Issue 12 - December 2008

As 2008 draws to a close, most retailers are saying goodbye and good riddance. The year started out with some serious economic challenges and for most businesses that only got worse; however, as we have talked to many of you who have made a commitment to train sales associates in these difficult time, we have seen a glimmer of hope.

Clearly for most retailers, traffic has gone down, and it will stay down for some time to come; however, even in these difficult times, there are customers who need and want to buy furniture. Now is the time to further increase you commitment to train your associates to professionally assist every customer that walks through the door. Not only is this the best way to take advantage of every opportunity you get now, it will sow the seeds for tremendous growth when the economy, as it inevitably must, turns around again.

We wish you a happy new year and pledge, once again, our commitment to assist you in every way possible to train your sales associates to make the most of every opportunity.

In This Issue...

• Get The Word Out!!
• In the News: NHFA Article
• Training: It Makes a Difference
• Training Spotlight
• Did You Know...

Get The Word Out!!

Training your associates is an excellent way to make the most of every customer that walks through your door, but to take full advantage of its benefits your customers need to know about it.

Use these ideas to help tell everyone your staff is trained to provide world-class service:

• Send a press release to your newspaper. Contact us if you need a press release template.
• Place the certification logos on your website
• Post a press release on your website
• Send announcements to your customers
• Display the certification windows stickers at all store entrances
• Use the certification logo in all your advertisements
• Frame the certificates and hang them where your customers will see them
• Encourage your associates to wear the certification lapel pins

In the News: NHFA Article

We are very excited to share an article in the December issue of NHFA's Home Furnishings Retailer Magazine about The Furniture Training Company.

The article is about one of our long-time clients, the RC Willey Furniture stores. In the article Jay Naumann, their Corporate Training Director, discusses RC Willey's success in working with The Furniture Training Company. It is a strong endorsement of just how successful our NHFA sponsored Internet-delivered training courses are for helping furniture retailers, especially during these tough economic times.

In the flush housing market of the recent past, it seemed that anybody, trained or not, could sell furniture. Now though, with the nation's credit crisis, only those furniture sales associates who are professionally trained - and retrained - are going to succeed.

In the flush housing market of the recent past, it seemed that anybody, trained or not, could sell furniture. Now though, with the nation's credit crisis, only those furniture sales associates who are professionally trained - and retrained - are going to succeed.

With a 95% success rate for increasing sales associates sales we know we can supplement your existing training and make your sales associates even more successful.

Read the article...

Training: It Makes a Difference

With a master's degree in instructional science and two decades of experience in designing and developing e-Learning for the Federal gov't, state governments, universities, Fortune 500 companies, and many small businesses I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that quality training can change behaviors for the better and improve the performance of almost all learners...

Read the full article...

Training Spotlight

It's reassuring to me knowing that the proper language, descriptions, terms, and styles, I am using are current and knowledgeable. It builds confidence and makes for a better repartee with the customer!!

Bonnie Schaefer
Mueller Furniture, Belleville, IL

Did You Know...

Shaker Furniture

Shaker furniture is based on the craftsmanship of the Shakers, a religious group that sought perfection through hard work and simple living. Their furniture was simple but very beautiful, practical, and durable. Shaker furniture had a strong influence on other furniture makers, including Modern designers. Many companies still make furniture inspired by the Shakers for customers who prefer simple, elegant furnishings.