Natuzzi Takes "University" on the Road

September 21, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 22, 2010

Natuzzi University hit the road earlier this month to work with  sales associates at Furniture Outlets USA on their knowledge of the leather furnitureture category.

Led by Lauren West, director of education and development, Craig Ruse, regional vice president, and Mark Brunsvold, representative for Natuzzi Americas Inc., the inaugural event reached Furniture Outlet USA employees from six retail stores and two distribution centers--graduating 20 top sales performers in Minnesota's Twin Cities, and another 40 top sales performers, as well as customer service and warehouse personnel in Sioux Falls, S. Dak., where the 30-store chain is headquartered.
 
Bill Hinks, chief executive of Furniture Outlets USA, said the opportunity to expose his best sales personnel to Natuzzi's in-depth training will pay dividends for the chain--generating enhanced sales-per-square-foot not only for the Natuzzi products on the stores' floors, but also for the entire leather category.
 
"Natuzzi University imparts not only sales and leadership skills, but vital life lessons that have no expiration date," said Hinks. "When you can incrementally increase your top performers' knowledge and skill-sets through a program like this, you get results that are measureable, immediate and lasting in the overall customer experience."
 
Tasked with continuously developing "best practice" principles for the Italian leather upholstery powerhouse, West pioneered international instructional programs for Natuzzi retailers that include a range of course materials for educational seminars, workshops and events. The Natuzzi University retail sales education system has graduated more than 2,000 Natuzzi Group Certified Leather Experts globally since its inception in High Point in 2002. 
 
Mini "U" is a condensed version of the typical two-day University sessions held in the High Point showroom.

"While we continue to offer Natuzzi University in High Point, with dates scheduled well into next year, we also know that it's difficult for dealers to devote time and resources to education programs that take place away from their sales floors," West said. "For that reason, we decided to take our show on the road, to enable even more sales associates to participate in the program."
 
On-the-road sessions such as those at Furniture Outlets USA are expected to draw 40 to 45 retail sales people, executives and others.

"We recognize that business conditions are challenging for many dealers, so we adjusted the University program to provide them with the ammunition they need to drive sales, in a way that would enable us to educate, motivate and inspire as many salespeople as possible through the end of the year," West said.
 
For additional information, please visit natuzzieditions.com.