The expectation to continue doing homework was extremely unfair. Why should I have to continue to do homework and teach myself the material? We should have not been required to keep up with our studies, accommodations should have been made once the strike ended." ~ George Brown, Fashion Management

"The stress is so real, everything is at such a hectic time of year." ~ George Brown, Fashion Managment

" I worked all summer to pay for school in full, then the strike happens and I lost out on tons of hard earned money and time. Now I have to apply for $500 back and if my application is good enough I'll receive the grant? ~ George Brown, Dance

"I was disappointed to see the governments reaction to the strike, it took them three weeks to get involved, which made me feel like my education is not a priority." ~ Seneca College, Behavioural Studies

"I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride, I was not sure if I should have been working or waiting until we were getting the approval to go back" ~ Humber Lakeshore, Business Administration

"Students ended up losing the most" ~ Sheridan College, Performing Arts

"Unfair repercussions to students, we were affected but not responsible" ~Humber Lakeshore, Advertising and Account Management

Feature articles, January 2018

• Fearless and Fresh, an in-depth look at the woman who has done it all by Jordana Katz
• This one’s for My Peers Working Retail by Venessa Bandera
• Consignment Isn’t a Bad Word by Celeste Kierans
• GBC Fashion Student takes Personal Brand to the Next Level by Adam Gillani

• (backup) 5 The Trend Setter of the New Trend (TNT) by Jade Assaraf

REVIEWS

• Dior Dreamworld on Display by Shelby Furber
• Dior review by Celeste Kierans
• Book review by Jacob Yan

GEORGE IN THE CITY

• What I’ve learned from GBC (Shaelyn Meier) by Thamyres Azevedo

 BACK PAGE

• Strike comments by Venessa Bandera & Jordana Katz

GBC Fashion Student takes Personal Brand to Next Level

   Meet Clayson Fletcher, a former George Brown College fashion student takes his passion and drive to the next level in creating his dreams with his clothing company Nova Supply Co. Clayson Fletcher refers to himself as a creator instead of designer. He has been working on his cut and sew brand for over 6 years now. What really drove him to create his own clothes was the position he was in when he was young. “I was always a big kid in school, I was always into fashion but couldn’t wear the clothes I wanted. That’s when I became a crafty creative kid. I dug up my mom’s old sewing machine, fixed it and got straight into studying fashion and sewing. This is where everything started changing. I started to become obsessed with it. I wouldn’t just make one shirt, but that one shirt in 50 different colours. Clayson wants his brand to be on a global scale, accessible worldwide to everyone anywhere and anytime. He wants to create collectives where like-minded people can come together and create, share, and achieve similar visions and goals. “The brand itself I want it to be worldwide and accessible. I want workshops where kids just like myself can come and create together, in a soft and peaceful environment. In terms of myself as the designer, I want to be the greatest to ever live. What separates Nova from other brands out there is that everything is made to order, it’s a very high level of personalization for each customer which is not what a lot of brands do. By offering personalization you create a connection with the customers and they more than likely will feel comfortable to purchase from you again and again. Not only that but you are able to appreciate the hard work that went into the product at the end of the day. “It’s all handmade, packaged, sourced and patterned by me. I only use the softest organic fabrics from Canada and Japan. I want to give the world a piece of me and my perspective.” He wants everyone to experience what he has to offer. As being a creator you always find different mediums of inspiration. You can find inspiration in almost anything and anywhere which is why it is such a huge aspect of creation. One big inspiration for Clayson Fletcher is a well-known music artist Frank Ocean. “I can’t give away all my secrets for inspiration but Frank Ocean is a huge inspiration for me. The way he created and used the font Blonde, and Endless to the way. His whole artistry, the mystery of his work and his own influences, it shows me that you can express yourself without telling people what your feeling. I built a collection solely based on his songs.” Getting your clothes into stores is one of the big goals that any designer would want. You would want your work to be recognized and appreciated by a wide variety of people. “I would love to be in a store that is under the radar. Something like the store Neighbor.” Which is a newer and smaller independent menswear boutique just outside of Yorkville. “My clothing would be a like a hidden gem rather than being at an oversaturated retailer. Creating a brand can come with lots of challenges and obstacles starting can be one of the hardest. “It’s always starting, there’s something about a blank canvas and raw materials that has been yet to use that is very intimating. But once that first ink or cut happens, a snow ball effect occurs. Ten years down the road Clayson Fletcher sees himself in a positive state. “Happy, in love with someone doing something creative. Hosting clothing conversion for kids who just want to create but don’t know how to. As consumers we all have our favourite fabrics we love to wear and designers also have their favourites. “18oz Organic cotton canvas and wool! At times Silk but it is very difficult to sew haha.” Clayson wants to make a trip to Tokyo someday. He wants to explore what it’s like over there as it is very different and diverse. “Tokyo, I want to feel the aura that they have up there, and scope the fashion scene because it’s completely different that here in Canada and the United States. The Nova Supply brand has recently made some public magazine press. Their biggest article was one where they were featured on HighSnobiety. One if the biggest magazine platforms for fashion, music and lifestyle. Clayson hopes to achieve much more in the future and change the world with his brand. The next upcoming months will consist of fresh, new and intriguing products for the brand. Expanding more into women’s wear, the brand is looking to make a huge impact in the Toronto fashion scene in 2018. 

New Technology and the Fashion Industry

Throughout the last few years’ new technology has had a direct approach on how the Fashion Industry operates. Companies have had to adjust strategies to meet the demand of a new type of consumer. Someone who wants products fast and with a minimum amount of effort required. Due to the rise of Fast fashion, many customers want to be able to see what is trending, be able to purchase these styles and then prepare for the upcoming season.  “New” technology has changed the fashion industry for the better (in consumer’s eyes) as there are many options available to consumers from different backgrounds (geographical, economical). New technology is not only limited to the customer shopping experience, but how the clothes are made as well.  

Consumers are more aware of ethical issues, due to the transparency of the internet. Consumers are able to do their research about brands before purchasing, and there is a much needed emphasises on ethical manufacturing. An example is the Zara controversy where customers found notes in clothing, describing terrible work conditions. Consumers have a wide array of choices when it comes to retailers so companies have to protect their public image more than ever, or consumers will move on quickly.

In a world where technology is the spine of society, fashion has become more accessible and community based than ever. According to Vice President of Garrison Essentials Anthony Iammarino, “We've effectively democratized the way in which style (and trends) are consumed (and influenced).  Instagram, snapchat etc.  These new communication channels have changed the game for brands and consumers.  Brands have a direct, immediate channel to their audience.  Consumers have a channel to impart change, feedback and a chance to be a part of the process”.  This community presence has also created a big market for online reselling. Platforms such as Grailed and Depop have given consumers the opportunity to find both high end and mass marketed products for much under retail pricing. These companies make buying products simple as buyers can quickly communicate with sellers all around the world, with rating systems and anti fraud systems in place for a smooth experience.

In terms of social media, many consumers are influenced by what they see on popular platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest. Consumers look towards social media influencers for outfit inspirations and in deciding which brands are worth purchasing. It is important for brands to have an impactful online presence to support their brick and mortar presence.  A great example of a company who embraced social media early is English fashion house Burberry. They have implemented a See now, buy now model which abandons the traditional roll out methods of big fashion houses, which would give consumers pre collections, fashion shows showcasing future collections etc. The see now, buy now model unveils these Luxury collections and makes them available to consumers right away, by using social media. There is also an option to purchase items seen on a runway show while it is going on. 

The heavy presence of social media is also a way for new fashion companies to make an impact on the fashion scene. This new approach on business gives new Fashion start-up companies a different and cost effective way to promote themselves. Traditionally, a company would have to come up with an entire line of products then head directly into Brick and Mortar, whereas the internet has given modern companies the option to take a “Lean business approach”. This style describes a business model that shows potential consumers your product with room to pivot based on their responses. 

The influence of “New” technology has also changed consumer shopping habits. It has become very convenience based as consumers do not want to leave their house in order to shop. Fashion companies need to have a strong e commerce presence complete with the right website layout, return policies and garment presentation to make this experience seamless for their customers. These Consumers have become savvier shoppers and have been able to discover new brands through the internet and how to navigate through sale periods. A great example of a company making convenience of its shoppers a priority is online shopping assistant stitch fix. The company uses online algorithms to define individual customer needs and preferences something that was impossible previously at traditional bricks and mortar retail. This technology essentially gives shoppers an online personal stylist, who will not pressure them to buy and, showcases different brands right to their front door. Another website is Shoptagr, which notifies customers when specific items they are looking at go on sale. 

  Social media powerhouses such as Instagram and Facebook are also using algorithms to track consumer shopping habits, as ads will appear on a consumers feed based on what they have been looking at online. When asked which company is using new technology to their advantage, Anthony responds “Of course, you can't mention tech or fashion today without mentioning that big grizzly bear Amazon.  Anything Amazon (which I consider every bit a tech company as a retailer) does as a company is something we need to watch and is influencing decision making every day in apparel and commerce in general. Beyond that, from a pure play technology standpoint the rise of AI will be interesting to the future of our industry.  The use of robots for logistics, shipping etc.  Will be compelling to see how it all unfolds.  Rest assured, I am watching closely. 

Other than the online shopping experience, new technology is also going to change the Brick and Mortar shopping experience as well. An example is the digital change room and interactive mirrors showcased at the Rebecca Minkoff and EBay popup event.  This technology will allow customers to be more self sufficient in physical stores, as they can see how specific outfits would look like through hologram technology as well as order their sizes which will be brought to them.

New technology is also affecting the manufacturing process of garments, as new technology such as 3D printing is starting to be involved. Many machines have become automatic and soon the workforce will not require human workers.

This one’s for, My Peers Working Retail: Escaping the Stigma: You Can Be Successful and Happy Working Retail.

That’s the goal, isn’t it? success and happiness; having a job that is gratifying in all aspects. For some, working retail provides that gratification, but the rest of society has a hard time believing that one can be successful and happy in such an industry. I have worked in retail for a few different companies and from personal experiences, I have seen it all, the good: the bad and the downright ugly. Starting as a sales associate for a small mom-and-pop clothing store seven years ago has led me to work for one of Canada’s top luxury retailers. 

When I had decided that this was the field I wanted to build my career in, the reactions were usually, all the same: squinted eyes, a slightly tilted head, sincere look of confusion followed by one of two responses: “Are you sure this what you want to do?” “Don’t you think you have more to offer than just working retail?” Those were the moments that forced me to accept that the stigma is present and it does not look like it is going to be broken anytime soon. But like always, I am here, along with someone who is such an inspiration to me; Rita Stillo, General Manager for Gucci at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street to provide you with guidance and reassurance that retail is a thriving career choice, which will lead you to success and happiness.

It is crucial to address the issues and understand why there is such a stigma. Besides the personal jabs I have taken about my commitment to retail I wanted a closer look at what societies views are on the industry and those of us who are apparently “suffering.” My search began on the World Wide Web to see exactly what entitled arrogance was circulating towards people in retail. Every article during my search was closely linked with negative presumptions as to why retail could not provide you with a successful career. I stumbled across articles titles like, “ The 30 Worst Things about Working Retail”, “13 Things no one understands About Retail”, “25 Reasons why you shouldn’t be Working Retail” The negativity is so real! Yes, the facts are true: retail hours are long; most of them spent on your feet running around, and dedicating yourself to providing the best customer service all day long can be exhausting, but the fact of the matter is retail plays a prosperous role in the economy. Consumer spending is beneficial to the economy; the more the consumer is willing to spend the better sustained the economy will be, and that begins with a small interaction between customer and associate. Not to mention it is one of the few industries that provides countless jobs and is evergrowing. We acknowledge that those who work in retail are not paving the way to solving world hunger, but our impact is nothing to shy away from. Retail workers, assist in the fluctuation of the economy every single day and that alone is something to be proud of.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of retail’s finest, Rita Stillo, General Manager of Gucci inside Holt Renfrew Bloor Street where we discussed all things about the industry. During our time together we honed in on the reality of working retail both positive and negative. “The relationships I’ve built over the years is also a huge positive aspect, some of the customers I was serving when I started out in beauty still shop with me today at Gucci.” She then continued to explain that the only negativity she faces is the term “real job”. “I think the worst thing about working retail is that other people have this preconceived notion that you couldn’t find other work or a “real job” so you decided to work retail. People often forget that you can be extremely successful in retail.”

The question we have been hoping to answer all along is how do we escape the stigma of working retail? How do we inflict success and happiness while trying to be respected by society? By the end of the interview, Rita and I were able to agree that success in this industry stems from patience. We are told that success is a virtue and just as in any other career, the growth in retail takes time. One must be patient and earn their stripes to climb the ladder.

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In contrast to all of this negativity, there are many pros to having a career in retail (not that I am trying to sell you on anything). For starters, you have full career control: you have the power to begin at entry level and work with mentors who can help you grow into the next steps in your career within months. There is constant room for growth and countless roles that you can obtain, given the right guidance. Since you will encounter hundreds of people a day its very important to make sure that you are in fact a people person, change career paths immediately if you struggle prioritizing the needs of others. Being genuine and passionate will take you places in retail; if you build strong relationships with your customer’s the possibilities to network are endless.  Most importantly, you are a part of a community that is encompassed by fashion, leadership and the opportunity to create an impact. To have a career in retail you are in the best position possible, your career is your own, and you can develop on your terms.

Consignment Isn’t a Bad Word – an interview with Ashley Horowitz

With rising costs associated with designer labels, and the fast fashion industry today how are fashionistas able to keep up? The answer is one simple word: Consignment. This age-old industry isn’t what it used to be – stifling through musty shops where you might be lucky to find one gem in the whole store – now in the digital age we are connected with so many outputs for sellers and buyers alike. I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the Canadian pioneers in the online consignment field Ashley Horowitz Creator of Suite Adore.

Starting out in the advertising industry in Vancouver, BC Ashley found herself moving for years for her career. Once she and her husband settled down in Toronto she left advertising to focus on being a mother. “I faced a dilemma many women who have been out of the workforce for some time and wanting something with the flexibility I felt advertising was great, but I had done my time,” Ashley said. 

            Ashley began Suite Adore with her eBay store and started by selling her own pieces – testing this new medium experimentally. Word spread through friends and family and suddenly Ashley found the concept just built from there.

            Being already familiar with some American designer consignment websites – like Snob Swap and The Real Real – Ashley found in the years leading up to starting Suite Adore that there was an untapped market for the online consignment shop in Canada.  

            Today she facilitates sales for a number of consignee’s sharing the profits on a 40:60 split – 60% going to the consignee. All her products are locally sourced in Canada, despite a number of her clients being American.

From a young age, Ashley always loved fashion, drawing her style from Phoebe Philo, the current creative director with Céline Paris, and favouring classic pieces with clean lines occasionally adding that pop of contemporary.

“I have the luxury of curating, in that manner I can select what I want to feature in my marketplace.” Having done this for the past few years Ashley has become prolific in choosing pieces she knows will sell. “I am surprised on a daily basis,” she laughed “that some beautiful pieces are still sitting and something’s sell where I did not know that they would be such a hot item.” 

Ashley offers her clients many luxuries of selling with her. Suite Adore will pick up the items from the consignee’s houses at their convenience. This customer service sets Suite Adore apart from the rest.

Since Suite Adore began taking off Ashley has been told time and time again how wonderful the products she sells are: “People come into my Pop-ups and say ‘Wow, this was pre-owned?’” This speaks too her meticulous eye for details and her ability to spot a good find.

           

Suite Adore, though mainly online, currently holds 2-4 Pop-ups annually – one per season – featuring her favourite pieces. “People usually tell me that when they walk into a consignment store it can feel like a Winners, where it is very overwhelming and you cant focus on anything.” Unlike her in-store competition, she does not overwhelm the customer, choosing her feature wall carefully.

            As word spreads locally about her consignment shop, Ashley receives emails inquiring towards private events and personal shopping afternoons where she turns her living room into a mini boutique. “My husband wants to do something with our front room, I keep putting him off” she laughs, “It makes such a nice showroom.” Pulling pieces tailored to each client, it is like having a personal shopper for consignment.

            Like many consignment shoppers, authenticity comes into question. I like many have found people trying to masquerade a bags or clothing as authentic when it was not. This is a fear of many people – especially when buying online not from the designer but from a second-hand distributor “Authenticity is huge concern and priority of my customers. I get asked that question all the time, I personally have never come across one counterfeit item (…) I usually have a sense of too where these people might be shopping. My team and I have become versed in authenticating. There is no sort of school for authenticating.” If she ever finds herself questioning the authentic nature of a product her consignee is trying to have her sell Ashley will inquire to a third party authenticator and that person will inspect it and give her a certificate of authenticity.

           

            As more and more fashionistas find themselves shopping online, as opposed to in brick and mortar alternatives they can take a breathe of relief knowing that there are companies like Suite Adore out there to help with their consignment needs. Ashley will soon move into men’s clothing consignment.

            Visit and support Ashley by going to https://suiteadore.com/ following her on instagram @suiteadore and keep an ear out for her next pop-up set for early 2018. 

           

For real women by a real woman!

For real women by a real woman-

Iva Grbesic not only a stylist/ Blogger but a super mom too.

I still can’t forget the very first time i met Iva. It was the 28th of March 2017.

Sitting at one of the locations at the Second Cup with a cup of hot chocolate trying to beat the deadly weather outside- Walks in the fashion stylist whom I had always seen on television. 

I was a bit nervous as I was suppose to be interviewed by her for an internship.

The very first impression of Iva made me realise that she is one of the most fun, caring and a cool person to work with. Despite of not having any fashion background she always had an inclination towards fashion. Iva had worked on conservative market research for 5 years . It was then she got pregnant and started her own blogs which really clicked she said. Meanwhile she would follow Fashion Friday  which is a show on city line. Its from here her journey began  she says it was so inspiring to see how women of all body shapes would be on the show. She says after pregnancy the body changes and to have style one of the ladies looked so exciting.She said it was amazing to see how women of all body shaped would be styled and being a mother of four kids she would relate it even more.

She says it goes back to the days when she used to be one of the viewers and how it inspired her to be one of the stylists and let people know how to go from there. She says so what if I have children why should women take stress and stop themselves !

She talks about how she got selected for city line and has been working as a stylist for a while now there. Being a graduate from University of Waterloo with no fashion background but major in Political Science. Fashion has always encouraged her and has been her thing says Iva . Something that really inspired her she says while watching people on Fashion Friday she would say it was inspiring to see people from her own very city Toronto.

Styling has never been an easy job, doing makeovers for women who come from every aspect of life . From styling coach, to pregnant women going back to work to scientists. She’s done it all!, She also adds on that you come across a lot of difficulties through the way as every individual has their own likes and dislikes and its then you need to play it safe and be accepting to what the other person is up for. Recently she said she styled a scientist and she says she did face a lot of challenges but overcame it all through the way. She says it takes a while to know what an individual wants and its then you put your best. She said it was probably one of the best it turned out to be but everything went off so well she add on.

Iva did various makeovers for women this Summer and of all she talks about one of the segments which was swim wear which did for four women with different body type. She said it was a lot of fun to see the excitement among the ladies. Another shoot which was very close to her was styling the only women hockey coach in Toronto. She says everyday is so inspiring, when women power comes in I feel we all can do anything.

Time management is very important and I think everyone should value it. Being a mother of four kids it is challenging. But she says you cannot be great at everything despite of work and a family to look for - you need to take its as it comes along and keep going that’s what life is all about to keep things going on- that’s her ideology. She says this is not what defines me as a blogger - you don’t have to take stress ,drop it till you get something in life that’s what her ideology is.

Considering it’s Canada’s 150th year Iva says its been wonderful as we get to celebrate it and take pride to be a part of the nation. But when it comes to fashion she adds on- the Canadian designers definitely need to work on- she also says as you celebrate your achievements  there is  way a lot going on. People are not willing to spend so much money as Fast fashion has taken over so much. She adds on by saying you can’t blame them considering how small Canada’s population.

Apart from the makeover shows on Fashion Fridays! Iva also does shopping channel that is her latest adventure. She mostly choses Canadian brands when working on  shopping channel  to promote them on air. Not many people even know what Canadian brands are hence it is good to let them know through this platform says Iva. Le Chateau and Poppy and Peonies is her personal favourite and she showcases them a lot air. She says the response is absolutely overwhelming to see how people want to buy stuff after seeing on Television. She also points out that there are many people who support i and are in favour of it to promote Canadian brands. 

She adds that it is very unfortunate that we have a small population and that these brands are just within Canada and not recognised or known world wide. 

Iva is truly an inspiration for all the mom’s here in Canada, if you want to do something don’t stop but do what your heart says age is just a number!

“Iva believes that life problems are easier to deal with when you’re wearing great jeans, red lipsticks and an amazing pair of shoes!”.

"Tip" of your game

When you begin your day, you think of coffee and that expensive pastry that you call a breakfast. You need a boost during the day and you think of a quick coffee break. If you need a last-minute sugar boost late at night, then you head-over to a Starbucks and you grab a venti frappucino with all the customizations.

However, do you think about the baristas that create and gather the cravings that you have during the day?

When it comes to ordering out, it’s unheard of if you don’t tip your server or delivery boy. Even at a bar, it’s very unlikely that you not tip your bartender. Despite the process of making your martini or pouring your beer is like steaming your lattes and pouring coffee, the only use the tip jar gets in most of these “over the counter service” coffee stores (AKA Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Nordstrom’s Ebar), is just to get rid of the loose change (which makes the baristas appear more as beggars than the dignified people that they are).

But should you tip?

One the one hand, tipping your barista is unheard of. Barista and customer interaction lasts between 10 seconds and 1 minute in a fast-paced store, and sometimes the interaction barely meets customer service expectations. (And who can blame them? They are trying their best to juggle a line-up of customers and drinks, the occasional remake of a drink, a picky customer, and maintain sanity.) In these types of environments, the limited (and possibly crappy) interactions barely warrant a tip, but their tip boxes are usually full.

As a former barista as Starbucks, Chris Cruz still frequents many Starbucks cafes under the guise of just being a typical customer. He claims that “many of the stores that I visited tended to have sub-par till rapport and even worse hand-off interaction.” Cruz facetiously laughs as he says, “even when I say my drink in a way that they understand, it’s still atrociously made.” Needless to say, he would not be tipping anyone. It goes to show that even some baristas don’t believe in tipping one of their own.

On the other hand, what if the barista you met today went above and beyond, regardless of environment? I decided to seek out a fairly new and not-so-busy store in Scarborough with a 4 star rating on Google to see why they were doing so well and what they thought of being tipped.

When I went to the store, I noticed that it had a very relaxed environment and there were many people in the store studying or just relaxing. I also noticed that the baristas had plenty of time to interact with customers and they took advantage of that.

However, watching baristas can only go so far (and not to mention creepy), so I decided to talk to Veda Popal (barista for a year and a half) about her experience working with no tips. A typical day, according to her, would include slow waves of customers allowing her to step away from the counter and give the personal touch to the majority of the customers. “It’s just what’s expected here,” she said. “It’s slow enough most of the day to get most of our work done, and it gives us time to go above and beyond.” Thankfully, I was able to speak with one of their regulars (who I will not name) about his experience. He said, “I spend my nights here after work just because I’ve been here since they’ve opened and I’ve gotten to know everyone really well. And they actually get my drink before I start to pay!”. As a joke he also added that “[he’s] planning Christmas gifts for them”. I was already pleasantly surprised to see the level of connection that he and everyone in the store have built up, and almost shocked when he went over to the counter and dropped a $20 in the very empty tip jar and said “I forgot to tip this week, my bad”.

When he left, I asked Popal if tipping at the store was common. “it’s mostly just him that gives us the meaningful tips,” she said. “Other times it’s just a coin disposal box.”

“it’s actually unfair,” she continued. “we start off at minimum wage, with the promise of tips to make up for it. But most slow stores have stingy people who give us dimes, and busier stores get all types of coins and bills given to them.” She showed me the $6 that she had after two weeks worth of work. “the pressure to go above and beyond with customer service everyday is so heavy, and there isn’t enough incentive to try, but I need a job.”

At the Nordstrom located at the Eaton’s center, they have a saying: making every moment the best moment. From selling clothes to placating fashion buyers, everyone needs to showcase exceptional customer service. Baristas could the unsung heroes of the service industry because they have to maintain a customer-friendly face and expecting nothing but job security in return. Or they could just be “bitter bean” baristas that purposefully misspell your name. Either way, before you cash out and enjoy that grande half-caf, soy, half pump of sugar-free vanilla, one Splenda, 180 degrees, no foam cappuccino, rethink that tip box.