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We are a multiple award-winning charity Retail Training Business with a range of proven training options. We understand the fundamentals about training and especially individual learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading / Writing and Hands on and our training is fully adapted to meet all of the learning styles irrespective of your preference of delivery: Classroom, Online or in Shops.
We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Since every charity retailer is constituted differently, they have different requirements when it comes to training. By tailoring the training to suit those requirements, we can achieve far superior results.
When people enjoy their training, they are more likely to retain the information and put it into practice. This is especially the case when people are volunteering their time and energy to a cause. As such, our classroom sessions are fun and engaging, and have enjoyed outstanding feedback from all our previous participants.
Charity retail can be a complex business. The range of interdependent variables involved can make the average charity shop far more difficult to manage than its equivalent in traditional retail. Traditional retailers can benefit from a centralised decision-making process, with merchandising guidelines and pricing structures being decided at head office, and merely implemented at store level.
In a charity shop, this model is impracticable. Instead, shop managers must assess a broad range of products in varying condition and make decisions that are right for their individual circumstances. The managers who make the right commercial decisions are invariably those who can draw upon certain key skills. These skills must be instilled pro-actively by the surrounding organisation, via commercial training. This can yield tremendous benefits in any kind of retail setting. But in a charity retail organisation, where decision-making is more decentralised and shop managers exert greater influence, it can be a game-changer.
Given the benefits of commercial training, one might expect it to receive heavy investment across the sector. But the opposite is true: In 2016, a survey commissioned by the Civil Society survey found that charity retailers invest just £67 in training for every staff member annually. While the figure might have changed since then, there can be no doubt that this is an area which most charities grossly neglect. While on-the-job experience can count for a great deal, it is no substitute for training. Among the benefits of formalised training is its ability to identify outmoded practices and update them immediately in the shops so making an immediate impact.
Our classroom sessions take place on the client’s site and the training is designed to be fun day, which is very interactive and a mixture of hands on, listening, reading and visual. They complete with a test which is a clear indication of the capability of the learners which is excellent for basing further personal development and support in helping the learners achieve their optimum performance.
Onsite instruction allows us to apply new skills to a real-world setting and demonstrate how different methods can provide added value. This can be stand alone, but it is a very practical style of training that links theory to real world practice. It is an excellent addition to classroom training because it allows a recap on classroom exercises in small groups on a one-to-one / one-to-two basis that embeds the training and helps the implementation.
Our virtual training packages cover every element of Charity Retail. They are fun, fully interactive, can be completed in small chunks over a prolonged period and and cover a full range of topics. They come complete with ‘The Charity Retail Certification of Merchandising’ on passing the multiple-choice exam. This is ideal for new starters and to upskill existing team members. The topics covered include:
The benefits of this package are:
We do a range of effective bespoke training course classroom training courses. We design the course around your specific requirements. Some of the most popular are:
We have a range of training and personal development options available to support Charity Retail Senior Managers / Directors.
Where formal coaching is not appropriate, a softer form of support can still be enormously beneficial. We offer remote mentoring support tailored to the needs of the individual. Mentoring may suit an experienced leader who wants to develop further, or it may form a continuation of a coaching support programme.
Choose us to provide your training, and not only will you receive a programme tailored and delivered to the highest standard by a team of UK registered learning providers:
Great leadership relies on a diverse set of skills, many of which can be taught. Our leadership programme builds confidence, raises performance, and reduces stress. It covers everything required to run a Retail Charity and can be formulated to support an existing personal development plan.
Much like our other training options, it can be tailored to individual requirements. Whatever your background and level of experience, we can help. Whether you are finding it difficult to juggle limited resources, you are looking to ease the transition from a more junior role, or you would simply like to develop yourself in a structured learning programme, we can provide the support you need to thrive in charity retail.
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