Just over a couple of weeks ago, I took a long work trip, as did many colleagues, and I imagined that the virus situation and budding panic was exaggerated and that the whole corona could be overcome with common sense and careful hand washing. It was quiet during the Paris fashion weeks when buyers around the world avoided flying and crowds, it made me think a little about how this affects flooding. However, the reality hit worse once only a week ago. Streets and shops were deserted in an instant, and days revolved only around corona news. It seems impossible to stay involved in how to secure the health of our customers and staff or how we can secure the jobs of our staff if the situation continues.
The first thing was to raise the level of hygiene in the store. The staff was instructed to change all towels to paper, hand sanitizer is available to customers in the stores, surfaces and door handles are disinfected regularly throughout the day, and the staff wears cotton gloves. The hugs and kisses on the cheek that are so characteristic of us will have to be changed to a kiss emoji. Terribly difficult when you always want to hug when you meet a lovely person :)
Unfortunately, we had to move our popular spring FEP evenings to a sunnier time, which was of course a big disappointment for both our customers and us. FEP evenings have always been the highlight of the season for us. An evening that both customers and all Dots babes look forward to, wonderful meetings, relaxed atmosphere, bubbles and laughter. For me, who normally sits elsewhere at the computer, it is a unique opportunity to meet as many of you as possible at the same time. I hope from the bottom of my heart that we will meet as soon as possible and we can hug again when we meet <3
In the meantime, we have a nut to crack. Will we be able to keep the stores open or should we close them? We want to act responsibly and take care of the health of our customers and staff, but we also feel great responsibility and concern for our staff's jobs.
The only channel for sales is our online store, and here is the hard nut to crack, how do we get that Dots feeling online? For us, one of the most important things, values and strengths is to make every customer's visit to Dots an experience. When it comes from our heart and it succeeds, the best reward is a bouquet of flowers from the customer as a thank you for the experience. That's when you know you've succeeded! You might recognize yourself, thank you our dear customer who brought the flowers, you don't know how happy you made one of our babies! I know that all Dots babies do this genuinely and from the heart, love our customers and encounters. We share these wonderful encounters with each other in the Dots whats app group with pride and happiness. Now there is a compelling need to share these stories with you too.
Alehandra:
"Today, one of our lovely regular customers visited with her husband. The customer was interested in leather pants, from which we ended up matching all the leather pants in the store. Surprise surprise, Dante's pants were more than perfect. We matched the pants with Halo's new sweatshirt and second female's blouse. We realized together with the husband, that once again very good finds were made and there's nothing else to do but take the beauties home😄♥️ at the checkout, the man said that he is very satisfied, the wife always finds everything she needs in our store."
Mira:
"At the beginning of the week, a completely new customer came through the door to wonder what kind of place this is. We went through Dots' offer a little together and he was really excited that he had found such a beautiful store! The customer fell in love with some sale jewelry and they were included in the package right away. A few days later, the same customer entered the door and said that he had to come again to admire this mysterious store. However, he didn't look at the clothes at all because he was sure that "I have no hope of fitting into them". However, after a little encouragement, the customer walked towards the fitting booths with an a-line dress in her hand - and how happy she was when the dress was the perfect size! Enthusiastic about this, the customer ran towards the sale racks and made another wonderful discovery there. The customer was visibly happy that he had found something new to wear and thanked him very much for the fitting encouragement. Smiling, the customer hurried towards the front door, but soon came back with a PB bag in his hand. "I now have such a good feeling that I want to buy this again for my sister as a Christmas present". ❤
This left me with a really great feeling 😍
Marita:
"The funniest situation of the day🤣😂A young mother came to the store pushing a pram. She had previously bought a light-colored SF sweater from us, which she really liked, especially since it had pockets. 👍Whatever happened, when it was time to wash it, she decided to wash it in the washing machine and at 40 degrees. She told me that the cardigan had shrunk evenly and a frill-like edge had formed on the front edges. I asked who was sleeping in the pram? There was a boy there and he was 8 months old. I told him that nothing but Princess can be ordered when the frills are ready and this is it enne!🤭 We laughed and he bought a similar cardigan, which he couldn't live without!
A wonderful encounter 🥰"
Ale:
"A lovely lady had found Dots when she was trying to find where mosmosh was on sale everywhere. As soon as she entered the store, she went to the ale racks and found a lovely mosmosh jacket with a light floral design. She was so excited that she found something in the ale rack, even mos mosh. Both of them were still known that you can't get away from Dots without finding everything wonderful even in the new items. I had warned the customer before I introduced the Beliz Twiggy jacket to him that the risk might be the perfect fit and falling in love. We went at our own risk and after a few "omgs" it was concluded that the jacket was just for him done. Well, after finding two jackets, I had to find the perfect bottom part for them, and what's better than mosmoshin's Blake gallery pant. A perfect combo for a perfect mosmoshmimm. I told the woman that what a wonderful way to start the new year by finding the most beautiful clothes in the world. The customer laughed and stated that indeed after this shopping trip it feels like you deserve it even the world. She also laughed that the man no longer dares to let her into Dots alone when she comes out like a cat 😄This lovely woman became a new DOTS babe today and even though she lives a little further away, she can't wait for our future evenings and coming back to the wonderful world of our DOTS 💕✨"
Tiina M:
"Today, the customer wanted to live for the Tuska festivals well in advance! 😎 jeans were found downstairs and the upper part was built on it, and Dante's leather horse was the most natural choice 🖤 the bonuses had already accumulated in the account and that's how the "savings project" started for leather through it. It was nice to see the fall in love with leather when the eyes started to shine and the outfit was already clearly formed in the eyes of the customer.
So Dots will maybe appear a little in new genres, starting in the summer! Dots rocks!”😎🎸🔥
Frida:
"Yesterday, we had a new wonderful DOTS BABE customer visit our Helsinki store for the first time - we mapped out his needs a bit and then went to explore our selection together. The customer stated that he could not find suitable clothes for his shaped body, but after a little encouragement, he ended up in the fitting room. Just like our customer, we all sometimes have phases when we don't feel completely at home in our own body - the customer was extremely grateful that we at Dots are honest and we genuinely want to help the customer find those wonderful products that don't feel like they were mistaken purchases the next day. She was also very positively surprised by the clothes we fitted, which fit her beautiful body wonderfully. This time, a long-sought-after tank top went with her, and she planned to come again soon for dress shopping, when it becomes relevant❤I felt so good about this encounter, because the customer gave wonderful feedback and her happiness warmed the heart"🥰
Carolina:
"Oh my god😂this is a must share! Here in Egypt, in El Gouna, a lovely woman comes from the neighboring table to say hello and asks: "don't you also work at Turku Dots .. I'm from Pori .. I remember you.. I got excellent service when I visited you!". ...and I'm just blown away by how small this world really is!"❤
Nora:
"One of our wonderful Kantis came to visit at the beginning of this week. We had already discussed last week that he would be coming to visit at a better time, so that we could look for something simple and stylish for him for everyday/work use and for the upcoming shoots next week. When he came, he didn't have much time and had to act quickly. After a few ten minutes of mediation, we had effectively found several beautiful blouses, a jacket and shoes for her. He was very pleased with the service he received and praised how our good service also includes styling the customer according to his needs. They both felt good"✨🥰
Thank you lovely customers, you really make us feel good!
Today Siiri had a busy day and along with all the setbacks there were also successes, you can now buy gift cards from the online store and we opened a live chat! Oh, the amount of sweating when the first customer was on the line!
Dots feeling online vol 1, ☑
It has also been heartwarming that today there have been customers in the stores who have come to shop just to support us ❤ I think you don't even know how important these visits and gestures were. In gratitude, we repeat to each other how wonderful customers we have, together we will get through this❤
I hope that other entrepreneurs have also experienced success today.
Virtual hugs and sunshine to everyone, now if ever it's time to blow on one coal, we'll get through this together.
Tiina & babet