My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I can honestly say, that I enjoy the work that involves being in retail. If I whole-heartily believe in what I sell…I never actually feel like I’m selling anything. I feel more like I’m being a representative of a product that I have tremendous passion for, and then simply sharing that passion with others.If I do my work with sincerity and give attentive customer service….a good solid product sells itself - with no force.
I’ve been involved with corporate retail for almost 20 years now. And what I find incredibly sad, is watching this industry turned into homogenized milk.
Where there use to be uniqueness, energy, and excitement, now lies a paralyzing competitive fear to “follow-the-leader.” Most retail corporations are doing the same thing, in the same way, in order to win the customers. And by doing this - an underlining tension is felt, thus pushing the customer further and further away.
Everything about selling to the customer has now turned into the pressure of getting personal information such as: phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses - so they can sell 24 hours a day, 365 days out of the year. They claim, that this is to give their patrons outstanding customer service, when in reality…it’s invasive.
They sit in their corporate offices, totally removed from the customers, having absolutely no idea what the customer wants or needs; making choices based on figures from last year, in the hopes that they’ll triple. And doing so, because they claim that the cost of living is on the rise, when in reality, they’re the ones who are contributing to the rise.
It’s a never ending cycle of self-competition.
They have also figured out how to create the most animosity between their sales associates, so that they’ll fight and compete for commissions, because the their hourly salaries have been reduced to peanuts. They hope and pray that they will develop a “killer shark instinct” because this means more profit for them. After all....they don't have to swim with them.
And as I look at their self-created madness. I can’t help but wonder why they constantly overlook these basic simple truths….
When you give…with a genuine and honest intention of simply servicing the needs of the public…without having any fear of not receiving…you will then prosper and be successful.
And when you begin to create a happy, caring, and nurturing environment for your employees, you will also create the proper environment for them to service the customer with honest integrity, which in turn, will create happy, loyal, and devoted patrons.
Corporate retail has sadly forgotten about the business they‘re actually in….to SERVE.
Wake up to success.
Photo: romap
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