11 Nov The secrets of the mystery shopper
How would you like to get paid £40,000 a year for shopping? Some mystery shoppers achieve this, but it's not as easy as it sounds The customer next to you in the queue looks innocent enough. But instead of a shopping list, you notice she's carrying handwritten notes about the appearance and cleanliness of the store. She's been timing the progression of the queue on her phone … and is that a tiny camera lens peeking out from her purse? There's no trenchcoat in sight, but odds are, you've just spotted a mystery shopper. There are approximately 50,000 mystery shopping trips carried out every month in the UK, according to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), and as more and more spending takes place online, the demand for mystery shoppers is growing. "Retailers are becoming increasingly aware that shoppers who are prepared to set foot in a physical store want a service and...