'The Silly Season Shopper' Article by Tina Zawila

By the time you read this our office will be closed for the year and our team will be enjoying  a well-deserved break with their family and friends.

Some of us (yes me!), who haven’t been very organised over the last few months will be using these first few days of leave before Christmas to frantically get their Christmas shopping done. 

Braving the shopping centre crowds and car parks. 

If you are a retailer, you should love the last minute shoppers.  We are usually in a rush, desperately looking for inspiration and will rarely shop around for a better deal.  All we really want is good old fashioned customer service!

If your frontline team are still smiling (despite being extremely busy), if they are willing to help and show compassion to the silly season shopper, you will win the sale.  It really is an opportunity for your team to shine and your business to stand out from the crowd. 

How your sales team engages with customers at this time of the year can make or break your Christmas sales and potentially sales in the new year.  Engagement starts from the moment the customer steps into the store. Team members who smile, say “hi” or “how is your day going?” immediately place the customer at ease.   If possible, don’t always lead with the traditional “can I help you” but instead mix it up with something more personal, direct and less rehearsed.  Such as “Is there something specific you are looking for today?” or “Have you seen our {stock item} they make great stocking fillers?”

And as for those of us who are doing the shopping…be patient, take a moment to consider others, including busy sales staff, and wear your best Christmas smile.

From all of us at Sothertons Gladstone, we wish you a very merry Christmas.  Our office will be closed from 4pm Friday 19^th December 2014, reopening on Monday 5^th January 2015.  We look forward to helping  you make 2015 your best year ever.  Call us on 4972 1300 to share your Christmas retail stories.