How to Greet Customers in Retail - Never Say This!

How should you greet customers in retail? In this video I’ll share how NEVER to greet retail customers, and simple steps to set your customers at ease when entering your retail store.

Consumer psychology tells us that customers are more likely to buy when their dopamine is flowing - in other words, they’re happy, relaxed and feeling good.

When entering a store we are already programmed to expect a sales person zeroing in on us - ready to sell us something we don’t want or need

That means we enter already on the defensive, ready to deflect! And when a customer feels tense, defensive or uncomfortable - consumer psychology shows they are LESS likely to buy

Your job is to make your customer feel instantly welcomed, relaxed and comfortable and I’ll share exactly how to do that in this video!

----------

💰 How to increase your sales so you can consistently pay yourself and your staff, with the 4 steps of the Sales Breakthrough System ⇒

----------

⭐️ Ready to work with RETAILMavens? Apply here:

----------

䷉ Read it on the blog ⇒

----------

🔔 SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss the cutting edge retail tips, tools and strategies that will help you improve your profits and get better sleep!

----------

[retailmavens]

Increase your sales so you can consistently pay yourself and your staff, with the 4 steps of the Sales Breakthrough System ⇒

[TheBeanHome]

I love being ignored in a store. Hearing “let me know if you need anything” at the start is all I need.

I hate small talk 😅

[Queenmoreta]

worked in my current retail job for 8 years now but being an introvert with anxiety I am always critiquing myself with how I talk to customers. I'm going to try adding "what brings you into the shop today" into my collection of greetings. :)

[vennie]

Thank you for caring about customers’ experiences. If a salesperson started straightening up near me, I would definitely think that they are concerned that I will steal. Greet me, say something like, “I’m here if you need help and I’ll swing around in a few minutes to see how you are.”

[wpbbynh]

I definitely agree with the immediate greeting or acknowledgment of them coming in. But I also agree with the other comments that say don’t pretend to be doing something near me waiting to pounce! That makes me nervous and anxious to even shop!! “Hi welcome to the store, let me know if I can help in anyway!” Works for me as a customer just fine!!

[originalfred]

"If you have any questions, I will be right here" is EXACTLY what I want to hear from a sales person. The LAST thing I want to do is talk about my weekend.

[markt]

As a psychologist I feel asking "what brings you in today" for me is the worst questions.when they jump you at the door. I want to say my car or feet.

[r.]

As a customer I feel I must let you know that your techniques are 100% guaranteed to not only scare me out the door, but make sure I'll never return. 😟

[Locostacos]

Accurate advice. I've been in retail for 5 years, and my standard greeting is "Hey there, how is it going today?" when they walk in the door, and then follow up on whatever they have to say. And I never hassle them or try to sell, unless they genuinely look like they are searching. Then it's "Can I help you find anything, or are ya just browsing?" People seem to really appreciate being offered help without being pestered.

[donnadixon]

You have no idea how many small shops I’ve turned around and left because the salesperson kept hanging around talking rather than allowing peaceful browsing. A customer may step into the store looking for a blue sweater, but if left alone with their own thoughts other items and ideas can, and will, pop into mind as they slowly walk about your store. If a small shop customer is looking for conversation or advise they’ll start a conversation, if the customer says nothing beyond the initial hello, it’s imperative that the salesperson remain accessible but quiet and off to the side.

[PanaMaJwaaRd]

I hate when people go near me to “pretend to fix something”. Please don’t do this. Just come up to me straight. Stop treating me like cattle.

[andrewgibb]

I disagree. When a retail clerk says “if you need some assistance just let me know.” is the best line. You’ve acknowledged the customer and you’ve established yourself as a clerk, end of discussion. If the customer doesn’t have a question once you’ve first acknowledged them, they’re probably just browsing or they already know what they’re looking for. Women may disagree but most men will agree, we ask for help when we need it or we just search and find. ✌🏼

[Memoreism]

When I see a regular walk in, I'm like, "hello, welcome. Oh hey!" Makes them feel special that I realized it was one of my friends :P

[eujiboo]

I'm starting in a new retail job again so all these tips are so helpful. I'm thinking that maybe there's also a culture difference between western and asian retail markets because customers here usually don't do small talk/would prefer to shop unbothered by sales staff, and usually when we greet them, they either just smile or look confused.

[vividmouse]

Spot on. All parts of sales training I got over 25 years ago. And don't be afraid to suggest a customer try another retailer because you don't have a product that suits. In most cases they'll remember you had their best interest at heart and come back later.

[belmore]

I worked for a big box retail where I was the Sales Manager... corporate instructed us to literally go up to a customer WITHOUT INTRODUCTION, take their items from their hands and give them a shopping cart! We even had a training session with the District Manager on how to do this! My jaw dropped to the floor! I told the DM that if I was a customer and an employee grabbed stuff from my hands like that I would 100% leave and not be back! I said that I would NOT allow my team to harass shoppers like this just because giving a customer a cart will increase basket size! Needless to say, I left that toxic environment quick...

[davec]

I will literally leave your store if you start quizzing me about my weekend. Unless it's a boat store I don't think any good comes from telling customers about your weekend of sailing. And telling me a story about everything I focus on in the store is super annoying too. I don't see anything wrong with "can I help you find anything?" or things along those lines, that's basically the same as "what brings you into the store?". I do agree it's very important to be greeting and making contact though.

[dripsa]

I have a weekend job where I sell patio furniture. I don't use it all the time, but I have a 100% conversion rate when I ask the customers what brings them to the shop. They fall into a story of their house as well as their patio, and what they need or are looking for, for the space. Just ny sharing that, they give me so much information of what they actually require and makes the selection process so much easier which leads to them buying (I think much easier than they would have without asking that simple question)

[kentschrader]

These are some great tips! I was in retail sales management, and I found that the biggest sales barrier was NOT building rapport up front. In a training involving role plays (sales person / customer), people were taught how to greet the customer, then explore needs (which builds rapport) before suggesting any particular solution (or product). Then they were flat out TOLD that in the role plays, when the "customer" stated a "need, " they were going to suggest a product without asking questions to determine real needs... In EVERY case they did exactly THAT, even after being taught up front not to do that, but to take time and explore needs! The tendency to "rush to a sale" can be so strong.... but this is how we defeat ourselves in sales. Better sales practices = better sales results!

[mtmt]

I hate when a salesperson tries to talk to me or worse asks me open-ended questions that are none of their business. Sorry not everyone wants to be noticed, acknowledged, or forced to talk to strangers. If you guilt me into talking to you, i won’t come back.