In the next few weeks we will be shopping, shopping, shopping. We will be buying for ourselves, for someone else and for ourselves again. I always see things I really “need” during the holiday shopping excursions. While searching for the perfect thing, I have one piece of advice: Be kind to the retail peeps.

When a sales associate says, “Hi!” a little too cheerily or “What ‘cha looking for?” answer her kindly. She’s a person and it’s her job to welcome you.

I used to be that customer who barely replied back or in a snarky tone, “Just looking. Thanks,” and roll my eyes.

Now I am one of those “retail peeps” in a small clothing store. It is my JOB to greet every person coming through the door like they just walked into my house. Mostly people are nice and might chat with you a little bit. Some are so glad you said hello because they are looking for something specific.  That’s when I love my job, putting together a great outfit.  Occasionally, a grumpy one comes through and that’s when a sales associate will run the other way. God help the customer if in the end she needs me later.

A sales associate can be a REALLY good friend for you. Suppose you are in a hurry, or looking for something specific, she can hunt down your need, fast! She might even have a better idea for you. And if the store doesn’t have it, she will figure out how to get it.  If something new and cute comes in, she will text you a pic to let you know.

Once, a retail person at Nordstrom let me in to the store before opening.  She had to greet me at the door to let me in, past all the guards and other workers setting up.

“I feel like I’m the president, shopping in secret,” I told my sales “agent.”

In some stores, the retail peeps are a little aggressive, especially shoes. One very young gentleman asked if I needed help after about thirty seconds of me entering his domain. I looked up at him with a big smile and very kindly said, “No thanks. I’m just looking right now.”

The look of relief that came across his face that I would one, acknowledge him and two, speak kindly to him too was palpable. His reaction stayed with me so much so, I knew I had to be kind to every person who wanted to “help” me in a department store. He was doing his job by reaching out.

Be kind.  Retail people are your FRIENDS.