How to Boost Sales at Your Retail Job Without Being Pushy
You’ve probably already dealt with persistent retailers who make you feel uncomfortable because they keep asking you to buy something, even if you said you weren’t interested. You know how it feels and that it usually makes people look for the nearest exit. So if you work in retail, don’t behave that way.
This post was originally published on TalentEgg .
The problem is that store management expects you to sell more products, maintain certain performance targets, and put more money into the store’s checkout. You can do this without asking customers to buy and spend more by offering them related products or services.
The guy taking your order on the motorway does this all the time, asking you if you would like fries and a hamburger. Most of the time you say no, but sometimes you say yes. This is how you get people to buy and spend more. This is called spin-off sales.
Effective up-selling requires patience, close observation, resilience and some skill. Get a few more dollars from your customers by following these five tips to increase your sales:
1. Make them talk
People love to talk about themselves. In my experience, the better the communication, the longer the customer stays in the store, the more they spend and the more likely they are to become a regular customer.
Conversation helps build relationships, demonstrates your knowledge of the product, and makes the customer feel like you are their friend and not the salesperson. But how?
2. Ask open-ended questions
Convince customers by asking them open-ended questions. You don’t want their answer to be yes or no because you don’t know anything about them, how they plan to use the product, or how much they might spend.
This process will identify products or services that customers did not intend to buy.
For example, if you sell athletic shoes, try asking questions such as:
- What are you planning to use the shoes for?
- How much are you willing to spend?
- Tell me about your current pair of sneakers.
- Do you have health problems? If so, which ones?
- How do you usually clean your shoes?
3. Offer the products your customers want.
Answering open-ended questions will help you suggest the products the customer might need to solve the problem they raised during your conversation. If you offer a product that is more expensive than the one they came to the store for, always explain its features, benefits, and why the product is better suited to meet their needs.
Not every resale story has a happy ending. How you handle rejection can tell the buyer how sincere your recommendation was.
4. Take customers to the checkout.
The path you take to the checkout can also provide opportunities for additional sales. If you’re helping a guy with men’s shoes , walk him through the men’s clothing section before heading to the counter.
It’s the same with the female customer. Offer a customer who buys shoes, sports socks, and other items they might need. See how up-sale works? If you don’t ask, you don’t know.
5. Complete the sale just as you started it.
Remember how funny and friendly you were when the customer entered the store? Proceed the same throughout the transaction, tell them your name, and remember to thank them for their purchases at your store before they leave.
5 Easy Ways To Sell Your Work In Retail Without Pushing Themselves | Egg talent