How training changes everything in sales
September 11, 2015
Increase sales by increasing training because training changes everything.
In “Study shows training boosts sales – a lot,” RetailWire published the results from a Wharton School study. It literally discovered that “training associates leads to a 23 percent lift in sales.” That’s incredible! A 23% jump in sales because your salespeople are trained, helpful and knowledgeable. According to the study, even a little training can make a big difference. Train your sales staff because clearly…training changes everything.
Educate them about your merchandise
The study found that an educated associate with one brand, led to higher sales overall. Shoppers perceive a knowledgeable salesperson with even one brand as capable of comparing all brands. Educate your salespeople about your merchandise. Help them to point out specific features. If your shop consigns furniture, your salespeople should learn specific manufacturers. Teach them about upholstery, construction and design. If you consign clothing, educate your salespeople about designers, quality fabrics and how to spot real vs. a fake.
Train them to use your consignment software
Consignment software can drastically reduce time wasted when you manually price, update consignors and track inventory. Time devoted to training all employees on your software program will pay for itself quickly. Here at SimpleConsign, we provide 4 free live training sessions each week for all of your staff, plus offer an online User Guide. We also encourage our customers to add online access for their consignors. They can track their merchandise and check their available balance which saves time for everyone.
Ban their electronics
During slow hours, employees should not be on their phones, unless they’re promoting the store. Daily and weekly goals should be created to increase productivity. Dusting, logging inventory and contacting consignors can keep them busy. Photographing products and writing descriptions is another way to occupy their time. Create a daily checklist of tasks to keep everyone on track. Plus, you’ll avoid duplicating work.
Maximize their talents
Employees feel valued when they can utilize their talents. College students who are social media gurus can take charge of your online marketing. An employee with a knack for numbers can balance daily purchase records. A worker with a passion for fashion can do window displays. Proper training changes not only their focus on your shop, but also helps them feel a greater part of the business.
Teach them the art of the smile
So often, you’ll enter a shop and no one speaks to you much less offers a smile. It’s amazing how little younger generations know about simple courtesy in dealing with the public. All you have to do is read reviews on Yelp! to find out it’s a major gripe of many shoppers. A couple of lessons on good manners go a long way to building repeat visits by shoppers. Teaching your employees how to greet people and use eye contact is invaluable. Having the correct posture and going the extra mile will rapidly change sales numbers. Take the time to invest in your salespeople because truly…training changes everything.
If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy reading “Ask consignment shoppers these 3 questions instead.“
