The greatness of a greeting

“Hello,” is not just a hit song by Adele. According to visual merchandising consultant Amy Meadows, that simple word, uttered as a shopper enters your seaside store, is more important than any other ambiance-creating elements you’ve put together.

“A friendly greeting is the clincher,” she says. “You can pull out every single stop in the book — paint colors, lighting, music — but what really seals the deal is the way in which that customer is made to feel welcome. The greeting underlines the ambiance.”

Customers should be acknowledged immediately when they walk into your store, and with a smile, says Meadows.

She also suggests not saying to customers, “Let me know if you need something.” Customers at the store aren’t there because they “need” something, they are there because they “want” to spend their money on something. How about more open ended questions like, “What brings you in today?” or “What can I help you find?”

Let them know why they should purchase that pelican pillow or ocean-scented candle. “Shopping is a form of entertainment,” she says. “So talk up your products! Tell me what’s new. Make me feel like there are things in here that I simply must have or give as gifts.”