Sales Strategy
Jimmy DeGroot: When Was the Last Time You had a Meaningful Store Discussion? March 21, 2024 (0 comments)
Green Bay, WI--At the top of a Google search for workplace discussions is the following: Group discussions provide numerous benefits in the workplace, including increased creativity, improved problem-solving, enhanced collaboration and teamwork, better decision-making, and increased employee engagement and satisfaction.
Who wouldn’t want all of this? I describe my weekly sales training program for jewelers as “The discussion you WANT your people to be having.” I discuss a sales or operations topic and then encourage the teams to discuss it as to how it relates to their store and their market. Like so many things in our lives, the things we lose track of or stop paying attention to, are often the things that cause problems. If you don’t have regular, structured conversations with your team, the opposite of the above Google description begins to happen.
So many jewelers don’t meet or train regularly because of time, lack of preparation, being too busy or the lack of the ability to get everyone in the same room. But what if instead a bunch of planning and structure, you just had a good conversation?
“What are your thoughts on our mounted bridal versus our semi-mounts?”
“How can we create a clientelling habit in our store?”
“How are customers feeling about our custom?”
“Are we keeping our sales floor covered at all times?”
“I’d like to get your thoughts as to how we can increase our closing percentage. Right now, we’re at four out of 10.”
These are great conversation starters. They don’t require a plan or preparation, but by simply asking the question, you’re now able to affect change in your organization because your team now has input and buy-in, all because it was an open discussion.
You don’t have to be an expert sales and management trainer to have a great meeting. All you need is the dedication to do it regularly and to create an environment that invites input and buy-in.
James (Jimmy) DeGroot is a professional jewelry sales and operations trainer from the jeweler’s side of the counter. Having been in management and the jewelry business for over 20 years, Jimmy offers weekly training to jewelers nationwide via the Train Retail website. Jimmy is an AGS titleholder and specializes in training relevant and timely methods for jewelry teams. He can do a full training on making Bridal Presentations the best they can be, among many other regular training options. Contact Jimmy at jimmy@trainretail.com or call 920-492-1191.