The best retail training programs provide training on important aspects of retail operations, such as customer service, sales techniques, and product knowledge. A superior retail training program will boost frontline performance to enhance sales and customer service standards amid evolving customer expectations. Well-designed retail sales training programs will also provide employees with ongoing training and support, showing them exactly how to use their training every single day.
One of the ways to do this is by registering your retail team to attend an in-person retail training program. Another option is investing in a learning management system (LMS), which is a type of software that acts like a centralized hub to help companies manage, deliver, and track retail employee training. Depending on the size and needs of your company, a combination of in-person retail sales training and LMS integration may be effective.
Here’s a list of the top four best retail sales training courses for quickly getting your employees up to speed.
Online Retail Training Programs
Online retail training programs are one of the most effective ways to train employees since many of them use adaptive algorithms to personalize learning experiences for each employee. Learning management systems also make learning more interactive by providing learners with interactive features, such as threaded discussions, quizzes, badges, and leaderboards. A centralized content management platform can be used to track each employee’s progress.
Here’s a look at some of the top learning management systems for retail.
Axonify
Using Axonify LMS for retail team training is a highly effective approach to employee learning and performance because it leverages microlearning and adaptive algorithms to help employees onboard and gain the skills they need to be confident in their roles. Microlearning is an educational strategy that breaks down complex information into easily digestible bits and simplifies learning for users. A study with in-depth interviews of 200 employees across different departments showed that 85% of the participants considered microlearning more engaging than classical methods of learning.
Key Features and Advantages of Axonify:
- Microlearning: Axonify offers microlearning modules that can be finished by frontline employees in the retail industry in just 3-5 minutes a day. These modules make learning on the go easy and often feel less overwhelming for employees when learning new information.
- Gamification: Axonify incorporates gamification features that make themes such as customer safety, food, and storage protocols, or compliance subjects fun to learn about. Managers can create engaging courses about these subjects using video game elements or interactive quizzes and challenges to increase engagement. This makes training more engaging and enjoyable, boosting motivation to learn.
- Adaptive Learning: Axonify’s Adaptive learning engine studies users’ behaviors and interests over time and then adjusts the learning material accordingly. These algorithms close skill gaps by asking daily questions and conducting confidence assessments that can identify where an employee is falling short. From there, a manager can tailor a learning path that is more suited to an individual’s needs.
TalentLMS
TalentLMS offers a user-friendly interface for its administrators and learners alike. This makes it easy to train a large pool of employees stationed in different locations or working remotely. This platform regularly automates many manual tasks that would otherwise require managers’ time and resources. By automating tasks and having a friendly interface, managers are able to focus on more hands-on exercises to help boost their employees’ performance at work.
Key Features and Advantages of TalentLMS:
- On-Demand Courses: TalentLMS offers an extensive library of on-demand courses that are readily available to be delivered to employees. Courses cover topics such as how to be a HIPAA-compliant employee and anticipating a customer’s needs. Managers can drag and drop existing courses, experiment with adding other types of media, and enrich their training program however they want.
- Automation of Tasks: TalentLMS automates administrative tasks at the drop of a hat by easily syncing accounts from other systems, such as HR software or CRM platforms. This helps managers save time on tedious admin tasks such as sending automatic emails, auto-assigning and removing courses, arranging course sequencing,
- Videoconference Support: TalentLMS Provides in-person training sessions with a built-in videoconferencing tool or link apps such as GoToTraining, webinar meetings, Zoom meetings, and Microsoft Teams. This facilitates remote learning and collaboration among participants located in different geographical locations.
In-Person Retail Training Programs
In-person retail training programs may be better suited to people who enjoy a more hands-on approach or prefer to learn face-to-face. Keep in mind that some are more lecture-based, and others are more interactive with role-playing exercises. It’s a good idea to get a feel for what you should expect if you choose to attend as an individual or send your team of employees to an in-person retail program.
National Retail Federation (NRF) – Retail Leadership Development Program
The National Retail Federation (NFR) offers in-person training for individuals who want to excel as retail industry leaders. NRF’s Retail Leadership Development program is comprehensive and dynamic, equipping retail leaders with the tools and forward-thinking knowledge to stay competitive in their roles.
This program is generally geared toward mid-level to senior-level retail professionals. However, this program can also help frontline retail employees advance their careers.
Key Topics Covered in NRF’s Retail Leadership Development Program:
- Leadership decision-making in a retail environment,
- management of the employee workforce and how to inspire team engagement,
- customer-centric strategies and innovation include going over the 4 Cs in marketing (Customer, Cost, Convenience, and Communication), and
- reviewing trends in retail technology and operational efficiency
Why is it reputable?
As the largest retail trade association in the world, the NRF is a credible source for retail professionals to receive in-person training. Its leadership development programs have also received recognition for producing effective leaders in an ever-changing retail environment.
MOHR Retail Employee Training
MOHR Retail provides specialized in-person and virtual training programs that strive to improve leadership skills within retail organizations. Their main focus is improving the interpersonal skills of retail leaders from managerial to entry-level positions. This organization’s ultimate goal is to develop a consistent, skillful, and strategic team of leaders through all channels of a retail store’s operations. This way, store teams are prepared to stay “ahead of the disruption” in an ever-changing retail landscape.
Some Key Features of MOHR’s Retail Employee Training:
- There are programs available for district leaders, store leaders, and corporate managers, focusing on the key skills of communication, team engagement, and operational efficiency.
- Participants can attend MOHR retail training programs either virtually or with a professional facilitator who will travel to various locations.
- These programs cater to the individual needs of each customer and store.
- The programs are based on the six core selling skills that underline success, including active listening, rapport building, and time management.
Why It’s Reputable?
MOHR Retail is praised for having a “deep understanding” of the retail sector based on over 40 years of experience. Their training is customized specifically to retail businesses and is relevant and applicable to the challenges of retail professionals. Trainers are experienced retail professionals who bring real, practical examples to the program.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Retail Training Program
When it comes to selecting appropriate retail training programs, consider the size of your business and the learning preferences of the staff. You may also want to consider how much time and resources it will take to send employees off to an on-site training program versus investing in a learning management system. Here’s a quick summary of the top retail training programs to improve employee performance:
- Axonify leads the pack with its unique combination of microlearning, gamification, and personalized learning paths. This provides a highly customized and dynamic solution for retail teams. In turn, this type of fun and ongoing learning boosts employee engagement, training participation, and performance.
- TalentLMS is another appropriate system for retail employee training that assists managers in rapidly creating courses related to customer service. Managers can also choose to add other interactive elements, such as videos, to make learning more fun.
- The National Retail Federation (NRF) holds mostly in-person training for retail industry leaders. It also helps to develop aspiring retail leaders who want to advance their careers and are motivated to stay on top of industry trends.
- MOHR Retail employee training is mostly in-person but also offers virtual classrooms led by an expert facilitator. These programs are designed for district leaders, store leaders, and corporate managers and focus on the key skills of communication, team engagement, and operational efficiency.
By choosing the right training program, retail managers can upskill their employees and create a stronger, more capable workforce. An effective retail training program will also motivate employees to perform better in their roles, as having new tools will increase their confidence while on the job.
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