An understanding of human nature is vital

I’m the kind of person that’s either looking for something very specific and will go straight to store staff to ask if I need help, or I’m in browsing mode and prefer to be left alone.

So naturally, few things drive me up the wall like being asked if I need help by the sales people in a retail store. The worst is when you tell the first person “no, thank you” only for your browsing to be interrupted every 5 minutes by someone else.

But of course not every shopper is like me. Some would prefer someone to talk to. Perhaps point out the latest specials or offer some advice. Not me, but I have it on good authority that these people do exist :)

So putting on your retailer hat, how do you solve this dilemma? Enter luxury beauty chain Sephora. One of their latest innovations looks to solve this problem by having two different colors of shopping baskets.

Are you a shopping grinch like me who prefers his retail therapy in sweet silence? Simply take a black basket. Do you prefer group therapy? Then take a red basket and the staff will know to approach you with an offer to assist.

I love that they are trying something different. I love that they’re trying to improve. But what I love most about this idea is that it shows they understand something about human nature.