Retail
January 24, 2018
Competent sales associates are worth just as much as flashy digital tools. Image credit: Hugo Boss
By Danny Parisi
While digital tools may be appealing, a new report from the Luxury Institute shows that many consumers value the personalized touch of a human sales associate to guide them through the shopping process.
{"ct":"6QSFuKCpKVywO8N0Okn\/JANl8wTLAA21\/7Y1Rz\/KcoURyyC3B7znMHnLKAGXQgzvZ2Jj81z2YHNOP1yh2piEBPL8T6bFz2VnJvwckvYE1L5EQ7NxzHa9yRlEBIkcyJbS1wSduPxhfMUudhzSiwGgKakuQJ7IFqi0tzY3ryCCnF0o9hmhxu3O2L5+cnBIz\/wGgNFM++mHSe54ztcJRRBtAy3dgh6AjBQY0SRHk8vLqjVVRQC7JeSrIDdMf+6kZn6nLbItDw5d+p7IMHNvHZvtByAjnXFszwCzNBufNRx7lBBBc+gtZki5vEG\/l2zFJgh8aPhCpwLCuwCMX3+sbAWuWsV+zo6WTsIq1k873yijr7hKfF8Mf0MvRTFFlFerPIe7pEFGP5Mqqyrz6HlgS0oq5rThLZbK1cOmOnDEm7VzHiusUBT2K0lI6tfNZWmIAGvVpp1Cb0GWmZStGCxFa5NrnipKT04txgrUu57P\/f2\/R8kWG+Gq0SwYRpNVNV\/YTZ7NSCfVcrm54O3\/FyIdFSxnUO1Jr41aQlFEuAQXbDquksN6Pe7pfCUOLVV6\/uOjC8IQFHQmgWqi0\/bbtjPpQN0r\/qQBOnYU0RHPCMhV2b+emzZ5AOw0fQpihzn\/5lF\/uQsRDRd07YLWcesTFOjddYkIG5j8eR\/EPYDzreeceiYShbT6m70pnf3R2H1qoVe49xNsbVkGYWTrPKAyqTBAAeP5tv6sos8C+gfbbAsxo6FyLU1n11pfoR\/3izzJXOnctBcYK\/ssFCijnr3a1wGRt\/6xUqyUaoxI9fiVsR9eNcGT1pfssx+jqpm3R\/MY2eAIXyIDAtJkMZ\/x8wX5YSCHjRWNZbwfampaYiKwjMIuNHYoVWEdaca7VTzmhW0ReyGOFguhqWsQN03usiWTObaPzWTqRpkzSIWczu3nYXztvJt1RMIkOARn0KUa\/sN1PpxPz143XnARF94aUPivM5uxdRWJk1kPXkq9avlfRujcqrk4UTf14oby2GuquM5Ne2zyUcif61X2D7u9likM233IxS2rHj6xaV+e2UYdfTBdK1oxzxaNgZ7pen2gJYOKmEHjEihHK3FkN22+hfTsdYvjKd3t1WC+wzp4TVRUQyqnSqmaTpRGs7\/Rwv3i1on\/AsCHo46KDC80Ky3vhQkDLdR2FPLb1OPeletEwyhFmXf0LuANUwcGpmvz44cVVk+OfpL9Kw\/NMrtdztSJN0E7O1azmnaRGky8tbiEiUL\/rnwP70ER4iEpViX4RZN8V0Z8nw4RxGi92LJztEKiJeBTg5ujvgHFXhApdnDSkxcvF\/bo5GRiGU7jvKmqGGEkGACvn0C9aHq54KFVHBIqtnJeC1t+SyyWzzgy\/iL6vpbqU8RmWDFf6bTtIp15V4Fh2FuIB8E2mXGctVl5dGls821XbERnKpK53TfmiWboUJAV1dJpqfNoD9m7xhjRzSu\/Wh\/E5wr9oOesgED9\/voy2Q7R4q3COlchfwVOvrqFTQY41S2sN31yB0B2fx9KmywYMAtV+i2rLd2ZmcYEVFmzJuap2XpHcKFXSNDBaQYyF\/Yoombct35Z+v\/Zn8SJQAJ7qSXjo0kiQc2Bk8zMHZ+8RY6wGchJ\/APpz8DLYqjEQMATh8wCxjmsykQ0Ntob8VvVIC7m\/11b\/mgZrmKjFkdA1Z5gqrpaEnDFhS11sg76ctiFqSrJ5fv6+Vw7VCNXY8q3+KJSSKjNbbOylYl4DZajcccXXCC3jGVpf4OXiQZqihe+mwNZuipqpEu26z6OlCsA2nRAmkaCS2HjYBs8f4aERiUUdH9KjwiaVHBmC1SGez6PqjUpa85YNfHuTUAuHfdyXQLmaINybGidwIzfVBgqUrFByuCIpqp72Vta15tHpgafmmVn\/k0KrXkukOswlC1yu\/x7WA1zgJBDY1XhvH0Ht0amEswMn1fLXtl55s4PqKS9TUvRzcZRcOT9LLEWoC1K1VAKIsr7gW9iyfLHkt7S12faVZ0GENGbD+zk3htLJ9Q0EYpMcml+Irce5Lyjv9OCc4xu0yoSTrlYbaKjVITLdoNBV1wbRXBVTZ6qr1M7UMd1BC5jthFXdsNvIoyPPAbGzMMgpDe5Q21zW0G4tSbrP+z258HAaC9EQ+5Z8LKaxYZffGkhxH\/bAnstNAK\/vK1+uA4PNdT94mupnCZ02J9ZHePG7cZ+ib3HusrOqq05AYBbjsbmp+jmJEj3kqaUW26UYBFGNCvwIfEJE5YnZSw5ePUmbBu3XWHIW41uSJr7Kem6xfx50oj92kBH3FdMFYx7ixRH8xTqJ7bKaozZhVcXY35WER1zkjdUoT60yWutznAgJRYPtdwKmufxdMh+Nwgv+mYtQtcHme+NyagFMdzqPIR5gf05bYrl5+ZJJGQtiD5zOlmT+A\/1JubriMO9cSmG0srjHc1KRc6tKgd\/NtT8oB206L79hh50AAUcr289sVjO6ZJDA7rf\/CPrMKlDbDlrp5gpa19cUUekv9+x4qlAJcJ+pe8p+sgWwHptRfH5Cgsqy0mV9TnhECnxiLIBrk8O9eLH\/g6L6GaZkqwQBEKkmT9xsrAXg5VOj6UVWbK4xUpfUGkN8xTsa+v2cZyxsqIDoCudX26uX9b83Pi+g5IgcQ7OdgCGMYfp1hQ2cqVv88Io4KkRbCirZy0MFVEyyhO1gvVr8KuWIXyWkAIY0x0feQ27qALwIcxqCKMjUEHUlTBsthepvFofhajDwp0HAobvaA+l4ODPQSKTCNL5x8FC\/sfdodPhUoy8veTrPtmf7qn7PHzcu9U5t8lfz9mBAFCV85VD\/sT4hYWcRk+7eddkK\/444nR0NRxpNp2DmyNbaXi1sm05ybdIedejAWcM+S96JcB9vC\/RJCOXqcPjLrfjlBfAEu0nYmzXXZaaiFTiPqc4O1BkZHm408IsgQbH1XjyNUeq7dJnZ4DcZXXgxRhD8Tmh1Cx40k8pK+TLHMH03pl\/ZJPpIv7437EOokXfLH4wlpjC+KAKSK0Nap73esmVNnIVmPBRztY0pTcNwikhDimAh2y490K7jFOZEZnapzTlq+weGEGUciSV\/YzsDC9PMX8bAQCGbxbDDaCe4C1SWlZknpxO4iD2Lh0Tz9NU\/AAxaRPC1SadKw3NGv\/hfUpUa4DyqM7Gi8C7nzxaTWzLRErsME7NgejER5um905MdoAFh0ohb9anAb24v+e9suMsuQEcJ4UxrL6MqPR34CZelXgS5apDp6lK9\/v94Qf+ahVpFqF7mc+9YFyUgVq3o43OhBtuiBcLgztsFX2tIzPNwJ41ojjhQg09e2rzmvAscaI8vxtI7xzE3z7TyAnyTjNmXl6er5i57HNFme0r7YVQb8ZgojpOTE0ngJ\/vhO+I9VLper8\/E8fAPKGohhDNnFdcrisD2DlPBUBEnwNe9c4itG1jF5BtW0njo6HOUpYMBN6HfzM2jKQ8wAF1liMRkRqYfnwr1NUmUvHhcU1yOOF+TcGWIZYyuLkzsnnW5qb7Afw9P1RAbbuOkosYBeHxAigMEaDQ6OOJLdRIg0ZfEZoPPMeCq5XVJ8HolkYH6g45P5+Nt\/IZfXcpSawuQHLNq3a8EKkm54\/1G3m8sLjGciumdpKvDDRSUMsNUTcb9vS1tpEs7R3ErtTd\/RLxjjLPS72eDRzmlVZ8hitV0AMCqUb2vh1uSii1vZjlpAnLwMfJa+tWYs\/InQHcnOL\/7ipO9jtp\/3kghF9Ce4eAeTDY1TfgiBxrPrLdx+96p6hK\/wZzkUn58UUY4WeIQqSQXNY01SsIIAG0z9cO4Yd9KpoaV2jZzUumDuIt0Kr\/OdYu++VjtQRmBuFx5qjTIoaI+ASU3iA0dueoy76CMWWYW8RVoRLQfR8JQJ1Y83kHTeTgZzGRJaIhChoPGM6UonwBF4x4zxGYgXVCxfjodwkHCnnuKHGtWjaOo+LQ9QZ+Vjav+DF4LZub+lIw0d8FfQRjxCgMXzg8DsA2owHP3s9+r3s\/7YpJRgA14bZDvygC7T36gcT4KMzulYpkDrdIcHIvbsXp789Sg5RTFcXHIkOpejbiMj5ubmoAPJ7lnv8YhgHTdJofoub2fowJcG\/X+jBbQVkZzNH\/8xU7W62WA7AzRpe8YbAgZY3SDHXiy9fNF+Ti+1+Lz3du1LSYzSd9zPysaMQTf3thkBUtbruqaJEmvaUoIro8vHh5ACjBpovPiJWU6v3Rm3zeF5FZm5YVoFXSTZKbVPGHlw3U60YHTSEJ+ebZPw6SQ7oQw7PBU+sRg9XNGmjemtIGceYR1LgHty5qIR5Y4y7ACLWYiBBmQUV30TCZZ3\/nrKevKXUZYxZbawvQK53+APG3+TDF8D4d+d\/KdjFaH3giLvUxxZ3ujg4W19BUzdrFEhM6sdfDYQmg1OizKG+2SjyxUoq2gB7NLWQWIGt3ecuDzQq1xXEFMhItzStB3V\/nWc\/vZ8LgepgC9Uptu2kCrIWdzrs5AJn87TrXmINkRmRmg\/CbSAk+eSKcVaDN4EepcQ1Eur1YTKU74xuJqvLOw2d8u7rUEhIjOaYuKi1YwCDvmBqxOdG9yMJNnAkBop8EH5tDjZToWcsi3Pz+c80tdbTGT+wt+sZLATQwueUKfjL87floIaSNDcVnEd8cIqoBBmIDp\/IlNTBDM9+UpGH64Jp6pbtasP\/ZA66eFNjlS4bHmMQ2beCn8PuavMZ54wzDneYajzn5ZBioS3HFs5r0hor\/dez8yLWvFTfgpcE2yuUua28KOS9fK0G8aLHaM+e8tcVbz++vMi3JYexmfCewcVygRcvLnqabDAZouHfAkhthFzH5oE8VIhANPB3PIN2gds+lMOZsw90s0Ti8bXndxKoOSCVciE2SxcLmgK3Gu6XXirZ8V7NKlPGeNMqBfHq62Ds7DHNq4uMXeBmi6o1LpkcfVgoaYqQof3R\/rjRTR1XfR4wccSTiuOFJBFAu5vIO2V6uhy0v6Uw4Fscpl+gl+4eUL3stLKvzlmg9hjcVhH+2KceUzJebCYzt+gUAZtpd1E\/orOmoMEnP2Y8FdC\/A5A4igSQ8\/qiTBzkgoqwsztOIsesy77k0tlD5fCGjPYmupSB0E7kbasKoM3Oh8eRRK+ghR2HRW7fM76etJKRaoiWVjyoM6lOlCvrbDFsuBSJeE\/fhk2T+EDdq7jyggkDna8gX0hJ4ZPSaaJvTJDcOjskmYHZ55fZPJoVcviOIGoABM6FLMSRe5nRczydnRYQ0sMGz7IMYHc+Ja9ucDwwsBtbAzIDcokzF9zIQX3bwO2iDG2txaHX2tqg49xwvq2PSB2IBOMb\/MMNpCMoi8VtCHgduqQCHpW5UIVivqur\/EoVJwr1OHgRVM5iGanRoTRAFyXvMiN\/j7iHR0Lmmxo6eovQkd+DBZiJLLtKTqAFcS2Dl6H8FP6+TgqMcin3FiMhuAxJunR\/7Y7SB3on5XuXrKVaycUv0xtUimIspd+cIJrCmSchzhHfLpeLvVdDI64i+M3MwNzyWIFtiw22KuZVT52CKYmpswsmOjskHAGUoxlh7ntfLJCJ9rAm7+uZ2KwwqMD8l\/ULbCcbY51FYEPnd9T6vqyl5uJf6m9GkZ1ksmGQdp9q3wLWeZaIt\/3QVptTE\/yUARNf2sBO4vHX\/GFRR52GVZX444oH42f89lcRzbEA9Pw\/2aRm6ii+2NH3a3MpybY+6wvcE8YGH0E6ZHW6B92b0ikFigYTN4TbOGrpQMKXsa1uCKiOY\/QAEw5jXKcbU62aUoKNkQ5LIapbK2Jr2F+pFeJFbsf12koljIyYTH2p\/hye9esmP2WbOyjlQ97Pmyx4gh7xHWN+qjVZbb6fvhFMfFB0VHetGwuPHSSky5nPVS8sg\/DIJo3RoJiqOsFdbhrKl+ygkSKs4ZDrI\/E5HIVCQpvUck8yEs5rQjbSFGVFMjXy8z4EeDC7nQE700xccJLVVi2v\/LyNW6+ZArqMZsY6CE\/OeAOMqPZKAs\/inGVy7+dZaoaSS4i8Ki89hMOxvZOhQxuP0GL\/ac5W8cJXhefzpoaBc98xmWfAFSY0NswQHWykftf6lD9hqpsREKRV\/TLF82vTZWMmbGxUgrV1zWwiRFusoNUPaOSKLU7+Se6NtPCgeLl8wfVVoSUO+ieC4ZYX3z\/iUSm2I6Q3EhKwL6\/Hd3UoltrspPvo+RE16DfXuLYEwc0JS+jHEtTRsb\/3ZI+23LRtWU4Kmrc66SMjm+M2WEmQF5vgceip3ACbhfDzZvATN\/GB\/HZIrESZL96bmdSoeaRLi6X5N2oHZQPFERk0Eugph12\/Nc69eufpIc+SS0rLUuOAb3GrPaMFQUe\/ksYZka5gApo49\/VMPV\/nCfZxmOd77JoEOxyBBMck22gXXxpeKzAqm31jB19zbKKfO\/eGK8\/NnwgBDoCtk0MWMuqzDMB\/lrxecoLMm1RNGcRZqnLdeg\/YHqWGcyI1MpzmB\/xDhRSnZ+wU3TexFZhy9d2W4rTTO8zZvy0NO3YOEUGJ0NORPEmdh3wmqrT+UEZZvHh5NZiNEaj6I5ot2uWx925ShNc4bLgpO6vfpBvYOSMsS4mXLK\/Enk+vvMJhX98AuRU3Idw9hIhqMzvjMoxzzwZq0n2ikSGPc0a\/423qbfWXoHHDsZbVbPVHHvt9olULWBMgKbshbObnkf45eqUE+cKEVbCKfdnd3nvchbCnVAhtNxLzqh1Kyad0Z4IfD7BC\/FvLmiE0Lx4bAxuoga4UDOtTaVvhytbs9ut\/CcbbvGRtcXOemxoWriU8Zpg5I7mjuXKALp9Jp65QC4Gl5QpCj5deZxN9yp2S3TkNrt1tXf2QUEqfs5b5UJFtd0MrB4NlKHWUwWKRuNqICoMi+jyo4xocdvwCbXkSDGI4OJaUMJUS7RyWAO5Kd2dVEUH0Pz\/3MTdPbjhPHVrtQUA1FH2emCFnphKLVElfFNjx7QbqoyUBRighHa0jkqB3AHGzvXGg15ij537pd2NIfnBdhNQ2YjMCy\/dSSFOhVWqaKEoxEnS6omDXBCOLxVY5kA\/p8e0LhzFefUatN7fA+WKP89rnRGvDLi3ypW85pYnZYwlKzFi5AgKQjCTsXaoTCpwJ24rSav6JrAAvq42Y7SSer5WamtC3DbIMAatLj5MKZm2Vih5R38CgUsEQcWzsG6j+vwSTH53wItHBBLUMWCWG9bGhLoZ1PHWsWJskDVuqRm+A0w7KK+yg7S4xAqzs5q2MB0dpZS\/9+kKUSQ82J4n61ZK\/8ER9jqa2aB0EuXl8zxFSH+MVF\/LqjrZutIrltYOE6Xf1xbsSgBiwybQ71vqA2EGwgAM98sSuEWC6CGZaP0IVNAQwpyujZ2TkgrRDb2cYstE\/8qRyI1dQfINgsLWlQFw74uvlKnaXx3IcVBqs3vtv7KQNtj2Oe0CEAKJKKVEsvH+m9vKJQaOjkEnRgF3VaWdYFpL13oagdBBvt4YX5EsJS2enIn4s4zlB+3sNrEsvQCDYn0zTPp1sZfqZl7+zhEB37OYBOiCS1agtdNXcybxnZAS6RCyP310ERDfhygMFc7dpH5CrYu+7iW+LHhKL92eCpICwfYYQSOPpuO6wor3XGSuh5mZitpIXcDSmHXJVpGKDGd863OKUIPzwXI5lBeiDqVm460ybAGgMcXpGCitbwGSk3d2oFXc\/ZSdnPR3y0DAOmlxVcM9xkf8pRM+KDdHLW1pJmZh1+gqfVAeS5G+JF4xrUFOPV0LCds4nsSs6CT70hVoOSKByDq5w44d0BEYnin\/ecB6h2sjg944ULputSKVoHhlSOfh\/LreRAKNX2QtSPspgCr6DBkkgabQxLUb4o\/g3kdf0pYgapG1FcJtl6QOjX8RlhBBB6hyMmsYbv5pXx+QnmlgKX\/WxIRIrjHFcycPxSPWvMav2GuB1F5ywxyRo3x5Z1G74JyNFJG\/2vgTMwAfpTj7cuHZnL4kherLdcfxSrvLipwFSG\/XuLTAMKtwxJv1xjjRakFLI\/QtMoDC0s4Oh2tOpiGSMegv2nk4C9HOHrP2PrdVlBHKA4SHtmExverWi\/ySHiGpHRSP8e0\/hqz2BRkHsjMGwtH97Ki\/ozMHKdwK83+5R58a+Vfx1XOhkeHKVGnzjYmkzTjB3Nav2JysjdS2Zc7lNfzgiH5W2p\/kGMU0TjR9fQWIjgPuda+hBPF11SnhRPhnup2l0=","iv":"73e8a69d5dae3ba377ab34e8ee52b4ce","s":"9c7bea5b1f2cdc28"}
Share your thoughts. Click here