Bridgestone has produced a clutch of newly accredited automotive retail experts, after their Bridgestone Champions training programme crowned a host of successful graduates.
The City & Guilds recognised initiative is designed to build relationships with key individuals within various retail networks across the UK. Sales skills, retail focus (including enhanced customer experience), telephone training, online strategies and even AI opportunities were all taught over the nine-month programme, with the industry professionals now trained up to impart more expertise to their customers and colleagues alike.
Eden Tyres, Lister Group, Merityre, Savoy Tyres, Tanvic, ETB Autocentres and STS Tyre Pros TyreSpot (Stag Tyres) were the networks benefitting from the training, which encompassed five informative modules aimed at raising industry standards and product knowledge levels.
Bridgestone’s Trade Marketing Manager Mark Fereday said: “We’ve worked closely with them all, training and educating them on all-things-Bridgestone, plus other important tyre industry related topics. The aim was for the attendees to become the Bridgestone ‘go to person’ within their respective business and be able to cascade their learnings and knowledge into each of their respective retail and wholesale outlets.
“We wanted to understand the DNA of our customers and allow them to cascade the lessons they learned to their customers thereafter.
“We also wanted to generate a sense of affinity for our products and position us at the forefront of each champion’s mind when advising their customers in the future. What really pleased us was the levels of collaboration amongst all attendees, irrespective of the retail network they were representing. There was a great sense of camaraderie and we saw knowledge being shared and colleagues supporting one another.
“It goes without saying that they all passed with flying colours and we hope that our provision has left a lasting impression on everyone.”
The champions graduated at an official ceremony at Bridgestone’s Warwick headquarters, with official certificates and awards handed out to each graduate.
Kieran Grinter Merityre’s training manager said: “I’ve learned so much and feel so much more informed when it comes to customer engagement and knowledge of Bridgestone’s tyre portfolio. I’ve got a greater understanding of Bridgestone’s product innovation and also ways to engage with customers more effectively. I feel like a more rounded professional as a result and can’t recommend the programme highly enough.”
Source: Tyretradenews
