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Five hundred staff at a new John Lewis store have been given theatre training in order to help them communicate better with customers.
It seems a bit odd until you think about it for a moment and then realise, if actors mumbled, waved their hands about or didn’t deliver the script, audiences would be left scratching their heads over what was happening.
It’s much the same in-store, where confidence and clarity goes a long way in reassuring customers they’ve come to the right place.
And anyway, as John Lewis boss Paula Nickolds says, shops aren’t just places to buy things, they have to deliver an experience as well.
There’s still a role for shops, adds Paula, but now they are part of a sophisticated mix, that includes online shopping. And let’s face it, there are some kinds of shopping the internet can’t replace.
So, if you’re building a career in retail and looking for your next move on s1jobs, consider these sectors.
Bridal Wear
Social media is full of online wedding dress fails. The posh frock that looked fab on the model, too often turns out to be a fashion disaster. That’s why wedding boutiques are flourishing.
Personal attention, product knowledge and a fitting service are just the start of it.
There’s the whole business of turning up with an entourage, including mother of the bride and bridesmaids, who all get to sit in a circle and enjoy a glass of Prosecco while the bride-to-be parades in different dresses. Bravo!
Paint
Try buying this without seeing it first and you could be in for a surprise. Colour reproduction is notoriously difficult, which is why tester pots were developed.
You might also want a bit of advice about which paint suits your surfaces and for that there’s no substitute for face-to-face talk with someone who knows the difference between eggshell and gloss.
This is why knowledgeable sales assistants in DIY stores are so highly sought after.
Sofas
Once it was easy as there were three-piece suites and nothing else. Now sofas are sold separately and come in multiple formats, from recliners to corner-fillers and bits you can add on as you please.
But how are customers going to put together a jigsaw puzzle like that without seeing it first, feeling the fabrics and sitting down on the job?
If you’d like to launch a career in Retail, your act one, scene one, should be with s1jobs, where you can find vacancies centre stage.