Final answer:
During a busy day at the shoe outlet, if there is only one sales associate in the department, they should answer the phone promptly and put in-store customers on hold.
Step-by-step explanation:
When there is only one sales associate in the department during a busy day at the shoe outlet, the associate should answer the phone promptly and put in-store customers on hold. This ensures that both the customer on the phone and the in-store customers receive attention. By prioritizing the phone call, the sales associate demonstrates good customer service and professionalism.