Shopfloor TAKE A TOWN


Sevenoaks Sound & Vision, Banbury Road, Oxford


This store is located between Oxtwo, a wine bar, and Beyond Dental.


I was looking to buy a sound bar. Inside the


store, I was greeted by Eddie, who was sat behind a desk. I explained what I was looking for and Eddie started his presentatio0n by asking me what my budget was. I gave him that information and he


Sales skills: 3/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 8/10


44


presented the Sonos Arc Ultra, which was reduced to £849 from the usual price of £999. He said that with the Sonos Arc Ultra I’d experience clearer dialogue, deeper bass, and more detailed sound that precisely surrounds you from every direction, all in a sleek design. Eddie said the product is easy to set up with the included HDMI cable. To control the sound bar, Eddie said I could use the Sonos app, the touch controls on top of Arc Ultra, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa. When the TV is off, Eddie said that I could stream music.


Eddie didn’t offer a demonstration or attempt to close the sale – a demo was a no-brainer. The store was well presented.


Currys, Botley Road Retail Park, Lamarsh Road, Oxford


This store is located on a busy retail park, where other tenants include Pets at Homes and Tapi Carpets.


I was looking to add an American-style fridge-freezer to my newly renovated kitchen. Inside, I located the refrigeration area of the store and began to browse. There were 38 suitable products on display. With no staff in the vicinity, I continued to


browse the models on display. The cheapest American-style fridge-freezer was a Logik model


(LESSBSX23), priced at £399. A


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation:


4/5


Total score: 4/10


poster next to the Logik model highlighted the 266-litre fridge capacity, the 175-litre freezer capacity, the total no frost feature and the E energy rating. The store’s most expensive American- style fridge-freezer was a Samsung model (RS90F64EDFEU), priced at an eye-watering £2,299. In similar way, the poster next to the Samsung model highlighted the 401- litre fridge capacity, the 220-litre freezer capacity, the total no frost feature and the D energy rating. With no sign of any approach, I left the store.


I was unable to assess the sales skills here. The store was well presented, but it’s key to have salespeople on the shopfloor to help customers; back to basics.


John Lewis + Partners, Westgate Shopping Centre, Queen Street, Oxford


Located in the Westgate Shopping Centre, this 120,000sq ft store was launched as the anchor


tenant for the redeveloped centre; it opened on Friday, October 24, 2017. I was looking to buy a Nespresso coffee machine. Inside the store, the appliances are located on the upper ground level. On display were five original Nespresso machines, plus the stunning Sage Creatista Plus, priced at £329. There were no members of staff in the department. There was a spring promotion running on some of the Nespresso machines, which offered a free Aeroccino milk frother when customers purchased 100 coffee pods. The Nespresso CitiZ (EN167.B), priced at


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation: 4/5


Total score: 4/10


£149, was part of the Aeroccino promotion. The price ticket indicated that the Citiz has a one-litre capacity and comes with a two-year guarantee. The price ticket also mentioned Protect+, where cover would cost £10 for two years. On the Nespresso Vertuo side, I


the look of the Vertuo Pop Barista Bundle (ENV90.B), which was priced at £199.


liked


I was unable to assess the sales skills at this store. The display was untidy, with prices missing.


Lakeland, Market Square, Witney


This store, which opened on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, is located between The Corn Exchange and a branch of Barnardo’s. I was looking to buy an air fryer. Inside store,


the I


located the air fryer and


display started


to browse the products. Two members of staff were chatting behind the counter and ignored me. There were nine air


fryers on display,


ranging in price from £49.99 to £169.99. I liked the look of the Lakeland slimline air


fryer, which was priced at £89.99. According to its price ticket, the slimline air fryer had an eight-litre cooking capacity and seven pre-set cooking programmes. It also referenced the clear-view cooking window to check on progress, and the air fryer can cook between 80°C and 200°C. The air


because, in addition to the products, air fryer


fryer display looked really good liners, priced at £3.99, were also


merchandised there. A cookbook was also available, priced at £19.99. With no sign of an approach, I left the store.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation: 5/5


Total score: 5/10


I was unable to assess the sales skills; the store was presented well, and the air fryer display looked very good. Staff in this store prioritised conflabs over serving customers.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48