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I used to work at a clothing store. I always hated (and still do) having salespeople approach me when I first enter a store and pitch the current sales, new ite
by n8agrin 17y ago
I used to work at a clothing store. I always hated (and still do) having salespeople approach me when I first enter a store and pitch the current sales, new items, etc. so I never did that. I did however greet them for three reasons 1) to acknowledge that we see them and are available for help, 2) to let them know I was an employee, which wasn't very obvious with the casual dress attire allowed and 3) to let potential the thieves know we are watching them.
This always pissed off my district manager who would insist on demonstrating to me how to greet customers by basically attempting to instruct them on what to buy. Anyways I don't have any explicit proof that my approach produced better sales, all I know is that when I enter a store and feel like someone is trying to help me solve the problem which prompted me to come to their store, I'm less anxious about buying things. On the other hand when I feel like someone is pitching a problem to me that I'm not interested in solving I just feel disgusted and often leave.
In my mind that roughly translates into building an emotional attachment. It's the difference between listening and talking. Good salespeople make you feel like they are listening to you even if at the end of the day they're just trying to take your five dollars.
- ABrandt 17y agoAs a salesperson in a retail store myself (I'm actually at work right now), I understand completely what you are saying. People can be very cold when you first approach them as they walk in, but you can turn their attitude around instantly with simply being polite and staying out of their way. If you're good, you'll know exactly when and how to engage them. Steve Blank is a huge proponent of this methodology which he refers to as consultative sales. I encourage anyone and everyone in business to look further into it.
- nopassrecover 17y agoSimilar experience - it is essential to greet each customer ("good afternoon"), and you can let them know that you're available if they need help, but don't start selling them before they are ready.
- smokinn 17y agoI don't know if it's just because I've become more numb to the aggressive greets (or gotten better at brushing them off) but I used to despise shopping precisely because of the badgering. Now it seems that in most small stores I walk into, they simply greet and shuffle off after offering assistance if necessary. It certainly makes shopping there much more pleasant. I wonder if shops noticed the exodus towards large stores (where you're never bothered but can barely get help if necessary) and adjusted accordingly. For years I refused to enter any small clothing boutique because I knew at least 1 but probably more people would try to pressure me into buying something. If they did notice, good for them.