Window shopping is a great way to check out a store you like and see if you would like the merchandise.
If you own a shop in a downtown area, you will get a lot of people just casually taking a glance at your window displays as they are walking by. I think everyone does it, I know I have.
As a store owner, you hope your windows are enough of a teaser to entice potential sales.
There are the window shoppers who linger and then come inside and just tell you: "I'm just browsing today."
That's fine - I welcome browsers. My theory is if you can get them in the door, they will most likely find something they like. I will watch them walk around and if they linger on an item just a little longer than usual that is my queue to engage a conversation about that item. If you can talk to them, you can usually sell to them!
It's also very gratifying to have someone come in and ask about an item in the window.
Ha ha! Gotcha!
One type of window shopper is "The Door Stopper". They stand right in your doorway, take 2 - 3 seconds to look in and then walk away.
Door stoppers can be interesting. They aren't hidden by the objects in the window so you can't see their face as they scan your shop. Door stoppers also have a filter problem. They seem to always blurt out the most insulting things:
"Oh, it's one of those ARTSY stores."
"No, no, no..uh uh...no, no."
"Ew, it smells in there!"
"It's all handmade stuff...you won't like it in there."
"Oh no...no...no. I don't like that store."
They seem to forget that they are standing in my doorway.
I happened to be in the front of the store when a "Door Stopper" came by. "It's OK...you can come inside!" I said to her cheerfully.
A look of shock and terror came across her face and she ran down the street.
I didn't mean to scare the poor thing.
Maybe she's not a people person.
During the hot summer I will put items outside my door and close the door so that I can keep the shop nice and cool with the air conditioning.
This brings out the "Face Smudgers".
Face smudgers walk right up to your door, they look around and leave.
I often here them say: "I don't think they are open."
No we are closed and I just always leave merchandise outside.
???
I guess they didn't see the big "Come on in we're OPEN" sign they are standing right in front of either.
Sometimes when they catch you looking back at them they quickly turn around and pretend they were never there.
Oh yeah, it's OK you weird stalker person. I didn't just see you standing there.
Freak
Face smudgers also live up to their name and at the end of the day I will see different shaped hand prints, nose prints and lip prints on my front door.
Nasty. They aren't full on window lickers, but they are close.
I go through a lot of window cleaner.
Spies are usually people who own or work at other stores in your area that are checking out your merchandise.
The good spy does their work discreetly. You can hardly tell why they are there. Looking at the price tag of everything usually gives them away.
The obvious spy is another shop owner who walks into your store and chats you up like you are their best friend in the whole world. They pop their heads in about once every 3 months to see what is going on.
"Hi! How are you? How's everything going?" Picks up item looks at it, puts it down.
"Oh business has been horrible this year hasn't it?" Picks up another item, puts it down.
"You have such unique items here! Can I take a picture of this? My friend will just LOVE it! I will so send her over to buy it!" Takes a picture of the tag and not the item.
Seriously?
"I am SO pissed, the shop down the street is carrying the same items that we have. I am going to call the company and give them a piece of my mind. How can they do such a thing?" Picks up another item examines it closely and puts it down.
"Well, I better get back...I have to get coffee for the girls! Great talking to you!"
One spy even asked me as she was leaving: "What was your name again?"
Yeaaaaaah...ok...buh bye now.
