Sales reps who combine product knowledge with sales knowledge create better customer experiences. This type of customer-centric training that fuses product functionality and sales tools helps turn sales reps into product experts and satisfied customers into brand ambassadors.

What is your confidence level in the depth of product knowledge of your sales reps and their ability to translate it in a meaningful way to your customers? What level of confidence do you have that your customers have a highly favorable view of your brand and the products and services you offer?

Posted: 9/30/15

Retailers use various compensation plans as incentives to reward valued sales associates. Programs focused on increasing knowledge and sales skills while creating great customer experiences prove their worth many times over. This is most often demonstrated through better closing and upsell rates.

Partner training programs you recommend to sales associates should also include incentives. Those that combine engaging learning materials with opportunities to be rewarded for participation are far more likely to hold your employees' attention than a classroom-style arrangement. 

Posted: 9/10/15

Do you know how knowledgeable your sales team is? Do they know about the devices your store carries, or how to approach a customer to better understand their needs? What about closing a sale? Unfortunately, incomplete product and sales training programs may be holding back your store’s upselling potential. As a manager, you can help correct this problem. 

Posted: 8/27/15

It’s been proven time and again that engaged sales teams sell more than disengaged teams. Not only does the disengaged employee sell fewer products, customers don’t want to interact with sales reps who are not interested and are not knowledgeable about products. 

Sales reps who enjoy their jobs, feel valued by management, and know their products have a positive impact on overall profitability. 

Posted: 8/24/15

Technology continues to reshape the retail landscape as customers look for innovative, customized shopping experiences in a variety of settings across a variety of devices. Retailers must take advantage of new technologies in order to provide a complete and successful customer interaction.

Posted: 8/18/15

A winsome personality alone can only take a person so far. Add to that the customer’s expectation of a knowledgeable sales rep, and it becomes clear retail stores can’t afford to slide on product training.

Managers often juggle multiple responsibilities, departments, stores, or territories. This makes it impossible to be on the floor with your sales staff at all times. Sales training tools, such as Intel® RXT, augment in-person training efforts and provide ways for your reps to connect with your customers.

Posted: 8/4/15

Retail managers and sales representatives have the opportunity to earn prizes^† and discounts when participating in the annual Score with Intel® Core™ store-to-store competition. Stores benefit with increases in up-sells to premium products and local K-12 schools have the opportunity to receive up to a $25,000 donation. 

Posted: 7/28/15

Microsoft* publicly releases Windows® 10 on July 29, but participants in the Intel® Retail Edge Program can get a sneak preview on July 22. Retail sales managers and retail sales representatives can watch the special Webcast, Perfect 10, to learn about Windows® 10 and the new devices powered by Intel® processors that will run this new operating system.

Members of the Intel® Retail Program have the opportunity to earn Chips-the currency of the Program. Retail sales reps and managers can earn up to 10,000 Chips by registering for the Webcast and participating in three Chip earning activities during the Webcast. 

Posted: 7/20/15

As a retail manager, an important part of your job is sales training. By better understanding Millennials, you can develop a retail sales team capable of creating successful interactions with this burgeoning customer base.

It’s even likely that some of your retail sales reps are part of this demographic. If so, ask for feedback about their personal shopping and buying preferences and seek their input on ideas to create better shopping experiences for Millennial customers.

Posted: 7/15/15

Wearable technology is no longer relegated to science fiction. Wearables are impacting the way we live, work, and play and the continued emergence of this technology is forecast to produce record retails sales for the foreseeable future.

Retail sales managers and retail sales representatives need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest in wearables. Those who do will have the advantage when it comes to more sales and better customer experiences.

Posted: 7/8/15