Theresa S
5/5
Background: I'm a S/EAsian-descent- Montreal-born GenXer who has shopped Laura since back way when. Whether in my twenties & now approaching 50, I have always loved the quality, pieces & CanadaMade options
Previous experiences:
After leaving Montreal, I used to shop regularly at Laura/Melanie Lynn at the Fairview Mall (Don Mills/Sheppard) as both the staff & pieces were welcoming.
But after moving to Downtown Toronto, the closest option was the Eaton Centre. Awful customer service, individual sales staff with pretentious attitudes & personalities & no sense of fashion, not to mention limited pieces to select from. It's no wonder it closed.
So, it had been years before I shopped again but would go to the Place Montreal Trust location with every summer visit to Montreal.
Vaudreuil Location:
A few years ago, my family moved not too far from Vaudreuil QC, so my first visit to Laura at 3150 Bd de la Gare, Vaudreuil was in 2019. I was greeted at the time with pleasant & professional sales staff.
My first visit in 2019 was certainly consistent with my recent visit in August 2021 which is my first 'shopping therapy day' since the Pandemic began: All staff were masked but it did not deter from professional & pleasant service!
Recent experience:
I was first greeted pleasantly by Susan who then asked if I was looking for anything in particular. When I said I was 'just looking', she did not hesitate to point out the different sections & the current sales. She provided me with enough 'space to browse' & no sooner did I begin to pick up some pieces. After assisting someone else, no sooner did she come to my aid, took the clothes to free my hands & told me she would put the clothes in the change stall. If I asked for something, she tried to find it or suggested something similar. I went to try on the clothes & she came at the right time to check in if everything was okay as I may have needed something. I chose my pieces & she guided me to the cashier. The cashier was equally pleasant.
At the cashier, I liked how they set it up to socially distance: table in front of cash with debit machine and hand sanitizer ready. *As a health care professional who works in the Financial industry, I cannot stress enough how adhering to Covid19 protocol & ensuring others who enter also adhere to it is VERY important to me. I felt VERY safe there.
The overall experience was 10++ our of 10 🙂
Final thoughts:
Yes, the clothes/price make a difference, but it is the 'service' that keeps me coming back & now, Covid19 protocols & feeling 'safe'.
For me, this is what stands out as great service:
-not asking 'can I help you with anything' the minute I walk into a store
-a genuine greeting, pleasant demeanor & great attitude
-not assuming I will spend or not
-not judging me on how I am dressed when I enter the store. I have learned you never know who will be a regular & consistent customer solely on looks.
-ability to know how to out pieces together and make suggestions even I don't ask; it prompts ideas in my own mind
-giving me the space to look but can assess mY body language to know if I need help or may be interested in something
-giving me the space to try on clothes but check in to see if I may need something else
-a genuine goodbye as I exit, not just from the sales attendant, but from the cashier as well; they are the last person I will see when I leave.
-^^ This all applies to whether I buy or not. I may be in a rush or just passing time, but if I see something I like, I will come back.
Perhaps it's just Toronto, but the art of customer service in fashion is becoming obsolete. I prefer to shop in Montreal for that very reason. It's too bad the service is not consistent across provinces.
This particular location in Vaudreuil is now on my radar for every visit. I highly recommend visiting here.
I cannot comment on the online experience with Laura as I have not yet tried it.
Thank you to Susan & Team at Vaudreuil location! It was a pleasant treat especially after not shopping for a year! I hope to see you again next year!
