Selling and how to sell is the most important skill every retailer should focus on. They are the orderly process of developing a connection between a shopper and a product through a human relationship on your sales floor. Everyone sells - whether they call it that or not. There's not a thread of clothing you are wearing, a drop of coffee you are drinking, or a piece of furniture you are sitting on that wasn't sold to someone. But there's a disturbing trend in retail since the pandemic where associates are quick to lose a sale and say, "you can order it online." You will never get a better chance to make the sale than when someone is right in front of you looking at or holding your merchandise. Even if you order for your customer on a tablet, the chance of a product return grows higher by the hour. When you understand the selling behaviors and processes in a complete retail sales training program, you can handle objections and find add-ons for every sale. That's what those who are winning customers during these times are doing. Here are some quick ideas on how to improve retail sales... It takes practice to lift the corners of your mouth until wrinkles appear around your eyes, but it is the best way to make a good impression when a shopper first encounters you. Before you clock in or step on the sales floor, stop yourself and do an expectation check. What are you concentrating on? Will customers be hostile, mean, lookie-loos, or will it be a fun day helping people buy from you? One of the old sales pros used to say, "Garbage in, garbage out," so take care what you listen to or watch before coming to work as it might trap you into a negative world-view.What are retail selling techniques?
11 retail selling tips to make more retail sales
1. Greet everyone with a smize
2. Expect to be able to sell to everyone
3. Dress to impress shoppers
Yes, you can wear sneakers, but no, you probably shouldn't.
A sign at Piperlime's pop-up store in SOHO said it all:
"It's time to give up lazy dressing altogether because it's time to look fabulous again. Let's show each other and ourselves a little more respect. Let's put Saturday night effort into Sunday afternoon. Let's remember you get what you dress for, so let's get dressed."
Excellent points, and it's more than how you look. It's also how that makes you feel. And that translates into your demeanor on the sales floor.
How to get started with retail sales training with this comprehensive primer
4. Don't gossip about others
It is a fact that we love to talk about people. From the craziest internet stories to celebrity falls from grace, gossip is more popular than ever.
The danger is that it comes from a place where we feel better about ourselves at someone else's expense. That's the opposite of selling. You should feel better about someone due to them coming into your shop.
5. Find something to like about any stranger
Effective retail associate sales techniques require liking people before they like you. I know this is hard, but you can't judge a book by its cover or a customer by their clothes. When we do that to try to decide who is worth our efforts, we're oftentimes wrong and settle for crumbs when we can have the whole banquet.
6. Serve first to be able to sell
Knights of the round table used to kneel as an act of servitude to their master or other royalty.
Don't confuse this with being enslaved.
The act of serving another goes back to biblical times and is mentioned throughout literature as one of the greatest gifts to humanity. In retail, we often have sales staff acting as if they are lords or ladies of the manor and doing the customer a favor. This is wrong.
7. Know your sales closing ratio
Keep count one day of every customer you encounter and every customer who buys. Divide the two to find your ratio of sales to visits. This gives you the sales you close compared to the number of presentations you make of merchandise.
At first, this might be one out of every ten. With practice, you'll find that you've made more sales by being aware of all the customers you had to sell to.
8. Sell something you hate
Find the ugliest one of your company's products you can. This shouldn't be hard. Determine five things about it you love using the feature "it has" to link to the benefit for the customer "so you."
You'll find that once you give up your assumptions and personal bias, you can find several things and use suggestive selling to make a compelling case of why a customer should buy an item.
9. Learn how to sell more expensive items without discounting
Sure, it's 30% off and has free financing for 20 years. But something like that will sell itself - you're not stretching yourself. Increasing your product knowledge and retail sales training techniques will also increase sales.
10. Be willing to risk the customer walking away without buying
Sometimes, things just aren't going well. The customer is at odds with you; it just feels like you aren't on the same page. Ask, "Excuse me, but have I done something to offend you?"
If you say it without malice or sarcasm, most will apologize and give you a reason that has nothing to do with you. You're just frustrating yourself and the customer without getting that out of the way through.
If that continues, they are bound to leave without buying anyway, so why not risk getting it out of the way? By addressing it head-on, you oftentimes make the bigger sale.
11. Selling is a game you only partially control
Making a sale is very fluid; sometimes, you get lucky or don't, and other times you make it happen.
The goal is to sell everyone but lighten up; millions of orphans won't miss a meal because a customer walked out on you.
Be able to look at a sale afterward and say, "I could have done this better." Take stock and then move on because you have another opportunity to shine walking in the door.
See also, Five Retail Sales Training Tips From Selling Shoes
Get on top of your retail sales!
Before the pandemic, it was easy to think associates could just wing it when trying to sell products worth a couple of bucks. But you can't just hope they will sell your more expensive or luxurious merchandise; you have to have a selling system.
Using a proven selling system means you can engage any stranger, build rapport before giving the product features and benefits of the merchandise and get the customer to buy from you that day - at full price.
If you'd like help with that, please click the link below to learn about my online virtual retail sales training program SalesRX.
Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor®, has helped hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses in every major category, including hospitality, manufacturing, service, and restaurant. He is a nationally recognized expert on business strategy, customer service, persuasion, and marketing. With over thirty years of experience, beginning in the trenches and extending to senior management positions, he has been a corporate officer, franchisor, and entrepreneur.
Take my free 5-part email course to learn how your retail store can outsell any online retailer. You can start your first lesson by entering your name and email address below ...
As an expert in retail sales and customer engagement, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to the table. With a proven track record in helping numerous small and medium-sized businesses across various industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, service, and restaurant, I have become a nationally recognized authority on business strategy, customer service, persuasion, and marketing.
My expertise extends over three decades, encompassing roles from the sales floor to senior management positions. I have served as a corporate officer, franchisor, and entrepreneur, gaining valuable insights into the intricacies of retail operations. This extensive background allows me to understand the nuances of the retail landscape and offer practical solutions for maximizing sales and customer satisfaction.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article on retail selling techniques:
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Importance of Selling in Retail:
- Selling is highlighted as the most crucial skill for every retailer to focus on.
- The article emphasizes that every product, from clothing to furniture, has been sold to someone.
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Challenges in Retail Post-Pandemic:
- There's a noted trend where associates may quickly redirect customers to online ordering, potentially missing opportunities for in-person sales.
- The article suggests that the best chance to make a sale is when a customer is physically present in the store.
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Retail Selling Techniques:
- The orderly process of developing a connection between a shopper and a product through a human relationship on the sales floor is defined as retail selling techniques.
- Complete retail sales training programs are recommended for understanding selling behaviors and processes.
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Tips for Improving Retail Sales:
- Greeting everyone with a "smize" (smiling with the eyes) is suggested for making a positive first impression.
- Expecting to be able to sell to everyone and maintaining a positive mindset is highlighted.
- The importance of personal appearance and dressing to impress shoppers is emphasized.
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Behavioral Aspects of Retail Sales:
- Discourages gossiping about others, emphasizing the need for a positive and customer-focused mindset.
- Encourages finding something to like about any stranger, promoting effective customer engagement.
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Customer-Centric Approach:
- Advocates serving customers first before attempting to sell, emphasizing the historical significance of servitude in retail.
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Sales Metrics and Analysis:
- Recommends knowing your sales closing ratio by counting customers encountered versus customers who make a purchase.
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Overcoming Personal Bias:
- Advises selling something you may personally dislike by finding positive features and benefits for the customer.
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Value-Based Selling:
- Encourages selling more expensive items without resorting to discounts, highlighting the role of increased product knowledge and training.
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Handling Challenges:
- Suggests being willing to risk a customer walking away without buying and addressing potential conflicts directly.
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Adapting to the Fluid Nature of Sales:
- Acknowledges that making a sale is dynamic and sometimes requires flexibility, emphasizing the importance of learning from each opportunity.
In conclusion, the article provides valuable insights and practical tips for retailers to enhance their selling techniques, emphasizing the significance of a customer-centric approach, continuous learning, and adaptability in the ever-evolving retail landscape.
