Ok, so here goes: Why did the beetroot blush? Because she saw the salad dressing! Funny eh!
Ok, one more: A chicken walks into a library. He goes up to the librarian and says “book book.” The librarian gives him two books and he walks away.
The next day the chicken walks up to the librarian and said “book book.” The librarian gives him another two books, and wonders what the chicken is doing with the books, so she follows him out the door and to a pond. The chicken held up the books to a frog and the frog said, “Red it, red it.” Don’t you love a bit of humour! So think about how you are feeling right now – you have a smile on your face and possibly an urgent need to tell someone else these jokes, right?!!
When we laugh and have fun everything seems ok, we lose ourselves in a moment and nothing else really matters… Imagine this…. You are invited to a network evening. You know no one else, you have come along because there is a presentation you really want to see and hear. You swallow back the first mouthful of complimentary champagne and look around the room…. To your left is a group that are clearly engaged in a serious conversation, no one is smiling, just nodding. To your right is a smaller group, you see the smiles, you hear the laughter, you notice the hand gestures. Conscious of standing on your own, you head towards a group – which one – to the left or to the right?
I know which way I would go – to the right of course! A smile is contagious – when someone smiles at you, you can’t help but smile back.
A smile is a visual welcome, a gesture of friendship, the beginning of a relationship.
Have you also noticed that when someone smiles at you, it is almost automatic that a ‘hello’ or greeting pops out.
So fair to say that happy attracts happy! It starts with a smile, but shouldn’t end there. Questions for you: Is your store a happy place?
Does the sound of laughter and fun and humour bounce of the walls?
Can you see and hear the fun from outside your store?
You may think this sounds strange, but I can promise you that many a store is cold and calculating and silent…. and we are not talking about the temperature or the noise here!
As a customer I want to go to the fun places, I want the warmth and friendliness that tells me I am important, I am welcome, that I am cared for- an invited guest. I want to join in the fun, be part of the vibe. Ask any customer and they will tell you the same!
Retail is no different to a home – the best homes are filled with love, kindness and happiness and our retail stores should be just the same. As parents we work hard to make a house a home. As a store owner/manager we need to do exactly the same, create the atmosphere. Not only will your customers love it, your staff will love it too!
The fun you have with each other and especially with your customers is part of the ‘instore experience’.
When people enjoy themselves they want to stay longer, they become more interested, more engaged and bingo before you know it you have made a sale! Not only that, your store and your team will become important to them – their retail friends and they will always come back.
‘Creating an Instore Experience’ starts with a SMILE, a warm welcome and a friendly gesture and a vibrant fun atmosphere.
Create happy! Make fun and happiness part of your brand propostion.
Tune in again soon for some more fresh thinking on how you can transform your retail space.
Need some ideas – reach out : helen@helentc.com Always here to help!
Thought for today: Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.
- Scott Fitzgerald