Retail Training Tip: Use E-learning for Affordable and Effective Retail Training

Whether big or small, virtually every retailer understands the importance of training their retail sales representatives and other store personnel.  In fact, studies by leading universities and the American Society for Training and Development have found that there is a direct relationship between making an investment in training and in increasing sales and profits.  These studies show that trained sales reps are able to improve top-line sales in by 10-20% and net profits by 6-24%!

But given tight budgets and busy calendars, how can the average company manage a retail training program that is both affordable and effective?

Internet-based Retail Courses Are The Answer

We know that gaining a competitive edge in today‘s retail industry requires an ongoing investment in training, but the success of your retail training program depends upon your ability to carve out a reasonable budget while ensuring high quality results.  That is why many retailers are utilizing Internet-based retail training courses.  The advantage of Internet-based or Computer-based e-learning courses include:

  1. Convenience – Retail training courses are available 24/7 – anywhere, anytime

  2. Accessibility – The only requirement is Internet access or a CD-Rom drive

  3. Affordability – Eliminates the need for dedicated trainers, classrooms and travel expenses.  Annual training costs can be less than $200 per year

  4. Accountability – All employees results are tracked and can be directly tied to their results

  5. Remediation – If a retail team member is struggling they can retake the training over and over again

  6. Variety – Training courses on sales, management, and products are readily available

  7. Professional – Retail training courses are designed and delivered by subject matter experts who have trained thousands of retail sales representatives

Retail Training When, Where, and How Your Need It

Employees need to increase skills, knowledge and competencies in many areas including customer service, retail selling skills, product knowledge, loss prevention, and retail management skills. They also need to keep sales representatives on the sales floor as much as possible. 

Retail e-learning is a cost-effective retail training solution that transcends time and distance. Your store employees can log on from any location at any time, and since the courses are broken-up into short segments they can complete them between customers or on their lunch breaks.  And since most online retail training course include learning interactions, voice-over, quizzes, and real-life scenarios they keep your team members engaged and learning.

If you would like to learn more about the retail e-learning, instructor-led retail sales training seminars or see a catalog of retail courses, contact us for a free one-hour consultation and needs assessment!

–          David Goodwin is the Principal of the Retail Advocacy Group.  As a 30 year veteran of the retail industry he operated hundreds of retail locations, launched his own retail businesses, and managed retail channels on behalf of Fortune 50 companies.  Retail Advocacy group offers consulting services for retailers and also offers retail training solutions through its Retail Training Service subsidiary.   You can learn more about instructor-led, e-learning, and other retail training programs at www.retailertrainingservices.com.