Search This Blog

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Impressions on Your Customers

           In the world of retail, you never know who's going to walk through your door. All walks of life will eventually stop by. Retail is often is overlooked in its unique complexity to relate to its various consumer interests. Corporate spearheads are so removed from what happens on a daily basis within stores, they often miss the mark when trying to market to consumers. They persuade employees to approach consumers in a way that often is unrealistic. My job is, simply, is selling lingerie. I am hear to share my experiences as a salesperson, I will be focusing on the special way that one can determine exactly who there customer is and what that customer wants five minutes after they walk in the door.
            I once had a manager who told me "At the end of the day, its only bras and panties." This is very true, and something that anyone who works in retail needs to repeat as a mantra. She recognized that I was becoming overwhelmed with people demanding my attention, and in more or less words told me, don’t take yourself so seriously. This helped to open my eyes to enjoying my job rather than feeling like a laborer when on the clock.
            Your initial impression on the customer sets the foundation of your whole encounter, so one thing to keep in mind, is that employees need to truly want to help their customer. Being genuine when you say "Welcome to ......What can I help you find today?" makes a huge difference in how your customer will react. People can pick up on subliminal messages, and you better believe that they can easily tell if you're truly happy to help them, or going through the motions. So corporate companies, listen up! Keep your employees happy! Make sure that management has a good balance between authority and friendship. I'm not saying, go out on the weekends with employees, however, employees will take pride in their work and will want to achieve goals when they feel that their place of work is at least enjoyable and a place of security. I have always looked back on my managers and thought, they were like family. They are people who truly care for me and my well-being, and in return, I cared what they thought of my performance and what I could achieve for them during work. Although the customer may not consciously pick up on this dynamic, it WILL influence their perception of the store as a whole. Employees will be able to work seamlessly together, which in turn creates a superior customer experience, and thus create a consumer base that are repeat customers, solely, because when the customer walked in the door they truly felt welcome and assisted.