With the Apple Watch set to launch on April 24th, Apple is getting its Apple Store employees ready to help customers select the right model for them. With other Apple products, advice tended to be more about technical details or specific features as few colour options were available. That will change with the Apple Watch and the company will train its retail staff to offer fashion and styling advice much as one can expect to find at a clothing store.
The idea is to have customers develop trust in the retail employee and consider them as their fashion advisor. To do so, employees will be trained to understand not only what their customer wants but also their stylistic wants and fashion needs. For example, rather than focusing on specific functions, an employee might ask questions like “What does your current watch look like?,” “Which Apple Watch look matches your personal style?,” “Do you prefer leather or metal bands?,” and “Are you more of a classic or modern watch enthusiast?”
The training comes with a list of guidelines to help employees. Among them are:
- Make comments about why you think an option is a good choice rather than discussing why an option may not be a good choice.
- Explain how earlier customers made decisions between models.
- Use other accessories [already] on a customer as examples for which model would look best.
- If the customer is with another person, make sure to get the opinion of that person on which model should be purchased.
- Don’t focus on price as a reason to recommend an option because many customers may be willing to spend more for a model that makes them feel good.
Apple Store employee training is reportedly set to take place over the next two weeks so that they are ready by the time store Apple Watch units arrive on April 10. It will cover the new sales techniques as well as how to help customers choose the right watch and strap and even encourage iPhone upgrades.
Apple is also expected to change the layout of its stores to include new Apple Watch display tables and dedicated spaces where customers will be able to try on different watches.
Source : 9to5Mac