What should I say instead of 'Can I help you?' when greeting customers in my boutique?

The greeting "Can I help you?" triggers an automatic "No, just looking" response from nearly every customer, which immediately closes the door to any selling conversation. It is transactional and puts the shopper on the defensive.

Replacing it with "What are you up to this weekend?" changes the dynamic entirely. The customer gives a real answer — a barbecue, a beach trip, a family dinner — and that answer becomes your opening to suggest pieces that solve her occasion. This is consultative selling rather than transactional selling, and it feels natural rather than pushy.

Brief your team on this and two or three other conversation starters by Thursday before the weekend rush. Practicing the new greeting a few times before Saturday makes it feel natural when the store is packed and energy is high.