There is much to be learned about how to re-tool or re-design your retail employee training programs as suggested from a recent survey¹ by Ipsos* commissioned by Axonify* to assess the effectiveness of employee training from the employee's viewpoint.

Survey findings were derived from responses by employees from Millennials to Baby Boomers across several industries including retail. With respect to training in retail, two important differences stand out from other industries.

Posted: 7/9/18

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 90.5 percent of retail sales in Q1 2018 were offline.¹ Stores making an effort to blend their customers' online and offline shopping experiences realized an increase in in-store sales.

There are estimates that in 2020, more than 80% of retail sales in the U.S. will still happen in brick-and-mortar locations.³ So, there is little doubt that in-store sales will remain king over online sales. There is a significant multiplier effect on per customer sales when the customer is helped by a sales representative. Customers clearly value face-to-face human expertise when committing to purchase.

Posted: 6/29/18

Adding tangible value to sales associate training with gamification is a continually accelerating trend. Gamifying learning has application across the spectrum of staff training programs including new hire onboarding, product expertise, sales skills, customer-first orientation, company branding, and more. 

Gaming elements foster better retention, motivated learners, and cohesive teams.

Online learning platforms, also referenced as eLearning, provides efficient, consistent training but by itself, often fails to supply an emotional connection to significantly improve learner self-motivation and engagement. Gamifying techniques, however, can radically enhance your employee training.

Posted: 6/25/18

All of us acquire new skills and absorb new information through multiple sensory channels including auditory, visual, and tactile. However, it’s important to note the predominant channel for 65 percent of people is through visual content while auditory learning comes in at 30 percent.¹ 

Not only is visual presentation the preferred method of learning, many expect it to be the method used to deliver new information to them. This is particularly true of your employees who have grown up in the digital age.

Posted: 6/8/18

The most effective team of sales associates is a cohesive unit of individuals with high-energy, self-confidence, a consistently positive attitude, and creativity. These units are led by managers who exhibit these attributes and act as role models for the team.

Here are a 12 tips some successful retail managers use to create these teams.

Posted: 5/22/18

A survey of retail shoppers by Astound Commerce* reveals encouraging signs for store retailers to entice the vast majority of shoppers ambivalent about online versus brick-and-mortar shopping. 

Customers employ several high-level benchmarks when deciding to shop online or at physical retailers including department stores, big-box retailers, and specialty retailers. In cases where customers want immediate product access, a personalized experience, or in-depth, face-to-face product knowledge, they prefer to make a store visit. 

Posted: 5/9/18

The role of your sales associates in attracting and retaining customers cannot be overlooked. A study conducted by Salesfloor* reveals that 87 percent of respondents indicated that sales associates in the retail environment had an impact on their buying decisions.¹

Almost 60 percent of these individuals felt that online shopping venues failed to deliver the same level of service as brick-and-mortar stores in their local area.

Ensuring your sales team is well-trained on the products they sell and how to create amazing customer experiences will create great success for your stores, your employees, and your customers.

Read on to find out how to best impact the buying decisions of your customers.

Posted: 4/10/18

Attracting customers to brick-and-mortar locations helps retailers achieve greater success and profitability. With more and more people looking online to find the best deals on tech products, you must incorporate innovative methods to not only attract, but engage your customers to increase store sales.

Here are six tips to help you and your sales associates reach and engage with shoppers who come to your store looking for the latest PCs and other tech products.

Posted: 3/27/18

With the successful rollout of 5G technologies at this year's Winter Olympics, Intel displayed the unlimited potential of this next-generation connectivity.

Attendees at last week’s Mobile World Congress* (MWC*) got a glimpse of the technology in action on 5G-connected detachable 2 in 1s powered by 8th gen Intel® Core™ i5 processors.

These new devices paired with this cutting-edge technology will revolutionize the PC experience.

Posted: 3/9/18

Research performed by the experts at Econsultancy* indicates that creating the right experience for customers in retail tech stores can have a real impact on traffic and repeat business. 

By surrounding shoppers with an immersive experience, you can boost their engagement levels and build brand loyalty in the highly competitive retail tech industry. 

Posted: 2/22/18