Comments on: Are you a closer?

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:43:04 +0000

Hotpants:
I worked retail a long time ago and to this day I still don’t understand this either. I honestly think it is out of pure laziness. They want to reconcile as few registers as possible in hopes of being able to go home faster. However, if you don’t have many registers open and the line continues to grow you will not get home any faster. Totally goes against their efforts to “save” time.

Thanks for your comment!
.-= LaTosha Johnson´s last blog ..Book Review: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur =-.

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:38:25 +0000

Hi John,

I also do not like salespeople hovering over me. However, I do not believe that asking customers while they are looking around if they need assistance is hovering. However, the one thing I might add about waiting until the customer is headed out towards the door before asking them if they found everything okay is that the chances for closing the sale decrease.

Some people may say no simply because they do not want to walk back to where the merchandise is located out of defiance because they may feel someone should have been working in that department. I totally understand your point, but I don’t think asking the customer once earlier in their search will be considered hovering.
.-= LaTosha Johnson´s last blog ..Book Review: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur =-.

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:29:42 +0000

Hi Walter,
I believe we are all closers to some degree. The main point I was trying to get at is not to allow opportunities to pass by when people are need of your assistance (doesn’t sound like you have this problem!). So many people fail to take advantage of these opportunities and then wonder why they can’t close a sale or why their business is not progressing. Thanks for your comment!
.-= LaTosha Johnson´s last blog ..Book Review: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur =-.

By: Michelle Mangen

Michelle Mangen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:04:14 +0000

John:
Hovering definitely can be bad – if someone hovers are they hovering because they want to help or because they suspect you may walk off with something?

By: Michelle Mangen

Michelle Mangen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:03:30 +0000

HotPants:
Never working retail myself not sure why that is either.

Thanks for stopping by from SITS – just gotta love the awesome-ness over there!

By: hotpants™

hotpants™ — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:13:16 +0000

That’s very true about cashiers needing permission before they can hop on a register. I’ve never understood this, especially during the holidays.

I’m stopping by from SITS. Welcome to the group.
.-= hotpants™´s last blog ..Naps, Hockey & Shutter Island =-.

By: John@ kerbing Perth

John@ kerbing Perth — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:03:51 +0000

We used to own a store and because I really don’t like to be bothered by sales staff, I made a point of not asking if I could help. I acknowledged their entry into the store with a smile, and simply said “I am right here if you need anything.”
Only when they approachd the till or headed towards the exit did I ask if they found what they were looking for and offer assistance if they haven’t found what they came for.
Who likes hovering sales staff, – I certainly don’t.
.-= John@ kerbing Perth ´s last blog ..Landscaping =-.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:12:07 +0000

I guess I can call myself a closer but not in a trade kind of way. In my everyday encounter with people, I’m more of a closer when someone approaches me for guidance or assistance.

By: Michelle Mangen

Michelle Mangen — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:56:19 +0000

Ching – so glad you stopped by to read the post and have now connect to LaTosha – if you aren’t following her on Twitter – I highly recommend it! She’s awesome!

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:33:05 +0000

Hi Ching Ya,

I don’t mind it when store employees initiate the conversation. A friendly demeanor can increase the employee’s chances of closing the deal (I hate being stalked around the store—saying something is always the way to go!). I agree that store employees do have to possess some level of PR skills because they are representing the store and are on the “front line.” Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for your comment!
.-= LaTosha Johnson´s last blog ..Book Review: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur =-.