Retra has teamed up with T21 Training to launch a ‘dynamic’
new online sales training platform for retra members and their staff. Launching with two modular courses covering finance and warranties, the initiative offers members unlimited access to professional sales training tools specifically designed for electrical retailers.
Retra chief executive Howard Saycell said: “Our new training initiative is one of the most comprehensive and ambitious training platforms in the electrical retail industry, and it is completely free to retra members. Staff training is vital to business success and ultimately will put more money in the till. This is another great example of how the association is leading the way in delivering real business benefits to members, helping them to succeed in today’s challenging retail environment.”
The training courses are delivered online, on a platform built from the ground up by T21 Training and Development. The courses are designed to provide extensive, in depth training with a lot of elements that work together to create an experience for the trainee that is informative, relevant and essential and also engaging and enjoyable, retra says.
The first course looks in detail at the various finance plans available to retra members. It deals with everything from a walkthrough of the online application forms to an in-depth examination of the different terms, conditions and application criteria required by the finance provider. A significant bulk of the course is comprised of a detailed examination of the benefits of using finance as a tool to aid sales of high-value, high profit items from the shop floor.
The second course takes a similar approach with retracare extended warranty, looking in detail at the mechanics of retracare’s protect and protect+ policies. This includes what is covered and what isn’t but more importantly covers how to approach extended warranty with customers, how to avoid common mistakes and how to introduce the warranty into the sale as part of the product package, retra says.
Retracare general manager Matt Sheldrake commented: “Anyone who’s worked on the shop floor in retail knows that selling extended warranty can be very difficult. There will always be customers who just won’t buy into it, but that doesn’t mean that sales staff shouldn’t bring warranty into the conversation where it’s appropriate. The training will help staff avoid common mistakes and give them a confident, professional and responsible approach that is more likely to gain the interest of the customer in a positive way.”
For the trainee, the modular nature of the courses with logical progression, unlockable steps and achievement certificates, is designed to keep the training enjoyable and engaging, retra adds. Points are awarded for various tests along the way and the scores can be compared across stores, chains or nationwide across retra members’ staff. The platform works on desktop, laptop and mobile devices.
T21 Training managing director Paul Laville commented: “Yes, there’ll be some challenging tasks and we’ll be asking a lot from our trainees at various points throughout, but we want them to enjoy their progression through the courses, and we want them to finish the training and learn from it. We want them to feel comfortable and confident when selling retra finance and retracare, because that will not only make them more successful, it’ll help provide a lasting, positive impression on their customers and that in itself could make all the difference in this dynamic and competitive market.”
The retra training initiative is being expanded with both general and specific product sales skills modules already in development.
For further information on retra training or becoming a retra member, please contact retra head office on retra@retra.co.uk or 01234 269110.
