I currently work in retail, in a shopping mall. I have plenty of good looking women that come in and out of my shop everyday. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to approach them and get a number, while I'm working. It's tricky because I don't want to go about it the wrong way and have them complain to my boss that they don't want to be hit on while shopping in our shop. Also, because I work in a specialist shop I do work with some people for up to two hours when they come in so I get plenty of time to talk to them.... any advice or ideas as to how to go about getting a number?

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“Talent, is hitting a target no one else can hit. But genius is hitting a target no one else can see.” ~ Goethe

use a cold direct approach, i.e. 'I think your cute is there anychance i could get your number and follow this chat up?'

Thats a good idea... If only I had know earlier! I had the opportunity to do that today but my boss was standing right behind me .

What would you think if I took her number off the paperwork she fills out and give her a call later? Would that be too creepy or anything? I talked with her for about two hours before she left and I think there was a little something there...

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“Talent, is hitting a target no one else can hit. But genius is hitting a target no one else can see.” ~ Goethe

Retail . . . well, it's not your career or anything but how about being a bit more professional? Why?

Other than whacked out crazy chicks, most women seem to dig professional, balanced, stable people. You sit there and seem like you're hitting on her the whole time (or give her some cheap pick up line) and you become the 50 year old shoe store dude who drools over 40 year old fatties.

Listen to your reps. Read the sales manuals. Learn SALES. Be PROFESSIONAL first. Be the guy that everybody points to and goes, "Why the hell is that talented guy hanging around here?"

Take it to that level. Don't stop until girls actually begin HITTING ON YOU. It's at this point you know you've hit a milestone. It's at this point you can basically hit on ANY customer who walks into that store.

(I'm not just imagining this stuff up. Back in the day, I used to work the floor of a snowboard shop. I mean . . . this is waaaay back in the day when we used to drill holes into boards in order to mount bindings. When I demonstrated that I could take care of their needs, many ladies invited me to "snowboard" with them.)

. . . or I suppose you can use cheap lines (I seriously mean that in hindsight) you figure . . . 1 out of 5 customers will be crazy thrill seekers anyhow. Fucking the retail floor boy is a decent fantasy for some.

Nah wouldnt take the number of the paperwork because it'll DLV and you'll appear to be a creep

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Kasabi... funny thing is I work in a ski and snowboard shop. I think I will listen to your advice and take the high road. I don't really flirt or anything, I normally just talk to them about whatever it is that they need help with. Your right about becoming a better professional... thanks again!

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“Talent, is hitting a target no one else can hit. But genius is hitting a target no one else can see.” ~ Goethe

Can this be only coincidence? LoL . . .

It simply AMAZES me that I'll walk into snowboard shops now and I can tell that NOT ONE sales person has read the sales manuals. I mean . . . this is just stupid, stupid, stupid.

Even back in the early 90's, these board companies put a ton of money into marketing and came up with "sales strategies" that simply work. Why people won't take an hour or two to flip through the pages is just beyond me. Here's where "retail sales" meets "pick up":

What happens when you walk into a ski shop? Some dopey guy will eyeball you looking at boards and he'll just hang around, hang around, and hang around. (In clubs, this is the creepy guy that will zone in on a girl or two and just hang around, hang around, and hang around.

Then the sales guy will work up the nerve and go, "Can I help you?", "Do you need any help?" "What can I do for you?" (Back in the 90's the Burton sales manual actually highlighted, DO NOT DO THIS!!!!) Why? This is like the creepy guy in a club who goes, "Can I buy you a drink?", "Do you come here often?", "You look like you need company."

I'm sure these sales manuals have improved even more. But back then, they suggested, "befriending" the customer. Share stories, see what type of riding they like to do . ..

Here's the way I opened my customers:

Me: Hey, did you go snowboarding last weekend?
Her: Yes/No
Me: It was wiiild! Crazy powder! (hi five)

or

Me: Are you riding any time soon?
Her: Yes
Me: Sweeeet! Where are you going?
Her: Blah, blah, blah
Me: (High five) Sweeet!
(IF NO)
Me: You gotta go soon, I was riding ______ just last weekend. Niiiiice . . .

We used to skateboard around the sales floor all day long and when a customer came along, I'd skate up right to them and just go, "Watch out! Method air! Just kidding . . I'm still trying to tweak my moves . . . What's your favorite grab? . . . blah, blah, blah." (JUST as if they were my snowboard buddies . . . )

Do you see where I am going here? Those sales manuals WERE in fact PICK UP manuals.

One. . . eh hem . . .older lady(to me at the time) asked me, "Do you get incentives?" When I told her "no,"

She went, "No way!" She then went out of her way to tell my manager that I was so helpful, "blah, blah, blah . . ." Then she told me that I could ski up at _____ and stay in her ski condo WHEN EVER I liked and that she hardly even uses it. (You think I went there when she wasn't there?)

Work up to that point . . . and then it's easy to go, "Hey, I'm riding at _____ this weekend. We should hook up over there. I'll be taking the ______ board. There's this killer pizza shop over there . . . ever been to _______ bar? On and on and on . . .

All of this brings back so many memories . . . I spent more on snowboard crap at that shop than I made . . . I went on every "weekend" trip that we sponsored . . . the things I learned on the sales floor still helps me to this day(professionally). . .

Have fun man . . . I'm sure they don't let you skate around the shops any more but I can't believe that we used to skate around all day long, act like idiots, meet so many fun people, get serious discounts, snowboard for free, and make some spending money at the same time. I mean . . . the amount of fun we had there is unfair to the rest of the World. . .

If you work in a Ski / Snowboard shop what do you specialize in.... i need advice on a new set and i was leaning towards a Gatama if i can find a set. im in Australia so not much powder but i go offpiste alot to find it

I do the same thing... my boss will actually give out to us if he catches us saying something like "Are you okay there?"... so I always go the "Are you heading off this season?" and stuff like you said.

I do love working there and your right it is unfair to the rest of the World how much fun it is.

I'm lucky because I am one of the few in the shop who can work on snowboards and ski's and we also do custom footbeds for skiing which is where I get to sit down and work with customers that come in for an hour or two.

I have had a few really attractive older women flirt with me, but none have invited me to their apartment near the slopes... but maybe I can work towards that. haha

I wish we could skate inside my shop because there are some great rails to hit, but we do skate on our lunch breaks outside the shop.

All in all... got to love working in the snowboarding biz!
I work in both... but I haven't tested those ski's but if your looking to do a little off-piste and on-piste maybe check out the Salomon Lords, Salomon Tornado, or the Fischer Watea 84.

Salomon Lords were All Mountain Ski of the Year last year... a really good go everywhere ski. 50% on - 50% off piste

Salomon Tornado's are another good ski... they are about 70% on - 30% off piste

Fischer Watea 84 are this years All Mountain Ski of the Year... these ski's are selling like hot cakes! 50% on - 50% off piste

Other than that, read up about them and if you can go and test them out. But those are the three ski's I would recommend.

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“Talent, is hitting a target no one else can hit. But genius is hitting a target no one else can see.” ~ Goethe