Recently I popped into a clothing boutique that I visit maybe three or four times a year. Sometimes I buy, sometimes I don’t but, I’m always open.
The lone saleswoman was pleasant but completely uninterested in customer service. I explained that I know the owner and have written up the shop a few times and handed her my card. Although this wasn’t an interview, as I looked around I asked a few questions and I got friendly but short responses because the very nice woman was more interested in … texting. Yes, she was focused on her phone and continuing what I can only assume was a very important text conversation.
Not only was I a potential customer, I’m a fashion writer! It seems to me that part of the job of a salesperson is interacting, right? Tell me about the new merchandise, tell me about what’s coming in for fall. Tell me what you’re excited about or what I should be excited about. That’s how sales are made. Maybe not right then, but next time when a customer needs something she will remember that helpful woman in that charming boutique. In my case, often I will walk into the shop with no intention of writing about it but I get inspired and that can result in a post and/or a mention on Instagram and that equals free publicity! Not to mention, I just might make a purchase.
By contrast I had gone into another women’s boutique a few weeks ago and met a lovely saleswoman who chatted with me, noticed what I was looking at and filled me in on the details – “… those pants are all cotton, screen printed in Japan.” Twice I’ve posted that shop on Instagram.
Retail is hurting, we all know that. Thanks in part to the popularity of Internet shopping, bricks and mortar are shutting left and right. All the more reason for shops still open to step it up when a customer walks in, and keep in mind that they can walk right back out with a good or a bad impression.
OverDressed for Life 
Perhaps you might also send a notices to such as SF Chronicle Fashion Editor, NY Times Fashion Editor, and Vogue magazine. What you say I have experienced, but it may be time to take to a higher level?
This needs a larger audience, without giving names or addresses of the places where we run into this situation? Deal with only the situation.
You might also want to send a kind note to the owner of the boutique where it happened also?
i feel ….It must be done in kindness…or nothing much will change? I have learned this over my years of being involved with fashion.
Thank you, Jacquelyn.