New Online Tool Lets Everyone Be A Service Star

MEDIA RELEASE 23 APRIL 2010

New Online Tool Lets Everyone Be A Service Star

The Retail Institute has launched an online training tool to dispel the myth that working in a shop is easy.

In a first for the New Zealand retail sector, Service Star is an interactive training game that simulates the experience and pressures that come with working in a retail outlet. It also provides tips and advice designed to improve the skills of the retail workforce.

Retail Institute CEO, John Meeuwsen, says 2009 was a tough year for many retailers who were forced to work smarter. “We saw retailers struggle. Many increased their efforts in presenting spotless, well-stocked and managed stores only to lose customers because staff weren.t able to provide the service customers expected. It.s our job to help with staff training and we thought laterally about how we could help more effectively. Service Star offers us a totally new way to deliver training.

Retail staff are dynamic, .do it people who don.t necessarily learn best by sitting in classrooms – they need interactive, fun ways to learn.”

Once registered, Service Star gives players a real-life experience of working in a retail environment and explains retail theory. Players experience the pressures of working in retail and the challenges involved such as deliveries, upsells to customers and how to handle angry customers.

The interactive tool has already been met with positive responses from retailers and a select number of schools conducting pre-launch testing. Over 90% of students thought it was an excellent learning tool and 83% rated it a 3 out of 5 or above in overall engagement.

“Service Star will really help current retail staff get the most out of their jobs and develop ways to cope with the more stressful customers or situations. Those who want a job in retail will also benefit from seeing what skills are needed and using this theory to begin in the industry,” Meeuwsen says. For more visit www.servicestar.co.nz

GAIN RETAIL INDUSTRY SKILLS AND WIN PRIZES TOO! Play Service Star during the month of May, and go into the draw to win one of ten $100 Westfield Shopping vouchers.

www.retailinstitute.org.nz

ENDS

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