Countries: Australia
As part of an on going effort to help boost the skills of Australian retailers, Westfield will give each retailer in a Westfield Shoppingtown a book for Christmas called Make More Money from Every Sale.
The book was commissioned by Westfield and written by Colin Pearce, a regular speaker at Westfield's Retail Skills Seminars. It is a new development in Westfield's unique approach to retailer education.
Westfield's Director of Retail Relations and Human Resources Graeme Maher said today Westfield had long recognised the importance of helping to build stronger skills among retailers, particularly independent operators without the training resources of the major chains.
"Westfield is being proactive in providing training and development opportunities for our retailers," Mr Maher said.
"A lot of people have romantic ideas about opening up a shop and then sitting back while the money just pours in.
"But retail is a very complex business. It involves financial skills, organisational skills, negotiating skills, people skills and a real sensitivity to customer needs.
"Westfield is committed to helping retailers hone those skills and we have a major program in place that includes seminars, a major study tour to the US and one-on-one consultancy services."
Colin Pearce, author of Make More Money From Every Sale, said he wanted people to use the book as a skills manual.
"There are literally hundreds of ideas for boosting sales in the book," Mr Pearce said. "And I want retailers to really absorb them, to underline bits and scribble in the book and read sections aloud to their staff.
"Retailing is a very hands on business so retail education has to be practical, instantly useable and regularly updated as consumer needs shift and tastes and trends change."
Make More Money From Every Sale is the first in a series of publications planned for release by Westfield over the next few years.
How to Make More Money From Every Sale will be officially launched by Westfield Chairman Frank Lowy at the National Awards for Retail Excellence in Sydney tonight.
Westfield Group