How men selling female clothing sweet-talk their way into booming sales

In recent days, more men are entering the women’s fashion retail space, finding success in an industry traditionally dominated by women.

Several men have shared their experiences selling women’s clothing.

For Jimmy*, he recalls being hesitant when the opportunity first presented itself, thinking he wouldn’t relate to a female clientele.

However, after his first sale, he realised that selling to women could be easier than selling to men.

"It wasn’t easy at first. Women can be difficult to sell to if they don’t trust you, but once you gain their trust, it becomes smoother," Jimmy explains.

He emphasises that selling to women requires more than just traditional sales tactics, adding that one must find a way to find the dress for the customer.

To Jimmy*, politeness and respect are crucial when convincing women to try on clothes.

"Sometimes it's not in using big words. Just telling the client, that colour looks great on you or I love that pattern! can boost her confidence immensely," he says.

Jimmy also notes that men must adjust their language when engaging with female customers, noting that you can’t talk to women like you would your guy friends.

"I won't lie, lazima ujue kuwaongelesha. Hakuna vile utaita mrembo kwa shop kama boiz wako, you must find appealing words to attract them," he notes.

He adds that, despite having multiple customers, it's important to take time to understand each woman's individual needs.

According to Jimmy, showing that he cares about his clients’ preferences and listening to her builds trust, which increases the likelihood of making a sale and that's the goal.”

"When a woman feels cared for and confident, it's common for her to buy more than she initially intended. And isn’t that the goal? We’re all here to make money," he says.

Kelvin*, another seller, agrees emphasising the importance of appearance and body language when dealing with female customers.

"Women pay close attention to how you present yourself, your tone, and even your body language. This influences their buying decision," he notes

Kelvin advises men to actively listen and be expressive while interacting with women noting a blank expression while a woman is talking can come off as disinterest.

“You need to show you're engaged, it’s the little details that matter most.”

He reveals that women are very particular in who serves them, noting that it's common to find a woman not purchasing anything, purely because the person they are used to is not around.

"I had a challenging situation with my boss. She believed I was taking all her customers because some of them preferred to be served by me," he notes.

Both Jimmy and Kelvin stress the importance of boosting a woman’s confidence as she tries on outfits while maintaining a professional demeanour.

However, they also acknowledge that their friendliness can sometimes be misinterpreted as flirtation.

"Some women may ask for coffee dates or send inappropriate messages in ungodly hours," they share.

Asked if they accept these advances, Jimmy says that’s a story for another day.