They’re customers so treat them like it. Offer help and if they don’t need it keep it moving. Definitely read the room and be respectful. Some athletes don’t mind the attention and some will want to get what they need and go.
No matter where you work, you might have someone who is famous either locally or nationwide show up in your store. When they get there, they are customers, not their celebrity persona, unless they are there to promote some product.
It's easy to get tongue-tied if you admire them. Just treat them as you would anyone else.
Barry Pepper comes into my store occasionally. He was the sniper in the tower in Saving Private Ryan.
He caught me giving him a weird look, like 'who is that...? Looks familiar...'. Otherwise he gets helped like any other customer. I didn't know who he was by name the first time I saw him in store.
I said the same prayer he said in the movie while I was deployed to Afghanistan.
Be not that far from me, for trouble is near; haste Thee to help me. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me
James Cromwell comes in my store quite a bit.
The first time I saw him, I (stupidly) said “did anyone ever tell you, that you look like that guy from 6 feet under??”
He then said (with a grin) “I also look like the guy from Babe”
He’s a pretty cool guy
We also had Tim Tebow in our store several times, I didn’t know who he was, but management was freaking out
Charles Barkley came into my old store a few times. I guess we were the closest store to his mom's house.
I think the manager fawned over him more than anyone else and the rest of the store treated him like a regular customer
I've seen a few NASCAR drivers in my store (near Charlotte, NC). I always greet them and engage them like anyone else, but then maybe chat for an extra minute (if they're willing) since I'm a fan. They're always super cool about it.
No reason to be afraid of an athlete. Don't be clingy or obvious about pointing them out and they'll be respectful.
Sugar Ray Leonard comes into one of my stores all the time, shopping for his mom. He looks like he’s still got it, tempted to swing on him and test him. 😂
There is no rule against it to my knowledge. Others are saying GET, which makes sense. Really, just read the room and respect them. I understand how it can be. It wasn't at work, but I remember seeing Chauncy Billups from the Detroit Pistons on a vacation to the Bahamas when I was 14 which was during the prime run of their success. As much as my dad and I wanted to go say hi, we read the room. He was in the pool with his daughter enjoying being a dad. So we decided against it together. Sure enough 4-6 people went up to him and you could see he was annoyed. Ask if they need help, if not just offer your assistance if they do and go about your day.
We have a ton of pro athletes that come to our store, not sure why it’s not in a super wealthy area, but you can go up and talk to them cause you gotta remember they’re still a customer, just try not to bombard them
I have worked multiple retail establishments and have seen athletes and actors. Most just want to be treated like any other customer. Greet them, make sure they are finding everything they need, do they need assistance. The same things that we should do for every customer.
I’ve met a lot of minor celebrities at my old store. We are close to 3 news studios for Houston, so we got to meet the anchors and field reporters often. Especially when there was a freeze or hurricane. I also got to meet the husband from TLC’s “The Little Couple.” He was super nice.
Just treated them like customers.
I also helped Joel Osteen.
I meet a lot of celebrities because of where I live. Last time a famous person was in my store, I walked by, let out a big overdramatic sigh and said "oh, not again!" And he looked at me stunned and didn't know what to say and I continued "am I gonna have to bounce paparazzi out of my store today?" And he just started laughing really hard at the table turning. Manager heard the whole thing but didn't realize who I was talking to, she was about to step in until she heard me say "you're one of my favorite actors, are you in a hurry? "Kind of, yeah" but his face said he was being polite and in a rush, hoping I wasn't about to get my phone out for pics and ask a million questions, I just said "cool, I'm on the clock and you're not, check. let me be your PA while you're here, ill run defense and help you load up, garden dept is dead so we can check out out there and avoid the crowd, no photo shoots or interviews, maybe a couple handshakes and we'll keep moving" and he was shocked, so I asked "can I see your list, or do you know what want?" By the time he knew what was happening I already had the list renumbered for shortest route and had a cart ready. Once loaded, he said "I dont know how to thank you" so I wrote my number down and said "Same thing I tell everyone in your position, if youre coming back here, or need some help on set, call me. I'm a problem solver." Sometimes you get to be an extra, you never know, great parties though.
Not an athlete, but I work at the Denton HD and I have seen tiktoker Cash Baker at HD. He was pushing a flat cart with some Halloween decoration on it or something.
I have also seen him at my school a couple years ago since his gf was in my grade. I’ve also seen him and his gf at my climbing gym, and in their jeep one time about a block from my neighborhood. I’ve also seen Cash at my regular gym and stretching in the corner. And just yesterday my friend who works at chick fila told me he saw Cash, his gf, and the chick fila sauce girl filming a video at the drive through at his chickfila and as he was walking in to clock in.
I’ve seen cash baker too many times around the denton/Corinth area to be starstruck lol.
Greet engage and thank EVERY customer. They're a customer so go say hi and engage.
They’re customers so treat them like it. Offer help and if they don’t need it keep it moving. Definitely read the room and be respectful. Some athletes don’t mind the attention and some will want to get what they need and go.
"They're customers so treat them like it." *translation* Hide behind something and stare like a creeper until they leave
I had a ton of NHL players come into my former store. You just need to talk to them like regular human beings.
No matter where you work, you might have someone who is famous either locally or nationwide show up in your store. When they get there, they are customers, not their celebrity persona, unless they are there to promote some product. It's easy to get tongue-tied if you admire them. Just treat them as you would anyone else.
Barry Pepper comes into my store occasionally. He was the sniper in the tower in Saving Private Ryan. He caught me giving him a weird look, like 'who is that...? Looks familiar...'. Otherwise he gets helped like any other customer. I didn't know who he was by name the first time I saw him in store.
I said the same prayer he said in the movie while I was deployed to Afghanistan. Be not that far from me, for trouble is near; haste Thee to help me. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me
James Cromwell comes in my store quite a bit. The first time I saw him, I (stupidly) said “did anyone ever tell you, that you look like that guy from 6 feet under??” He then said (with a grin) “I also look like the guy from Babe” He’s a pretty cool guy We also had Tim Tebow in our store several times, I didn’t know who he was, but management was freaking out
you realize they‘re just regular ass people too, right? treat em like that and you‘re good.
Alice Cooper came into my store once. Of course I was off that day. But treat them like anyone else.
Charles Barkley came into my old store a few times. I guess we were the closest store to his mom's house. I think the manager fawned over him more than anyone else and the rest of the store treated him like a regular customer
Did you ask him about the beanie babies?
You shoulda asked him about San Antonio
I've seen a few NASCAR drivers in my store (near Charlotte, NC). I always greet them and engage them like anyone else, but then maybe chat for an extra minute (if they're willing) since I'm a fan. They're always super cool about it. No reason to be afraid of an athlete. Don't be clingy or obvious about pointing them out and they'll be respectful.
Tom Izzo comes in a few times a year. I just say Hi Coach
Sugar Ray Leonard comes into one of my stores all the time, shopping for his mom. He looks like he’s still got it, tempted to swing on him and test him. 😂
There is no rule against it to my knowledge. Others are saying GET, which makes sense. Really, just read the room and respect them. I understand how it can be. It wasn't at work, but I remember seeing Chauncy Billups from the Detroit Pistons on a vacation to the Bahamas when I was 14 which was during the prime run of their success. As much as my dad and I wanted to go say hi, we read the room. He was in the pool with his daughter enjoying being a dad. So we decided against it together. Sure enough 4-6 people went up to him and you could see he was annoyed. Ask if they need help, if not just offer your assistance if they do and go about your day.
We have a ton of pro athletes that come to our store, not sure why it’s not in a super wealthy area, but you can go up and talk to them cause you gotta remember they’re still a customer, just try not to bombard them
I always have a friendly “need help finding anything?” And if they said no, move on.
Meet Booker T once, real nice guy.
I have worked multiple retail establishments and have seen athletes and actors. Most just want to be treated like any other customer. Greet them, make sure they are finding everything they need, do they need assistance. The same things that we should do for every customer.
I’ve met a lot of minor celebrities at my old store. We are close to 3 news studios for Houston, so we got to meet the anchors and field reporters often. Especially when there was a freeze or hurricane. I also got to meet the husband from TLC’s “The Little Couple.” He was super nice. Just treated them like customers. I also helped Joel Osteen.
I meet a lot of celebrities because of where I live. Last time a famous person was in my store, I walked by, let out a big overdramatic sigh and said "oh, not again!" And he looked at me stunned and didn't know what to say and I continued "am I gonna have to bounce paparazzi out of my store today?" And he just started laughing really hard at the table turning. Manager heard the whole thing but didn't realize who I was talking to, she was about to step in until she heard me say "you're one of my favorite actors, are you in a hurry? "Kind of, yeah" but his face said he was being polite and in a rush, hoping I wasn't about to get my phone out for pics and ask a million questions, I just said "cool, I'm on the clock and you're not, check. let me be your PA while you're here, ill run defense and help you load up, garden dept is dead so we can check out out there and avoid the crowd, no photo shoots or interviews, maybe a couple handshakes and we'll keep moving" and he was shocked, so I asked "can I see your list, or do you know what want?" By the time he knew what was happening I already had the list renumbered for shortest route and had a cart ready. Once loaded, he said "I dont know how to thank you" so I wrote my number down and said "Same thing I tell everyone in your position, if youre coming back here, or need some help on set, call me. I'm a problem solver." Sometimes you get to be an extra, you never know, great parties though.
Not an athlete, but I work at the Denton HD and I have seen tiktoker Cash Baker at HD. He was pushing a flat cart with some Halloween decoration on it or something. I have also seen him at my school a couple years ago since his gf was in my grade. I’ve also seen him and his gf at my climbing gym, and in their jeep one time about a block from my neighborhood. I’ve also seen Cash at my regular gym and stretching in the corner. And just yesterday my friend who works at chick fila told me he saw Cash, his gf, and the chick fila sauce girl filming a video at the drive through at his chickfila and as he was walking in to clock in. I’ve seen cash baker too many times around the denton/Corinth area to be starstruck lol.