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E-Learning About Batteries

The Global Market Development Center, Colorado Springs, will soon make an online education program on batteries available through its recently redesigned website, Keith Wypyszynski, vice president of business development and chief marketing officer, said during GMDC's General Merchandise Marketing Conference last month in Orlando, Fla. GMDC is partnering with Energizer Holdings, St. Louis, and LearnSomething,

The Global Market Development Center, Colorado Springs, will soon make an online education program on batteries available through its recently redesigned website, Keith Wypyszynski, vice president of business development and chief marketing officer, said during GMDC's General Merchandise Marketing Conference last month in Orlando, Fla.

GMDC is partnering with Energizer Holdings, St. Louis, and LearnSomething, Tallahassee, Fla., to produce what will be the first of a “Prepare to Sell” series for retail employees.

“At Energizer Holdings, we see the great need of improving category education at all levels: store associates, category managers and senior trade executives,” said Lou Martire, vice president of trade development.

GMDC reported that the Prepare to Sell store-level programs will have three components:

  1. Customer interaction skills, from greeting to completion of the contact.
  2. Product category knowledge, which involves building product solutions for customer needs.
  3. A database with product information and images.

Prepare to Sell Product Category Certification is aimed at increasing the expertise of buyers and category managers by improving their ability to forecast consumer demand, and to design strategic marketing and merchandising programs to optimize organizational resources, while building customer value.

“Both the store-level and category buying and merchandising-level PTS programs offered will help raise the level of customer service by dramatically enhancing the in-store experience of consumers,” said Steve Roden, chief executive officer of LearnSomething.

“GMDC is committed to continually expanding educational offerings for our members that can directly grow their businesses,” said David McConnell, GMDC's president and chief executive officer. “Our partnership with LearnSomething meets this goal, and working with general merchandise supplier members such as Energizer to develop these training courses will offer our retail and wholesale members ways to strengthen their businesses.”