Footfall
The number of humans who walked in, quoted proudly when sales figures are unquotable.
What they actually mean
Browsers, not buyers.
Heard in the wild
"Sales are soft but footfall is strong."
More from Retail
Retail30
Loss leader
A product sold at a deliberate loss to lure customers into a store, in the optimistic hope they will also buy a heavily marked-up velvet cushion.
"We’ll use the luxury hand soap as a loss leader to drive footfall to the homeware aisle."
Translation
We are giving away soap in the hope they buy a £400 brass giraffe.
Give 110%
To put in more effort than seems mathematically possible, used to describe strong commitment.
"We need 110% this weekend."
Translation
Unpaid overtime, framed as spirit.
Boots on the Ground
People physically doing the work on-site, as opposed to those directing from a distance.
"We need boots on the ground in store."
Translation
Someone else should drive there.