NRHA Updates Training Course, Introduces Merchandising Basics

Merchandising is one of the most effective tools independent home improvement retailers can use to increase sales. All retail store employees should understand the principles of creating and maintaining effective displays.

For many years, the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) has offered a training course designed to help retailers teach employees merchandising basics. Now, that course has an exciting new look, after NRHA recently released its updated Basic Training Course in Merchandising.

While the content of the course is largely the same, it was redeveloped to improve the user experience. The refreshed course includes photos, audio narration and interactive elements, as well as a study guide for employees to follow along. Each module ends with a knowledge check to reinforce the lessons.

“The revised course explores the fundamentals of merchandising and how home improvement retailers can maximize the impact of merchandising in their stores,” says Jesse Carleton, NRHA’s training manager. “Employees who understand how merchandising can aid the selling process will be more effective at selling. We’ve revised the course to enhance the learner’s experience and show how they can apply their knowledge directly to the salesfloor.”

The merchandising course is a good fit with the Basic Training Course in Selling Skills, which was also revised this past fall. These two courses, along with NRHA’s Basic Training Courses in Hardware Retailing and Building Materials Retailing, provide a suite of courses that are ideal for training new hires or refreshing the knowledge of longtime employees.

The modules included in this training course are:

• The Importance of Merchandising
• The Elements of Merchandising
• Types of Displays – Endcaps
• Types of Displays – Dump Bins
• Types of Displays – Checkout and Service Counter
• Types of Displays – Other
• Departmental Merchandising Tips
• Creating Effective Displays
• Housekeeping and Maintenance
• Promotional Merchandising

At the end of the course, there is a 50-question test to gauge how much employees have learned. For those NRHA members who are already using NRHA’s training, the transition to the new course will be easy. Employees still have access to previous test scores and don’t need to re-register to access the new modules. Trainers and students will not need to create new passwords, as all current log in information will stay the same. Students have access to the course in the members only section of nrha.org.

The Basic Training Course in Merchandising is available now for NRHA members in the U.S. and Canada. Retailers who are not members of NRHA can sign up at nrha.org, or contact Kamille Stokes at 800-772-4424 or kstokes@nrha.org.