Training

[cdnbookslave]

I am less than a week away from opening a new store, three times the size of the one I was working in before. Responsibility has fallen to me to make sure the 20-odd new staff we hired will be trained enough to help customers a week from today

Comments

[thisdaydreamer]

Where is nonfiction? They will have to be able to deal with this question on a routine basis.

Where are your books on tattoos? Don't forget the clip art books for design ideas!

I'm having a hard time coming up with specific title searches that stand out. For those, I think you would do well to look at the displays of popular titles and come up with searches based on those.

Good luck!

[rosemaryinwheat]

I'm trying to think of odd requests I've heard lately. Wouldn't you know it: I get them every day and now I can't think of them.

The good news is, yes, it's totally worth it. I've trained staff in stores both large and small and it's wonderful to see how fast some people achieve the impossible.

The bad news is that you can only take them so far without actual customers, as what people are asking for depends in what's newest on the shelves, as well as the clientele of each particular store. You seem to have guessed this already. That same fact shows you're likely going to have them in a good place when those customers do come.

Good luck to both you and them.

[misstreebc]

Customers asking for The Good Earth or A New Age, even The Awakening any variation of these generally want A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckart Tolle.

I really have gotten these requests! I was quite confused by the request for The Awakening when the customer insisted that the Kate Chopin book was not the correct one - until she mentioned that it was on Oprah. *Sigh*

[laplor]

Girl in full-on "Goth gear":

Where are the books with pictures of dinosaurs, like on that TV special with the really realistic looking animations? I want to learn how to draw those."

After a bit more questioning, she ended up leaving with some Vallejo art and books about reptiles. Turns out too, that she really wanted to learn how to draw dragons which I found out after saying, "Hm, you might want to look at these art books about dragons." Her eyes absolutely lit up.

[kingshearte]

I can't think of any specific searches off the top of my head, but, if you haven't already, do warn them about the "blue book I saw on this table 3 weeks ago" requests and variations on that theme. Including the fact that the book the person is looking for may or may not ultimately turn out to be blue... If I think of anything else, I'll comment again. Good luck with your newbies and your new store !