Mebane, N.C.-based mattress maker Kingsdown is offering a new digital sales training tool called DUDE—an acronym for Delivering U Digital Education. The web-based videos can be viewed on any device and are packaged as “infotainment.”
Subject matter includes product information and sleep research findings that retail sales associates can use in sales pitches. The videos conclude with a brief quiz to test what they’ve learned.
DUDE also is an online database of sleep-study information, product sell sheets and Kingsdown advertising.
Kingsdown offers retailers the option of installing an in-store kiosk for accessing DUDE content. This “virtual diagnostic stand” is webcam-enabled and can serve as a portal for live interaction with Kingsdown representatives.
“This is one-stop-shopping when it comes to learning about Kingsdown products and our recommended and proven sales approach,” said Craig Wilson, Kingsdown vice president of sales training and education. “Better yet, we’ll customize each diagnostic stand per retailer so they only view information relevant to their store. We’re also prepared to create one-of-a-kind sales training videos with a retailer’s in-house educator, for a truly personalized experience.”
Retailers already participate in virtual meetings with Kingsdown, such as “Sleep to Live Institute, Live” webinars, in which Wilson and Dr. Robert Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, address topics and questions across multiple store locations.
“Retail sales associates are vital to Kingsdown’s success and we wanted to create a better way to train them,” said Kingsdown President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Hood. “We think that RSAs will appreciate the humor built in to both our videos and quick quizzes. Even the name DUDE communicates a laid-back, fun attitude. We believe well-produced videos—combining news and entertainment—are a great format for learning.”
