My article is titled Economy Adjusts Store Relations on Madison Avenue and was taken from the February 19 edition of The New York Times. This article discusses how designer stores are getting away from their traditional form of customer service during the recession. In past years it was normal for sales clerks to size up their customers as soon as they entered the door. Normally if a person’s shoes or watch was not expensive then clerks would not pay them any attention. The recent economy has sales clerks at many designer stores giving exceptional customer service to anyone who may be carrying a credit card, regardless of their shoes and watch. The author stated that within minutes of walking in to Chanel on Madison Avenue in jeans and a sweatshirt he had a $4,500 watch placed on his wrist by a gleeful sales clerk. Upon entering Tom Ford’s Madison Avenue store the author was offered his choice of a beverage which was then delivered by a butler.
If people who do not normally fit the designer clothing mold are treated the same way as people who obviously have money, then they will be more likely to buy. I personally do not think that judging people when they first come in is an appropriate practice. Just because someone is not wearing a few thousand dollars worth of clothing, does not mean they are poor. Not everyone with money flaunts it. I also know of many students who save their money to be able to afford that designer pocketbook. I know that I personally do not like shopping in stores where people are rude or ignore me. I feel that being politer to customers that do not fit the normal preferred customer profile could help raise sales at the designer stores. Some people can be convinced by good service to buy a product even if they do not currently have the money via a credit card.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/fashion/18SHOPPING.html?ref=fashion
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