Retail
February 5, 2019
Sales associates need to take a more nuanced approach to customer service. Image credit: Printemps
By Sarah Jones
NEW YORK – The way in which consumers interact with sales associates is evolving, calling for more relationship building to maintain the relevance of the crucial frontline store staff.
{"ct":"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","iv":"c03993325f4cd9fad70ae18ac7bfd506","s":"0bb21bac91aa8733"}
Share your thoughts. Click here