If you’ve even worked retail you know that salespeople can go a long way in influencing a purchase or even in helping customers decide how much money to spend on a product or service.  Since the beginning of the recession, people have been more and more reluctant to spend their money on products and services that are not completely necessary.  This behavior is natural, and to be expected of a population that has been flung head first into the largest economic hiccup since the Great Depression.  There is little wonder why economic microcosms like Las Vegas have seen some of the highest unemployment levels ever.  Nevada’s unemployment rate ranks second in the nation, at over 13%.  Both Reno and Las Vegas have been hit hard by these tough times.

As car sales have hit rock bottom and consumers are less willing to pay premium prices for the products they had grown accustomed to buying and using, America’s sales force has had to learn to cope.  Many salespeople have two or three jobs, and many have even got out of sales completely and headed for industry sectors that can provide more job security and more reliable, consistent pay checks.  It’s tough to keep up as a salesman, and even tougher for companies that are used to huge profits.  Many salespeople are now on performance-based pay scales, and commissions have become more prevalent than salaries.

The restaurant industry hasn’t had a great year either.  Restaurant and food service workers have seen a near doubling of unemployment rates in one year’s time, and are left counting the few tips they now receive since many American families and individuals alike have learned or remembered that eating out is an expensive hobby.  More and more households are now packing their lunches and eating at home instead of taking that weekly, or often times daily trip to their favorite restaurant or fast food establishment.  Those restaurants that have done well, and there are a few of them, are the ones that can offer more value for their customer’s money.  McDonald’s and Wendy’s have both seen huge gains in both their bottom lines and their customer base since the beginning of the recession.  Goods that are cheap and easy to prepare are flying off the shelves while premium food products and restaurants can do little to compete.

Those in the retail world who are left standing, those that have been able to weather the economic storm, are the ones who possess real talent.  In nearly every other industry and sector something interesting has happened.  The recession has caused a flight to quality salespeople and quality customer service.  No longer a consumers willing to put up with poor customer service when so many companies are willing to provide the goods and services that Americans need.  It’s a total consumer’s market, and there is no need to be unhappy when doing business with a company or individual when there are plenty of other options on the table for consumers.  If anything, this recession has created a new standard in quality customer service for which there will be little compromise or deviation from in the near future.  Buyer beware has turned into seller beware.