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10 Ways to Please a Retail Customer
2 min read
by Alissa Zucker
Pleasing customers means we’ve benefited the customer by providing a positive shopping experience and a product that meets their needs. Pleasing customers also means the retailer benefits by gaining repeat customers and experiencing multiple-sale transactions.
Retailers can make customers happy using a myriad of tactics, but if you want to skyrocket sales and stand out from your competition, consider these ten ways to please a customer:
Welcome Customers with a Warm Greeting
All it takes is 30 seconds to make or break a sale. That 30 seconds is your greeting.
When customers enter your store, thank them for coming in. Avoid asking “How can I help you?”. Although a popular greeting, this question can deter customers from engaging with you and your employees, stifling the sales path. Also, because this question is popular, customers expect it. Instead, greet customers in ways that surprise them.
When welcoming customers into your store, make a great first impression.
And when greeting repeat customers, call them by name.
Compliment the Customer
Doing so demonstrates your awareness of the customer. You could compliment material possessions, like clothes or jewelry, or physical characteristics, like hair or nails.
Also compliment customers on the type of merchandise they’ve selected. This highly impacts the decision-making process and encourages customers to purchase your products.
Ask Customers Their Opinion
Ask customers what they think of the merchandise you offer, if the products they see are what they expected to find, and if they’ve seen the same products at other stores.
Asking the customer their opinion is the silent compliment: you demonstrate how much you value the customer. And if you ask the right questions, you can collect valuable information about your store, your merchandise, and how you measure against competitors.
Get the Customer Talking about Themselves or Their Favorite Topic
People love to talk about themselves. You can make customers happy by asking questions about their favorite topic or activity.
This is especially beneficial when dealing with repeat customers. If you know a bit about the customer’s interest or personal lives, you can loop this information into your next conversation, a great tactic for communicating your care for who the customer is, not just why they’re in your store.
Ask Questions that Help You Suggest Additional Products
Ask questions about what the customer likes, wants, or needs--this helps you effectively suggest additional products the customer may want to purchase but didn’t originally intend to buy.
Suggest Additional Products
Once you’ve collected information about the customer’s wants or needs, suggest additional products. Think of additional products in two categories:
Products that accessories the item the customer is purchasing
Products you think the customer would like based on information they’ve shared and the type of product they’re purchasing
Many salespeople are afraid to suggest additional items for fear they’ll come across as pushy. But here’s the truth: if you don’t suggest additional items, you’re failing to provide excellent customer service. If you suggest the right items, you’re helping the customer identify what products they may need but haven’t considered.
Simply ask the customer, “Did you see this?” This question easily lets you segue into a multiple-item sale, which is the result of a highly effective retailer.
Follow up with the Customer
Follow up with a phone call or email that lets the customer know you appreciate their business. Let them know you’re available and willing to help if they need assistance.
Doing so not only pleases customers with their experience in your store but helps to create repeat customers.
Sell items to Customers Who Didn’t Intend to Buy Anything
Be able to make a customer say, “I had no intentions of buying anything. I just came in to stop by and say hello.” Doing so demonstrates to customers your desire to learn and understand them.
Listen to the Customer
The best salespeople are not necessarily the ones with the bubbly personality--they are the ones that listen. Ask short questions, and let the customer give long answers. Listening to the answer is the greatest way to please the customer.
About the author
Alissa Zucker is a paper writer at Mcessay.com. She is interested in reading classic and psychological books which give her inspiration to write her own articles and short stories.