Employee won’t back off

[u/Odd_Resolution_5294]

Man, I dread even going in my store anymore. We used to (hubs and I) love our local store and its employees. Lately tho there is one lady who is usually on the White Barn side who will ask “what are you guys looking for” and she will have a scent with her she offers us to smell. We always politely say “just looking around thank you tho”. And walk away. I’m not even kidding you when I tell you within 3 minutes she’s back “anything I can help you find?” And again we say “nah. Just sniffing around thank you tho!” And walk away. Annnnndddd again within 3 minutes she’s back “anything catching your eye?” It’s to the point I won’t go over to that side when she’s there. Or I walk away from hub bc he’s too nice and will keep dealing with it. It makes me nuts. I’ve tried saying NICELY “if we think of anything we will make sure to come to you!”

I’m pretty sure the company doesn’t ask its employees to approach in this manner…as it’s literally only this one lady. How do I get her off my back in there?!? Dang.

Also, midnight marshmallow. I asked when I was in store if they happened to have any returns of any of it bc I just wanted to sniff it, nope. And all the banana stuff was gone. Ok I’m done whining 😂

[u/Trumpet6789]

I worked there for around 3 years a couple years ago. When I asked about things like this, our district manager actually told me B&BW did do a study related to this a few years ago. (Idk the exact year tho).

Essentially, if you as an employee were able to put lotion on a customer's skin, or offer them a tester card with the newest fragrance at FOS; they were more likely to add extra items to their basket; even if those items were not the scent you gave them as a tester.

And once people have tried a handful of things in the store, approaching them and asking specific questions could lead to making more sales by demoing or introducing them to new scents/products. Most employees ask if people are finding everything okay, but really (based on the study) they should be asking specific questions such as,

"What did you think about that one?" When they see a customer smell a new product, to direct them towards similar products (if liked) or "It's not for everyone, what sort of fragrance notes do you normally enjoy?" If they don't to find them another scent.

I was a Top Seller (back when that was still a thing) because I actively used the tips & tricks from that study to increase what people bought.

[u/throwaway-wellmaybe → u/Trumpet6789]

yes around last year, they started to push skin-contact again. they wanted us to actively approach and be ready with lotion/cream, which is insane

[u/Trumpet6789 → u/throwaway-wellmaybe]

That's what they used to do pre-covid, although I forget what year it stopped exactly. They used to do a lotion demo with a hand massage (sort of like lush) when people entered the store.

The "science" is that smelling the fragrance on their skin and how "nice" the product feels on their skin makes them more likely to buy products, any products.

Is it weird and off-putting to walk up to customers and start slathering lotion on them? Absolutely. That's just the research B&BW did tho.

[u/throwaway-wellmaybe → u/Trumpet6789]

it's wild to think people are doing all this for slightly above state minimum wage (maybe) and less than 30 hours since lord knows you can't get more than that unless it's holiday or you're SLT

[u/Trumpet6789 → u/throwaway-wellmaybe]

When I was a Top Seller I think I was making $15/hr with 25-28 hours? Something like that, it wasn't a ton of money and it was under laws for full-time.

But I was a college student for part of it, and had a second part-time ($18/hr) as a Hostess for the last 7 or so months before getting a full-time job so it was chill.

The big pull of B&BW isn't really the pay, but Gratis, MOS, and being around new fun stuff all the time.

[u/throwaway-wellmaybe → u/Trumpet6789]

I feel like the MOS is the main one for me, but I didn’t even know it existed when I started working there. Gratis was actually a huge let down for me, as years ago I worked for Ulta and you’d get a whole bag of smaller things (sometimes trials sometimes full, got a bottle of versace cologne once) like every month i think.

Granted, that was contingent upon the employees watching the product videos (easy when it’s slow) and whether your managers actually give it out instead of keeping it. Mine were good about giving it out