Rules of EtiKate: Shopping Etiquette
It is clear from the many pictures we see that one of Kate’s favorite ways to spend time is shopping. We often get glimpses of Kate and her mother ducking in and out of shops. These are some of my favorite appearances because we get to see Kate in a casual setting and yet she still exudes glamour and grace. She inspires me to remember that everyday activities are an opportunity to act with etiquette and live like a royal. Here are some tips to display impeccable etiquette, anywhere from a boutique to a supermarket.
Be gentle with items.
Generally speaking, the retail staff spends a long time displaying and arranging all of the items in a particular manner. Place items back where you found them and, if possible, in the same manner in which they were displayed, as well.
Don’t talk loudly on your cell phone.
Many people find shopping to be a relaxing activity and talking on your phone can disturb the peace of a store. If possible, step outside if you need to take a call.
Respect requests and signs.
If a sign on the door asks you to not bring in food or drinks, kindly respect that and leave your iced coffee in the car. A spill can ruin merchandise and make a great deal of extra work for the staff. Signs indicate that this is something that is important to the store, so be sure to regard them.
Return carts and baskets to their proper location.
This generally will just apply to grocery stores but there is nothing more frustrating than pulling into a parking space only to see that a cart is already there. Take the few extra steps to return your cart.
Most importantly, treat the retail staff with kindness.
Retail staff work long hours for little pay and deal with strange requests from customers. Ask them kindly for help and be patient when they have to juggle a couple of different things. Just like with anything in etiquette, use the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.
Image from eonline.com
Of course, there are many other ways to display etiquette while shopping. What are some ways that you show etiquette to fellow shoppers and to retail staff?
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