When you run a brick-and-mortar retail store, you have only one opportunity to make a positive first impression with your clientele—and a warm greeting can be the difference between losing a customer and making a sale. It can take time to learn the right greeting style for your brand, but it’s well worth the effort. Ahead, learn how to greet your customers properly to enhance their customer experience and earn repeat business at your store.
How to greet your customers
Use welcoming greetings and ask open-ended questions to engage your customers and direct them toward the right products. Here are some ideas to consider for how to best greet customers in your retail store:
1. Warm welcomes
When a customer walksinto your retail store, start with afriendly greeting like “Welcome” or “Good morning/afternoon/evening.” A welcoming tone sets the stage for a positive interaction with a potential customer. Develop a style that feels consistent with your brand’s overall identity. If your store has a more casual vibe, for example, you could use a more informal greeting like “Hey there, welcome!” Consider practicing a handful of different phrases to avoid monotonous or repetitive communications.
2. Small talk
With small-talk greetings, you can strike up a personal connection with your customers through normal conversation. Some small-talk customer greeting examples include phrases like “How are you today?” or context-specific statements like “Are you staying warm out there?” Small talk opens the door to a comfortable style of communication with your customers. This type of greeting is appropriate in a retail store with a more laid-back brand. If your retail store offers upscale products, consider using a more formal style of greeting.
3. Sincere compliments
In the right context, a compliment can break the ice with a potential customer and help build rapport. Be mindful of the tone of your compliment, and make sure it’s appropriate given the nature of your retail store. For example, compliments like “Those sunglasses are great” or “I love that jacket” are likely appropriate for a fashion retail store. To keep things professional, avoid complimenting a customer’s physical appearance; instead compliment them on an accessory or, if they indicate they’re interested in a specific product, their taste.
4. Open-ended questions
Avoid questions that customers can respond to with a simple “No.” For example, questions like “Can I help you?” naturally lend themselves toward disengagement from your customers. A more open-ended reframing of this question is “How can I help you today?” or “What can I help you find?” These types of open-ended questions create engagement and give you more information about what your customers need.
5. Knowledgeable assistance
All customer greetings are ultimately about figuring out how you can help your customers find the products they’re looking for in your retail store. When establishing a rapport with a new customer, ask follow-up questions and be ready to offer informed recommendations. Making sure you and your sales staff are completely familiar with every product you offer in your store allows you to help each customer find the right product for their needs.
Tips for greeting customers at a retail store
- Present a professional appearance
- Use friendly nonverbal cues
- Time your greetings correctly
- Recognize returning customers
- Train your team to greet customers properly
- Consider hiring a designated greeter
When it comes to finding the right tone for your customer greetings, be conscious of nonverbal cues, timing, and appearances. Here are some best practices to consider as you hone your customer greeting style:
Present a professional appearance
Ensure you and your sales associates dress professionally when greeting customers in your retail store. Consider implementing a dress code. Make sure you organize your products and that the appearance of your store is pleasing to the eye as soon as a customer steps inside.
Use friendly nonverbal cues
Make eye contact with customers as you greet them and remember to smile throughout your greeting. Be conscious of your body language—avoid crossing your arms or pointing. Let your body language reflect that you are carefully listening to your customers.
Time your greetings correctly
If you wait too long to greet customers, you may lose your opportunity to make a good first impression. If you greet customers too quickly, you can startle them before they have a chance to get their bearings. Give customers a brief moment to adjust to the new setting before greeting them.
Recognize returning customers
If a returning customer enters your store, acknowledge them with a greeting like “Welcome back!” If you use a POS system like Shopify Point of Sale, you can create customer profiles that include previous purchase information. When assisting a returning customer, you can pull up their profile and use their order history to make informed recommendations for other products that seem like a good fit.
Train your team to greet customers properly
Look into formal training to improve how your company greets customers, especially if you supervise a growing team of sales associates at your retail store. Professional training activities like role-playing exercises can help equip you and your team to better handle greetings in any situation, even when communicating with rude customers.
Consider hiring a designated greeter
Depending on your company’s size and resources, consider hiring a designated greeter to welcome customers into your retail store, answer questions, and make recommendations about new products or current specials. Although a designated greeter may be unnecessary for a smaller retail store, it can help manage the customer experience for higher-traffic stores.
Why is greeting customers important?
Greeting customers when they enter your store sets the tone for the entire customer experience. A good first impression can increase customer satisfaction and improve brand loyalty by turning new customers into returning customers: If a customer feels welcome and comfortable in your store, they’ll be more likely to come back.
A proper greeting can help your customers feel seen and valued. A good first impression can increase customer satisfaction and improve brand loyalty by turning new customers into returning customers: If a customer feels welcome and comfortable in your store, they’ll be more likely to come back.
Implementing a professional greeting in your retail store can also increase sales by helping potential customers to find the right product; by making sure customers find what they’re looking for, you avoid the missed opportunity of a customer who wants a specific product but can’t find it and doesn’t want to ask for help.
Over time, you might even recognize regular customers. Having access to returning customers’ previous purchase information (via a point-of-sale system that centralizes customer data) can help you recommend new products during your greeting. By paying attention and listening carefully to your clientele, you and your sales associates can find an effective greeting style that complements your brand and converts more sales.
How to greet customers FAQ
Where should a greeter greet the customer?
A greeter typically stands on the sales floor in clear view of the store’s entrance. Greet your customers from a respectful distance to avoid invading their personal space.
Can I use humor while greeting customers?
Yes, but only if it’s appropriate and respectful humor for all customers. Only include humor in your greeting style if it feels consistent with your brand identity.
How should I greet a customer who seems rushed or uninterested?
Greet customers who seem rushed or uninterested with a warm smile and a polite greeting. Inquire respectfully about how you can help them find what they’re looking for, and if they ignore your question, give them space to peruse your store at their own pace.
Are there any situations where it’s best not to greet customers?
Kindly greet any customers who enter your retail store. If you are busy with another customer, take a moment to politely let the new customer know that you’ll be with them in a moment.
Should greetings differ based on the type of business?
Yes, the greeting style you choose depends on the type of retail business you’re running. For example, a children’s toy company may have a more whimsical greeting style than a high-end watch brand.
