RIDGEWOOD, NJ -- U.S. retail organizations will broaden their employee training line up in 2006, according to a survey by industry consultants MOHR Access, Ridgewood, NJ. In addition to ongoing efforts to improve customer service more stores will expand training in such areas as new technologies and management development.
According to the survey of 84 retail organizations, 29% will provide training in new technologies or systems, 28% will conduct programs to improve employee satisfaction and retention, 26% will use training to communicate company strategy, and 16% will do management development.
"Retailers have traditionally emphasized sales and manager-level training and increasingly this is done in house," said MOHR Access President Michael Patrick. "What´s emerging is a growing emphasis on ensuring that the new tools and systems retailers have adopted are being used to their maximum advantage by employees at all levels from salesperson to Regional VP."
Among other trends expected to continue in 2006, Patrick said, is a demand for innovative or specialized training in areas such as negotiation for buyers or customized modules for retail executives. "We also see a renewed emphasis on building the brand to better distinguish a company from its competitors. How this impacts the people-to-people roles of associates and managers will be a key factor in shaping training priorities."
Patrick cited trends in particular segments:
Sales staff - There will be increased use of online orientation and on-boarding for new hires to familiarize them with company strategy, culture and competitors.
Store managers - There will be a growing focus on development of first-line managers by both T&D departments as well as outside providers.
District managers - Multi-unit management training is the fastest growing training sector.
Retail negotiation - Increased cooperation between retailer and vendor requires greater sophistication on the part of specialty store merchants.
Customized training - More retailers will ask training providers to develop specialized modules to address specific needs, such as fitting-room selling, converting just-looking customers into buyers, selling to friends or selling technology to women customers.
Based in Ridgewood, NJ, the MOHR name has been associated with retail-specific training and consulting for nearly 30 years.
Contact: Michael Patrick, President, MOHR Access: 201-444-4100, or Phil Ryan, Ryan Public Relations: 845-339-7858.