Shane Decker

Shane Decker: Shop Your Competition with a Checklist

Shane Decker reminds us that shopping your competition with a checklist can help your salespeople.

Published

15 years ago

August 23, 2010

Shane Decker Instore September 2010 Issue

IF YOU WANT TO grade your competition, go shop them (or have someone else do it). When you leave their store, go back to your car, pull out this checklist, fill it out and see how well they did. This can also be a great tool to see how your own store is doing. In fact, before you leave on your shopping trip, complete the checklist for your store, and then see how you compare.

Floor was covered when you opened the door.
The “sweet spot” (at the left side of your store looking out, about 15 feet from the door) was covered.
You were greeted within five seconds.
They offered to clean and polish your personal jewelry.
Dress code of staff was appropriate.
Sales clerk introduced himself to you, asking for your name.
You were offered coffee, cookie, refreshment of any kind.
Sales clerk put a piece of merchandise in your hand.
Sales clerk did a sales presentation on an item.
Sales clerk asked relationship questions and gift-giving dates.
Sales clerk closed all the way through presentation.
Sales clerk closed at the end of presentation.
Sales clerk did not walk away during your presentation.
All objections were handled quickly and accurately.
Sales clerk did not offer to negotiate on price before you inquired.
Sales clerk handled merchandise with professionalism, handled loupe with ease, used case pad, held jewelry with respect.
Security was not compromised in how clerk handled presentation.
Colored gemstone and diamond displays were done well.
Were price points of merchandise visible or concealed?
Price points seemed to be fair.
A turnover was used to try and close the sale.
Sales clerk tried for an add-on sale.
You were “wowed” with a high-ticket item.
You were walked to the door, thanked and told goodbye.
You received a business card.
Sales clerk asked you for contact information to do follow-up.
You were not alone on the sales floor with the clerk.
There was appropriate music playing on the sales floor.
Another associate was not uncomfortably nearby.
The store had a pleasant odor.
The perimeter outside the store was clean and pleasant.
The cases were clean and orderly and merchandise displayed well.
There was candy or mints out on counter tops.

This story is from the September 2010 edition of INSTORE.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.