Saks stakes its claim with e-learning intiative

Selling skills, performance management, and change management are the three greatest training needs at New York-based Saks Fifth Avenue, says Director of E-Learning Jon Tincher. The global fashion retailer, with 16,000 employees and $2.9 billion in annual sales, provides training to approximately 3,000 new hires each year, and ongoing learning and development to the rest of the organization.

A new ambition for the company is to create "experts in every store," says Tincher. "One of our big problems is we have close to 110 stores around the country, and three or four corporate locations, so touching people in every location is difficult," he explains. Saks will try to meet the challenge by providing stores with "Leader Guides" that serve as facilitator guides, and conducting train-the-trainer sessions to get selected managers at each store proficient at teaching their staff.

A well-prepared staff is essential given the fickle nature of fashion. Frontline staff needs to understand enough about the new offerings to give good advice to customers. "Your product selection can change so drastically from season to season," Tincher notes. "The benefits of each designer, and the selling points of particular brands, are in constant flux."

Click HERE to Read More

Source: Manage Smarter