WHAT exactly do you want when you go shopping?

Do you like being approached by an assistant or does being pestered actually turn you off? Do you like to browse at your leisure or are you always in a hurry and like to just grab and go?

Whatever your personal wants from a shopping experience are, Clinique’s As You Like It concept has it covered.

As You Like It is available at a selection of Clinique outlets across the UK, one of which is Fenwick in Newcastle.

It was launched last November to give shoppers the best possible experience at its counters using multiple levels of service to work around you and what you look for when shopping for your beauty essentials.

The whole concept works around a colourful wristband system. The stylish bands are available in three colours to reflect you and your kind of shopping and also let counter consultants know what you want.

Green = I have time, let’s talk

White = Time is of the essence

Pink = Browsing and happy

The band system works really well alongside the various complimentary shopping experiences available at Clinique counters.

If you pick green, the consultant knows you are looking for a one-on-one consultation with expert skin care analysis, product recommendations and application techniques and tips.

Choose white and you will be directed to the state-of-the-art skin diagnostic tool where you can get a skin care analysis in just 90 seconds on your own. A printed receipt will provide custom-fit recommendations at the end.

And if you go for pink, consultants know you are happy on your own, and will leave you to browse the counter’s Colour Bar and interactive Mascara and Lip Bars.

I visited Fenwick to sample the service and I have to admit I liked it.

I’m a nightmare in shops. If an assistant jumps on me within 30 seconds of my arrival and hits me with that line “are you ok there?” I will usually turn around and walk out.

It’s a real bugbear of mine. I don’t want to be pestered when I go shopping. If I’vepopped in for something specific I’ll go straight to it, and if I want to browse I should be allowed to do that without feeling like I’m being watched.

But obviously some people are different. They like to be approached and offered help when they go to a store. They want that one-on-one experience.

Which is why As You Like It is such a great idea.

To be fair, the counter consultants admit that they had a few teething troubles with explaining the system to customers or having people coming in and taking handfuls of the wristbands as they thought they were just there to take, but they all say the response has been positive.

I think this system has real potential and I only wish it could be rolled out everywhere. It seems Clinique has really done its bit to address the needs of customers and surely all other shops could learn from example and eventually look to following suit.

As You Like It is available at the Clinique counter in Fenwick, Newcastle.