Weathering
the Storm
OK,
let's be honest here. We're clearly in the midst of the rockiest patch
we've experienced since the mid-90s, but let's not borrow bad luck and
make our situation worse with more negativity and gloomy predictions.
It's easy to panic when the going gets tough and make rash decisions -
not only rash, but also invariably wrong and costly in the long term.
The first 'saving' many companies believe they're making is slashing or
completely cutting their training budgets. This is a big mistake and sends
out a negative message to your employees completely demotivating them.
It can also communicate a desperate message to your business contacts
and they will only try to drive a harder bargain with you.
In a tough market, businesses that differentiate themselves from the competition
should continue to perform well. They'll ride the storm and even come
out stronger the other side and will find it easier to overcome any knocks
once the market picks up again - and it will.
An excellent way to stand out from the competition is to ensure your team
is well trained and knowledgeable. Knowledge translates into confidence,
which in turn allows people to quickly earn the trust and respect of customers,
resulting in a business that 'gets it right first time'. Surely, this
is the best way to run your business?
For the bathroom industry, the Bathroom Academy available at http://www.bathroom-academy.co.uk
holds the key to unlocking the potential of your team. It certainly doesn't
cost the earth and your staff can study the e-learning courses from the
comfort of their home or office, at their own pace, in their own time.
The Bathroom Academy's Generic Industry Guides cover all product groups,
CAD and bathroom design. The Guides offer an excellent, affordable way
to supplement and enhance existing knowledge and there are currently more
than 300 bathroom industry professionals studying the material.
Written by industry experts, each Guide offers a consistent voice and
follows the same five elements: right choice of product; generic industry
design; generic industry installation; FAQ; and, Industry terminology,
providing invaluable product knowledge to retailers, designers, sales
and customer service professionals, plumbers and installers.
Each
module consists of the Guide, a workbook, online multiple choice test
and an example of how the newly acquired knowledge has successfully met
the needs of a customer. Upon successful completion of each module, the
student receives a Merit.
It takes six Merits - approximately 52 hours of learning spread over a
period of time - to achieve the prestigious Certificate in Bathroom Studies,
which is increasingly recognised as a benchmark of excellence across the
industry.
One sure way of differentiating yourself from the competition is to proudly
boast that you have a professional, well trained team and there's no easier
way of making that happen than with the Bathroom Academy.
The formula for surviving and even thriving in this turbulent time is
simple -
go back to basics, be disciplined, think creatively and differentiate
yourself with superior training. Be the best you can be and earn some
Bathroom Academy certificates to proudly display on your walls.
Go now to http://www.bathroom-academy.co.uk
and give your business a boost!
For information on all of the BMA activities visit: http://www.bathroom-association.org