Thanksgiving is three days away, which can mean only one thing — Black Friday is near. Well at least that’s how it used to be. This year Black Friday has crept its way into turkey day more than ever before. A lot of big stores are opening their doors at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m on Thanksgiving Day (doesn’t that make it Black Thursday?). The stores may as well start serving Thanksgiving dinner next year. With these earlier hours, store employees and customers compromise their sleep — and their holiday time — to accommodate Black Friday. This can lead to an unhappy holiday shopping experience.
Moody Customers
Anytime a person’s natural circadian rhythm is disturbed, it alters certain aspects of the body. First to go is a person’s mood. Customers are more likely to become irritable and impatient, thus making the malls and stores even more stressful. Keep this in mind when you are interacting with your customers. Keep your conversations light, pleasant, and most importantly stress free.
Brain Power Depletion
Next, a customer’s cognitive function begins to decline, as well as their decision-making ability and impulse control. A person is more likely to make large purchases unnecessarily when their brain is half asleep — this could mean $$ for you and your store. Just make sure you are honest in your intentions. Coach customers and help them make the decision they won’t regret.
As you can see, your customers are going to to be feeling the effects of more than just the turkey. This is a great chance for you to be a hero and help them during a stressful time. And for you retail folks who are working the sales floor, remember to take a deep breath and be a sleep consultant, not a sales person.
One last thought: from a retail perspective, are those extra hours when you’re open on Thanksgiving really worth it? Family time and relaxation are compromised for a few extra hours of a sale. How do you feel about the disappearance of the holiday? How is the retail landscape changing?
Moody Customers
Anytime a person’s natural circadian rhythm is disturbed, it alters certain aspects of the body. First to go is a person’s mood. Customers are more likely to become irritable and impatient, thus making the malls and stores even more stressful. Keep this in mind when you are interacting with your customers. Keep your conversations light, pleasant, and most importantly stress free.
Brain Power Depletion
Next, a customer’s cognitive function begins to decline, as well as their decision-making ability and impulse control. A person is more likely to make large purchases unnecessarily when their brain is half asleep — this could mean $$ for you and your store. Just make sure you are honest in your intentions. Coach customers and help them make the decision they won’t regret.
As you can see, your customers are going to to be feeling the effects of more than just the turkey. This is a great chance for you to be a hero and help them during a stressful time. And for you retail folks who are working the sales floor, remember to take a deep breath and be a sleep consultant, not a sales person.
One last thought: from a retail perspective, are those extra hours when you’re open on Thanksgiving really worth it? Family time and relaxation are compromised for a few extra hours of a sale. How do you feel about the disappearance of the holiday? How is the retail landscape changing?
