English For: Retail & Shop Assistants
In my online English lessons, I help retail staff speak to customers in a friendly, confident way. We practise greeting people, offering help, explaining products and sizes, and finding polite language for returns and complaints — all in clear, natural British English.
Useful Phrases and Idioms (Retail)
- Greeting customers: “Hi there — can I help you find anything today?” / “Welcome in!”
- Offering help: “Would you like a different size?” / “I can check stock in the back.”
- Explaining features: “This model comes with a two‑year warranty.” / “It’s machine‑washable on a cool cycle.”
- Returns & exchanges: “Do you have the receipt?” / “We can exchange it or offer store credit.”
- Closing the sale: “Shall I ring that up for you?” / “Would you like a bag?”
- Idioms: “Good value for money.” / “Selling like hot cakes.”
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Try on: test clothing on your body. “The fitting rooms are over there if you’d like to try it on.”
- Ring up: record the sale on the till. “I’ll ring that up now.”
- Look up: search stock or details. “I’ll look up your order.”
- Run out of: have no more. “We’ve run out of that colour, but I can order it.”
- Set aside: keep something for later. “Shall I set it aside for you until 5pm?”
- Follow up: contact the customer with an update. “I’ll follow up when it arrives.”
Example Conversation (On the Shop Floor)
Assistant: Hi there — can I help you find anything?
Customer: I’m looking for a black jacket in medium.
Assistant: Of course. We’ve got this style in black — would you like to try it on?
Customer: Yes, please. Where are the fitting rooms?
Assistant: Just over there on the left. I’ll grab a medium and set a room up for you.
Customer: Thanks — it fits well. I’ll take it.
Assistant: Brilliant — shall I ring it up for you? Would you like a bag?
Discussion Practice
- How do you offer help without pressuring the customer?
- Practise explaining a return or exchange policy clearly and politely.
- What phrases make customers feel welcome when they walk in?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a short message confirming a click‑and‑collect order.
- Write a polite response to a complaint about a faulty item.
- Write a quick stock update when an item is back in store.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Till / register | Machine used to take payments. | “The card machine is by the till.” |
| SKU | Stock keeping unit; product code. | “Could you check the SKU for that jacket?” |
| Receipt | Proof of purchase. | “Please keep the receipt for returns.” |
| Store credit | Credit to spend in the shop later. | “We can offer store credit if you prefer.” |
| Click‑and‑collect | Order online, pick up in store. | “Your click‑and‑collect order is ready.” |
| Fitting room | Room to try on clothes. | “The fitting rooms are through the door on the left.” |
| Warranty | Guarantee for repairs or replacement. | “This has a two‑year warranty.” |
| Refund | Money returned to the customer. | “We’ve processed your refund.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I help retail staff build natural customer conversations: warm greetings, clear product explanations, and polite language for returns and complaints. You’ll sound friendly, helpful and confident on the shop floor.
If you’d like focused speaking practice, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course focuses on real retail conversations. You can improve quickly with English lessons online from a native speaker online, wherever you are.