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Merrick, NY—How much of what makes a great retail sales associate can be taught, and how much is innate talent and personality?

Sales trainers work on the premise that anyone can learn to sell if they put their mind to it, but most job recruiters and successful storeowners will vouch for the fact that the best front-line employees generally do share certain personality traits. That’s not to say that employees who don’t have those traits wouldn’t be highly valuable to your business, but they may be better positioned—and more comfortable—off the selling floor than on it.

A recent article on Retailcustomerexperience.com highlights 10 essential strengths of a front-line retail employee. These traits, say the article, apply to any kind of retail situation, whether it’s a national big-box store or an independent luxury retailer. The 10 essential strengths are:

1. Confidence to make eye contact and strike up a conversation.
2. Innate friendliness, not someone who has to force themselves to be sociable
3. Flexibility to roll with the punches.
4. Ability to multitask
5. Patience with all kinds of people
6. Positivity, even when things are hectic or frustrating
7. Articulate, to be able to converse easily
8. Respectful, even if the customer isn’t right
9. Proactive to assist a customer before they reach the point of frustration.
10. Empathy; i.e. the ability to see something through the eyes of the customer.

Read more details here.

Top image: blog.marketamerica.com