DMSRetail

We all want to see lots of customers purchasing in our stores but when the volume gets higher than what we can comfortably deal with, some check out line management is in order. Even stores that are accustomed to seeing high volumes all year round can get bogged down during the holiday season.

So, first of all, you need to make sure that all of your people know when check out line management is called for. Next, you have to give them ideas.

So here are a few for you to pass along if you haven’t already…a) Have a very outgoing staff member chat with customers who are waiting in the line up. b) If something is causing an unusually lengthy delay, show customers that you respect their time by letting them know what’s happening, what is being done to correct it and how long they might be delayed. c) Offer candies to customers while they are waiting to check out, but bear in mind – the candies must be wrapped and they must not be given to children; have the parents take the candy and give it to their child if they wish to do so. d) Have some type of entertainment or other distraction going on in the store that catches the customers’ attention. 

You know the saying, ‘time flies when you’re having fun’? Well, have some fun in your stores and you’ll have fewer upset holiday shoppers.

All the Success!!

Dianne Miethner

DMSRetail Inc. 

PS: The next session of the Retail District Management Workshop is being held in Phoenix, AZ on January 26 & 27, 2011. Email us for details at workshops@dmsretail.com, or go here for more information: http://www.dmsretail.com/districtworkshop.htm . Oh, and please visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dmsretail . Don’t forget to Like us if you do!