Tis The Season - 5 Ways to Consider Your Retailers This Black Friday
Behind the door-busting sales, the pushing crowds, and the endless supply of denim and handbags, are associates and sales clerks who have braced themselves for this dreaded holiday known as “Black Friday.”
Long before you arrive and long after you leave, these people are running around like little oompa-loompas making sure that the store continues to function. If you care about the well-being of your retailers throughout the chaos, here are some easy etiquette tips to keep in mind when doing your Black Friday shopping.
1. Once you’re in, you’re in... until you’re out.
Not all, but most stores have a tracker at the top of the door entrance that counts every time a customer comes in. This number is used to track how many of those potential customers result in sales. The conversion rate can sometimes be used to determine an associate’s performance. So once you’re in the store, try to keep you (and your children) in, until you’re ready to move on to the next place.
2. Respect the Sanctity of the Sale Section
It’s silly to expect customers to put clothes back where they found them. But, you know how it feels to find the PERFECT button-up in the sale section, just to bring it up to the register and learn it has been misplaced. Some customers reluctantly put the item back, while others declare war at the register. If you need to get the full price items that you no longer want out of your hands, it’s okay to place them on any rack, just NOT the sale rack.
3. Children…
Why?
4. You Want Coupons? You’ve Got to Give Up the Email.
In the past 9 years I've worked at 5 different stores and it never fails. The customer who refuses to give her email address, inquires eagerly about the coupons we might have floating around for customers. Unless you have a credit or rewards card with a particular store, the email address is the only other way that the store can track your spending.
TIP: Make a cheesy email address SOLELY for ads and couponing. Then you can rack up during holidays, birthdays, and after big purchases.
5. Be Nice. Retail People are People too.
It’s sounds very elementary, but sometimes customers have a hard time understanding that the associates that are helping you are people who deserve respect.
Also, note that when you’re a difficult person, yelling “I’M NEVER GOING TO SHOP WITH THIS COMPANY EVER AGAIN!!!” is never as effective as you think it might be.
