Make it Easy for Your Shoppers to Obtain Help when Starting a Dollar Store
It is very frustrating for shoppers to search for help when all they want to know is the location of a product. Your challenge is to make it quick and easy for shoppers who need help to locate the employee who is ready, willing and able to provide that help.
One of the challenges for those who are starting a dollar store is providing just the right amount of help for the shoppers in their store. On one hand,
you do not want to smother shoppers with offers of help and small talk as they turn the corner into every aisle. On the other hand you do not want shoppers with questions to spend their time trying to locate just one person who might be able to provide the information they seek. It is very frustrating for shoppers to search for help when all they want to know is the location of a product. Your challenge is to make it quick and easy for shoppers who need help to locate the employee who is ready, willing and able to provide that help.
Whether you provide a full uniform, just a company shirt, a vest or apron, make sure the colors match your store colors. Have your business name and logo or insignia embroidered or screen printed onto the garment. This signals the person is an employee. It also adds a bit of pride for employees as they realize they are a member of the store team.
Add a simple, inexpensive identification badge so shoppers can see the first name of the employee who is offering to help. Add in the job title if it desired. Make wearing the identification badge an expectation for every employee.
When you are starting a dollar store be sure your cashiers always welcome new arrivals to the store. The simple gesture of a ‘hello’ to new arrivals sets a very positive tone for the entire shopping trip. It also opens the doors for those just stopping in for a quick purchase on their way back to work to ask for the location of the desired product.
Always train stock personnel to say ‘hello’ to shoppers who pass by. This should become a standard job expectation no matter how busy they feel they are at the moment. They should stop what they are doing and look up and at the shopper. Follow the ‘hello’ with a quick offer to help if they need anything.
If you are starting a dollar store focus all of your employees on providing the best possible customer service to all. Be sure they say ‘hello’ and provide offers of help. Be sure all employees are easily seen by providing some type of uniform as well as an ID badge with employee first names and titles.
