Tips and techniques needed for a retail sales nooob!

[gamer22]

Does anyone have any retail sales tips? I'm going to be working at Verizon Wireless soon. Are there any good books I should be reading?

 

[Drakkon]

Books? you either got it or you dont...being a salesman has everything to do with personality..nothing to do with knowledge except being educated enough about the product you are selling to make it sound like the best thing ever.

 

[gamer22]

There are literally hundreds of subtle techniques that good salesmen have up their sleeves. You don't just go into sales thinking that personality will win you over your customers. Here's an example to the six steps to handling an objection. http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-777,subcat-INDUSTRY.html

 

[PhlashFoto]

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FTW!!!!

 

[dmw16]

confidence and eye contact is important. also body language speaks volumes. Dont fold your arms in front of you - that is defensive body posturing.

 

[Horus]

KNOW what you're talking about, and be able to break it down into beyond layman's terms. Be able to explain what a megapixel is (for the cameras), what QWERTY is (For the PDA-phones), that kinda thing.

Speak to the dumbest denominator.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: ELopes580
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FTW!!!!

hahaha

 

[yobarman]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Books? you either got it or you dont...being a salesman has everything to do with personality..nothing to do with knowledge except being educated enough about the product you are selling to make it sound like the best thing ever.

Wow... this is the most uniformed post in the history of the topic of sales.

Just like playing golf, weight training, or public speaking, not everyone is a pro from the get go. Yes there are some people who are great from the start, but like most average joes, it takes some education and practice to become above average.

I would recommend some stuff by Brian Tracy, Jeffery J. Fox (How to be a rainmaker) and
The New Solution Selling: The Revolutionary Sales Process That is Changing the Way People Sell by Keith M. Eades.

If selling can't be taught, then why are there so many books on the subject ? :roll:

 

[EarthwormJim]

Um only books I'd suggest are self help books.

 

[Kyle]

When I worked retail I was VERY successfull but NOT by using the training they gave me. In fact I was grilled multiple times by bosses/wireless rep's (I worked at Radioshack so the verizon/sprint reps would come observe) but my numbers always made them shut up.
What I did was just act like a normal person, answer questions, NEVER push in to a sale, never pressure, and basically just think how you would want a salesman to act towards you. Not many people want a cocky, pushy salesman.
So ya, I just was friendly and laid back- but MAKE SURE to know your product inside and out. That will impress people more than how many ways you can cleverly refute their reasons for not buying today. If you have to ask people the answers or look them up, especially with cell phones, it's going to make people not want to trust you to set up their account and activate their phone.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The key to retail sales: Find out what the customers WANTS and reinforce that decision. Customers don't walk into a store with an open mind. They walk in knowing what they intend to buy and they're looking for somebody to agree with them. Ask questions and they'll tell you exactly how to sell them.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: yobarman
If selling can't be taught, then why are there so many books on the subject ? :roll:

because clearly there are suckers like you that will buy them 😛
I think kyle's post shows exactly what im talking about, personality and knowledge about the product are all that matters.

 

[Kyle]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
The key to retail sales: Find out what the customers WANTS and reinforce that decision. Customers don't walk into a store with an open mind. They walk in knowing what they intend to buy and they're looking for somebody to agree with them. Ask questions and they'll tell you exactly how to sell them.

exactly
My boss always wanted me to try and sell everyone a cell phone when they were checking out. I never did, but I told him the first time I saw anyone get a cell phone sale from pushing them at checkout, I would start doing it.
I worked there for a couple years and all I ever saw was customers just get annoyed. As if a 2 year contract and cell phone is an impulse buy.
Basically like Gaghalfrunt said- find out what they want and make sure they dont have a reason not to get it- if they want a phone, dont screw up answers to questions that make them second guess their decision.