Trade Secrets of a Department Store Salesperson

The typical department store opens at 10am. A few customers are already outside with sales fliers in hand or an armload of items to return. The phone is ringing off the hook while the red light on the phone console flashes to indicate a flurry of customers who want someone to call them back–today, of course, and preferably first thing in the morning.

This is how I start my day as a retail salesperson. I'm here to tell you what goes through my head as the doors are unlocked and I get ready to greet whoever walks through them. I'll also divulge some secrets of the trade that you can use to get better deals and better service while maybe giving me a little bit of a (well-needed) break.