28/04/2019
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. LEARN AND PRACTICE THIS
DON'T WIN THE BATTLE AND LOSE THE WAR.
The greatest retail businessmen of all time was Harry Gordon Selfridge the founder and creator of Selfridge's of Oxford St London in 1908.
Mystery Shopping Sydney will help identify what needs fine tuning.
His belief was the Customer is always right. This man was a the most successful retailer and marketer and learned early that the success of his store depended on the customers and their experience within his store.
It was a shopping experience, for some an adventure to see, to feel, to touch to smell and to peruse all that was to offer. He was the first to allow the customer to just look and not have to buy, The other stores would have floor walkers to usher out the waste of timers (bad mistake, but they in time changed too after seeing the difference.)
He was the first to establish the women's fragrance (perfume/makeup) precincts in the front of the store, to entice the customers and welcome the customer.
It was open to all no matter what class or what address one had. The staff were welcoming to all and above all that the customer came first.
Of course the Customer is not always right all the time But the customer is to be treated as though they are. There is no point in winning the battle and lose the war, your pride may be full but your sales brand won't be.. The cost of replacing an item or refunding an item is nothing compared to losing that customer forever or at worst that customer spreading negative reviews to friends and family.
I hear so many retailers complaining that the customer said this or did that, so what, what was the cost to get that customer in to your store to buy in the first place. So what if the customer told a little fib about something, get over it he/she will spend more in the future, just because you looked after them, that's what matters.
So many of the great Hotels today have the same philosophy, if it's not right, fix it, change it make it right for the customer.
Some of the big retailers have lost that message. Staff cuts so the is no staff to ask a question or help you and worst of all arguing with the customer. Yes they keep wining the battle but at what cost.
It's not rocket science, it's like a plant, water it, feed it and it will bloom.
You will reap the benefits ten fold by that simple gesture.