Not long ago I was watching a business program from the United States of America discussing the unemployment situation and the slight recovery in companies starting to rehire staff.

The interviewer was speaking to a large department store manager who commented he had found business had started to improve and he was looking to hire more associates.

“Associates” I thought, if sales were picking up and sales were improving I would have thought he should be hiring more “Sales People”

The field of retail sales is one of the largest and most diversified areas of selling, from the small corner store to the huge department and large box stores that now form a vital part of our economy.

Governments around the world recognise the level of retail sales is the barometer in gauging the health or otherwise of their economies.

Occasions such as Mother’s Day, Fathers Day, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving, discount sales and Christmas for example provide a boost in customer traffic and profits for the stores.
 
Retail sales are generally seen as sales made over the counter selling many types of goods to customers who come into the store to satisfy a need for the products sold.

To a large extent this type of selling has been a starting point or introduction to the profession of selling for many people and in my case my first sales position was a school holiday job in a men’s department store.
 
An opportunity to work in retail sales should be seen like any other sales opportunity and approached with the same recognition that the profession of selling can provide a long term career.

The same knowledge and skills required in any sales position are required in retail sales as with all selling, you are in a people business and it is by understanding the steps of the sale and the techniques of selling you will be a success and enjoy what you do.

It is unfortunate many in retail selling are POW’s (prisoners of work) and retail sales was a job of last resort.

They don’t see themselves as a professional sales person, viewing every customer as a sales opportunity and providing the extra assistance and service that has the customer returning to the store (and them) again and again.

It is a retold storey however to demonstrate a point I will repeat it.

A customer went into a fishing tackle store to buy a new fishing line as his old line was well used and he did not want it to break and that big one to get away.

That day his fishing life changed forever, he met a salesperson who listened and applied basic selling skills.

Through asking questions and listening the salesperson found he loved fishing and taking his family out when he could to experience the day and they all enjoyed eating fresh fish, however in recent times the catches had been small and the family had lost interest.

The salesperson was also a keen on fishing but had always used a boat to get out on the lake and fish in the deeper waters where the catches were always better.

The customer left the store with a new fishing line, reel, rod, boat and motor and of course the trailer to get him to the lake.

This also worked for the fisherman and as a result he and his family go fishing on the lake whenever they can and are enjoying the fresh fish they always knew were there but were out of reach fishing from the shore line. 

By listening to the customer and understanding that his need was more than just a fishing line he was able to enhance the sale and at the same time develop a relationship with the customer who would continue coming back to the store.

Retail selling has the advantage in that depending on the stores promotion the customer comes into the store and it is then that the salesperson can provide the service and apply the sales techniques they have learned.

In most other selling prospecting is one of the major tasks of the sales professional.

The opportunity for the retail salesperson is one that makes the one on one customer contact immediate and the possibility of making a sale that step closer.

Learning the knowledge and skills of the sales professional applies to all selling positions regardless of the environment in which you sell and will not only prepare you to progress in selling but bring you the rewards and satisfaction in the work you do.

It is too easy to be an “Associate” in retail sales and not look to each customer as a selling opportunity.

Each customer is an occasion to practice and develop your techniques; to ensure the customer is satisfied with your approach and left feeling they have purchased what they wanted assisted by a skilled salesperson.

 “It’s better to do things because you want to – not because you have to”.
Arthur J. Barrot.