Buying Jeans

Boomers will agree buying jeans challenges one's dignity. While it is recommended that a jeans shopper bring an objective advisor along to look at the back, I recently had to rely on mirrors and a sales person for this back view.

While some may associate Las Vegas with gambling and entertainment, I find it a wonderful place to buy jeans.

During the recent International Builders Show (IBS), my reward for networking and lecturing was a pair of new jeans. Off I headed to The Forum Shops in Caesar's Palace.

Last year I found a great jean selection at Scoop but to no avail this time. The jeans were geared to generation X and Y or very skinny boomers. When I asked the young sales woman if they had jeans for her mother, she didn't understand my sense of humor.

I then opted for 7 For All Mankind. Here I found the sales person of my dreams...Mandy. Mandy showed her expertise by letting me know she had been selling jeans for 17 years, starting at the Gap and then moving up the jean label ladder of success.

She wanted me to have the latest. I was hooked. To the dressing room I went and was offered bottled water. Nice touch.

When I found a style I liked, Mandy found it in the wide variety of washes and an equally variety of wiskers--the bleaches streaks that blend out horizontally on each leg.

And then there were the lengths....to wear without without boots, heels and flats. One length does not suit each heel height. Mandy suggested a length that could be slightly tacked with tape rather than permanent hemming. She also educated me about air drying vs. drycleaning.

The retail shopping therapy session lasted about 45 minutes. The result: Mandy successfully sold not one but two pairs of jeans.

Lessons learned:

1. Gain the shopper's trust. Mandy shared her background and experience.
2. Know your product. This lady knew the merchandise and the types of bodies best suited. She had my trust so I took her word what would look good on me.
3. Make the customer comfortable. It was a nice touch to offer water.
4. Listen to the customer's comments. She brought jeans to me that reflected my comments about length and coloration.
5. Be patient. Her energy was remarkable and she was very patient and confident her product would sell.
6. Love what you do. This lady was fantastic....she could sell houses I'm sure too.