10/1/18
Making sure your sales associates have the most up-to-date and accurate knowledge about the PCs and other tech products on your shelves helps you create a bond of trust with customers that allows you to enjoy the highest degree of success.
A study by Accenture Consulting* highlights the importance of putting people and personal relationships first in the retail environment. An astonishing 86 percent of the retailers surveyed agreed that trust was essential in the new digital economy. This demonstrates the value of a positive reputation among customers and the public at large.
Trust was an important factor in results released in the PwC* Global Consumer Insights Survey 2018. More than one in three survey participants revealed that their trust in a brand was one of the top three influencers when deciding where they chose to shop.
Building trust with your customers starts with providing them with accurate information and the right solutions for all their tech needs. To do this effectively, your sales team must have a solid working knowledge of the products they sell and the ways in which those products can be used in a variety of consumer environments.
The Intel® Retail Edge Program is packed with training activities designed to educate your sales associates about Intel® processors and the devices they power. They will also learn about how to respond in different customer scenarios to identify their needs and how they intend to use a device.
Part of the implied contract between your store and your customers is the unspoken assumption that your sales associates will provide the best and most appropriate guidance for technology novices and experienced users alike. The right training is essential to ensure that this expectation is met every time a customer asks for a recommendation while shopping in your store.
The same is true between you and the brand of products you sell in your store. If you and your staff aren’t supplied with adequate training and materials about the products you sell, true success is going to be hard to achieve. That is one of the goals of the Intel® Retail Edge Program.
While collecting Badges, earning Credits, and participating in promotions are a valuable part of the Program, the main objective is to educate your sales associates about the Intel® products and technologies sold in your store to create amazing customer experiences and sell more devices.
Active listening, which we also cover frequently in our activities, is also essential to ensure that your staff members understand the needs of your customers. Encouraging your sales associates to listen and to ask the right questions when a point is unclear can provide the best experience for your customers and, in turn, create more brand loyalty.
Your sales team represents your company and your brand to your customers. By ensuring that they are well-prepared to take on the questions and challenges presented on the sales floor, you will build a more positive reputation and enhance your branding efforts. This, in turn, boosts your traffic and sales to increase profitability and loyalty.
Providing easy access to the right training and offering incentives to sales associates who go the extra mile for your customers also helps to motivate these key employees. This allows your store to truly stand out in your local community.
Even minor mistakes or errors can add up to a serious problem for your customers. While speed of service is important, making sure that the information provided and the recommendations made by your sales staff is accurate and complete is usually one of the highest priorities of managers.
Encourage your employees to take time out to check specifications and compatibility for your customers. This can prevent mistakes that could damage your corporate reputation.
If you don’t do so already, get your staff to use the interactive Intel® Retail Experience Tool (RXT) on the sales floor with customers to help them discover their perfect PC. It is kept up-to-date and is a great sales tool for your team to use with customers to help them participate in the process of selecting their perfect device. Associates are finding it extremely helpful to show the features and benefits of new PCs powered by the latest 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processors.1
The right training and access to sales aids provide increased confidence and accuracy when dealing with customers. By learning about the products your store sells, your sales staff can provide the most effective solutions for customers and the best outcomes for your branding and marketing efforts.
The Intel® Retail Edge Program is an innovative and engaging way to learn more about the entire lineup of Intel® products and services. It is designed specifically for partner retailer sales associates and managers. The detailed information and fun, easy-to-navigate quizzes and training activities promote a deeper understanding of Intel® processors and technologies, devices powered by Intel, and customer expectations and desires.
Encourage your sales team to participate in the Program to motivate them to learn about the Intel® products and technologies in your store’s inventory and to sell more devices. It’s a win-win proposition for everyone involved.
This article originally appeared here on LinkedIn*. It has been updated for freshness and accuracy.
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*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
©Intel Corporation 2018. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Retail Edge Program, Intel Core, and Intel Retail Edge Live are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
1 Intel technologies’ features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software or service activation. Learn more at www.intel.com, or from the OEM or retailer.
