Shopfloor TAKE A TOWN


Atkinsons, The Moor 38


ATKINSONS is a family-owned department store, which has been trading for over 146 years, selling an extensive range of merchandise. I was looking to buy a fridge-freezer. Inside, Kevin greeted me and asked if I needed any help. He presented two models. The fi rst was a Bosch model (KGN34NW3AG), which was priced at £399. He mentioned that this model comes with a two-year warranty. The second model Kevin presented was a silver Blomberg model. He explained that Blomberg is an exclusive brand for independent electrical retailers and that the brand offers a three-year warranty. He said that this model was also available in white, although it was not in stock. Kevin logged on to a computer at the till and accessed the Euronics website. He showed me a white Blomberg model (KGM9681), which was priced at £429.99.


Kevin added that the retailer offers free delivery and if I wanted to have my old model collected, it would cost £20.


Currys PC World,


Meadowhall Centre THIS dual-aspect store has a prime position on a busy corner of the shopping centre, where its neighbours include footwear retailer, Sketchers, and doughnut company, Krispy Kreme. I was looking to buy a new TV. Inside the store,


three members of staff were serving customers, while three other customers were browsing and two members of staff were seemingly looking for something to do.


In the TV department, a family were browsing for a new set, with no sign of any staff in the vicinity. As I browsed the displays, I counted 58 TVs, which ranged in price from £89.99 for a Logik 20-inch set (L20HE18) to an eye-watering £1,695 for a 65-inch LG model (65SK850V). As I continued to browse, a member of staff walked straight past me, without saying a word. After fi ve minutes of browsing, and with no sign of an approach, I left the store.


John Lewis, located opposite


Sheffi eld City Hall. It was known as Cole Brothers before being rebranded as John Lewis in 2002.


I was looking to buy a


washing machine, so I took the escalator down to the lower ground


fl oor, which


is where the electrical department is located. The washing machine area was


very busy, with one customer being served and three other customers looking at products – with no other staff in sight. Two products caught my eye. The fi rst was an 8KG model from Siemens (WV14Q420GB), which was priced at £429, which was £130 off the ‘usual’ retail price. Point-of-sale material indicated that purchasers of this machine could claim for an extra three years cover at no extra cost, taking the guarantee to fi ve years. The second model was an 8KG machine from


AEG (L6FBG842R), which was priced at £449. POS here stated that fi ve years added care was available from £80. After fi ve minutes of browsing, and with three customers ahead of me in the pecking order, and no other staff in the department, I left the store.


ertonline.co.uk


Dec/Jan 2018 ertonline.co.uk


March 2019


Barkers Pool THIS department store is


Sales skills: 3/5


Store presentation:


4/5


Total: 7/10 Summary:


Kevin was more than able to offer basic product advice. Mentioning free delivery was an attempt to close the sale. The store was well presented.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation:


5/5 ERT Awards 2019


ALL independent sales staff who score three or more out of five will automatically be considered for inclusion in the best salesperson category in the ERT Awards 2019. www.ertonline.co.uk/awards


Total: 5/10 Summary:


As mentioned in previous Take A Town articles, ignoring customers is akin to retail suicide. The store, however, was well presented.


Sales skills: 0/5


Store presentation:


4/5


Total: 4/10 Summary:


I was unable to assess the sales skills on show here. The department was a little untidy, with paperwork scattered across some of the washing machines.


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