While an extremely popular component of the Intel® Retail Edge Program is the opportunity it offers your participating sales associates to earn great prizes†, rewards, and discounts, its real impact lies in educating them.

“Want to say you guys have been very helpful in my journey as a sales associate. I was so lost, specifically in computer sales with most of my interactions with customers, and you guys have assisted me in growing so much from customer skills to product knowledge. Now I can finally feel confident when I am in the computer section and am making a big sale.”  Intel® Retail Edge Program member

The Program consists of educational and professional development sections that work in conjunction with each other to create a holistic design to increase the knowledge and motivation levels of your sales associates.

Posted: 8/31/17

Each year Intel® continues to push die-size, speed, and processor core numbers further to power the products your customers want and need. This year, the new desktop Intel® Core™ i9 X-series processor family will provide your customers with even more possibilities to create amazing experiences. They will also provide you with new and exciting opportunities for desktop sales. 

The 10-core Intel® Core™ i7-6950X processor released last year exceeded expectations and provided the first glimpse into the new capabilities available on desktop PCs. 

Posted: 8/23/17

It’s hard to believe school will begin in only a few weeks. Taking advantage of the back-to-school shopping season helps your store achieve higher sales and increased traffic. 

The consumer electronics industry is expected to enjoy a significant boost as parents prepare their children for the demands of primary, secondary, and higher education. Helping to provide increased sales for many stores are the 16 states that now offer back-to-school “sales tax holidays” on specific items, most of which include PC devices, computer-related accessories, computer hardware and software, etc.

Posted: 8/1/17

The Edge Crew of the Intel® Retail Edge Program recently returned from a road tour promoting the Score with Intel® Core competition. Crew members met with retail sales associates and managers to discuss this year’s competition that’s currently underway. 

Crew members visit with hundreds of associates and managers during the year to talk about the benefits of participating in the Intel® Retail Edge Program as well as spread the word on the various competitions and promotions held throughout the year.

Posted: 7/22/17

Many sales associates who participate in the Intel® Retail Edge Program take advantage of the mobile app that allows them to learn and earn at anytime from anywhere. Available for iPhone* and Android* users, 71 percent of participants active in the Program find the app useful¹.

Our retail partners have indicated they would like an app unique to managers that allows them to access information on their stores and employees who participate in the Program. Good news! There’s an app for that and it will be available soon!

Posted: 7/14/17

Sales associates occupy the frontline of any brand strategy. They are direct influencers of customers ready to purchase products. Well-trained, knowledgeable, and friendly sales staff increase sales while steering customers away from competitors.

Your product partners must ensure their training programs for your staff are the best they can be and that they continually evolve to keep pace with today’s market and consumers. Effective product and sales training programs use a variety of elements to create a successful learning environment for participants. 

Posted: 7/5/17

One of the best ways to empower your sales associates is to give them access to information and tools that educate them about the products you are asking them to sell and how to best present them to customers.  

The benefits of associate product knowledge impacts most every facet of the retail business from store revenue to customer loyalty. Here are three areas that are highly impacted by the product knowledge level of retail sales associates.

Posted: 6/21/17

Staying current with the latest advances in technology helps retailers stay relevant and financially viable. This is especially critical for companies that specialize in consumer electronics and technology.

By incorporating the latest and greatest tech into your marketing strategies, you can enjoy greater local saturation and increased loyalty among your regular customers. 

Posted: 6/8/17

The best tool sales reps can have in their toolkit is knowledge. Knowledge is the key to unlocking new demographics, understanding consumer motivations, and providing excellent customer care in the retail environment. 

Understanding the various types of knowledge needed by your sales associates and how to deliver that information to them quickly and effectively has a major impact on your overall sales and success. 

Posted: 5/26/17

Are the attributes of your training programs couched in words and phrases such as “effective,” “efficient,” “thorough,” “aligned with the organization's mission,” and “delivered on budget”?

Does that sound dry and uninspiring to you? Just imagine how it sounds to your employees. In some cases, it might conjure up visions of tedious hours of monotone lectures accompanied by endless bulleted slides in 14-point type. Back seats in the training room are generally highly prized during these types of presentations.

Posted: 5/17/17