Posted: Feb. 22, 2012, 5:15 p.m. EST
Theresa’s Country Feed & Pet of Simi Valley, Calif., won the Bel Air, Md.-based Pet Industry Distributors Association’s Pet Store Pro program contest. The 12,000-square-foot store was selected for using Pet Store Pro to add structure to its on-the-floor training, with demonstrated success, according to PIDA.
Theresa’s, which recently won the 2011-2012 Pet Product News International Retailer of the Year award in the general pet store category, will receive a free, all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla., held Feb. 29 to March 2, and will be featured in Pet Store Pro’s marketing campaign.
Pet Store Pro is a free, online training program that educates retailers’ employees on animal nutrition, in-store care, customer service skills and merchandising fundamentals. It also trains management in leadership techniques and how to improve store performance.
Theresa’s, which incorporated the training program shortly after it was introduced in 2008, requires new employees to complete one program chapter per week on their own time until the course is finished. Store general manager Steve Shalhoob checks employee progress periodically and uses feedback from the chapter tests in performance reviews.
Shalhoob said having employees complete the program on their own shows their commitment to the store.
“Our employees are proud to be part of a team that works hard to provide the best customer service anywhere,” he said. “It shows in our sales dollars and customer counts, in addition to our awards.”
A neutral panel chooses a winner based on creative use of the program, results of Pet Store Pro training and the effectiveness of employee incentives. <HOME>
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