First Retail Job, Lifelong Lessons | Behind the Counter with Yani Nufio

What starts as a first retail job can lead to a career you never expected—and friendships you'll cherish forever.

In this episode of Sorry, It's Discontinued, Hilary sits down with longtime friend Yani Nufio to talk about her journey from a teenager who fell in love with makeup to building a successful career in retail, finance, and mortgage lending.

Yani shares how watching her mom put on makeup sparked her passion for beauty, why her first job at Victoria's Secret changed her life, and how working in the brand's newly launched beauty department introduced her to the world of fragrance, customer service, and retail sales. Her talent eventually led her to the Lancôme counter at Dillard's, where she and Hilary first met—a friendship that has lasted for years.

Together, they reflect on the excitement of working retail, the confidence gained behind the counter, the relationships built with customers, and how the skills learned in retail continue to shape careers long after leaving the sales floor.

Today, Yani brings that same passion for helping people to her work as a mortgage lender, proving that the heart of great customer service never changes.

Whether you've worked in beauty, fragrance, fashion, department stores, or simply remember your very first retail job, this conversation is a reminder that retail is about so much more than making a sale—it's about people, purpose, and the moments that stay with us forever.

Connect with Yani:
📱 Instagram: @mortagegirl_yani
🏡 Mortgage Services: https://s1l.com/loanofficer/yani-nufio/

If you've ever worked behind a counter, helped a customer, or fallen in love with retail, this episode is for you.

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