The new protocol involves perfume samples on display and a salesperson on call to retrieve the item should a patron want to purchase.
The company told CNN the change was implemented because perfumes and colognes were among the most frequently shoplifted items in Sephora stores, and shoplifting numbers were trending higher.
At Sephora, consumers could handle the product themselves, wandering the aisles and filling up shopping baskets like they were at the supermarket.
Returning to a different perfume shopping model is a bit of a return to the status quo of an earlier era.
Previous generations did more interfacing with salespeople in stores, particularly for items like perfume, and perhaps we should too.
Persons:
Elena Sheppard, ”, Sephora, schtick, Charley Gallay, I’m eyeing
Organizations:
Cuban, Martin’s Press, CNN, New York Times
Locations:
St, cologne, Sephora