retail research | where the nice people are

Shopping is a far nicer experience when the retail staff are nice, right?  I’m guessing you’d all agree that friendliness makes a real difference.  Over the last few weeks I’ve been doing my own little retail research, to see where the most helpful and nicest shop assistants can be found.   Obviously this was only based on the specific staff, working on specific days, in specific branches, so elsewhere may be completely different!

Quiz Clothing are currently full to the brim with prom dresses, so trying one on was, of course, compulsory!  Abi (Abby? Abbie? sorry I’m not sure!) was lovely and chatty, and brought me heels to try on with the pretty dress.  Personally I love it when staff are happy to just chat and offer advice; makes for a much more fun experience!
Next stop, French Connection.  As they’re a fairly high end brand I had fairly high expectations, but their sale selection in the window caught my eye.  I tried on a pair of trousers and she offered to find a top for me to try with them, which was really helpful.

This guy, Andy, made me laugh!  Apparently the TK Maxx changing rooms were getting quite boring on the Sunday afternoon and he was ‘about to slip into miserable mode’, just after I’d commented that he seemed very friendly and upbeat.  Seemed very jolly to me! 😀 It’d be unfair to judge the girls who were rushed off their feet tending the changing rooms in Primark, but at the counter we were served by a very cheerful lady called Hema.  I know lots of people don’t like the ‘have a nice day’ kind of thing, but I find it really sweet when they ask how your day’s going!

In Topshop, the changing room assistant was friendly enough, but not exactly focused on her job.  I asked if an inconvenient security tag could be removed, and when it was sent back she placed it back on the rail, leaving me waiting half naked behind a curtain until I realised she’d forgotten.  Probably just having an absentminded moment.  The recently opened River Island in Preston city centre also failed to impress; whilst not being unpleasant, the sales assistants didn’t exactly exude friendliness.  Neither tried to even make eye contact or offer a ‘hello’.

I understand that everyone’s entitled to an off half hour on these busy weekend shifts, so please don’t be offended!  I’ve referred to ‘shop assistants’ here but I’m sure there’s a more modern title that I haven’t come across.

Where do you enjoy shopping most?

lily kate x

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