Celebrate customer service week with a RISEUP retail certification

Oct 7, 2021
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Written by wpengine
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Inside Washington Retail

Customer Service Week 2021 kicked off on Monday of this week, the 4th of October, with 30 years of celebration tradition sponsored by the Customer Service Group. Internationally celebrated, Customer Service Week highlights the importance of customer service and those who serve and support customers daily. In fact, the U.S. Congress proclaimed Customer Service Week as a nationally recognized event in 1992.

Retail employees have had to learn and apply new skills due to a variety of new issues in retail, such as product shortages or COVID safety requirements. Washington Retail would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to retail employees for their dedication to customer service at the frontline throughout the pro-longed pandemic.

According to research data from the Employment Security Department, the single most essential skill employers are looking for in new hires is Customer service. Of the top twenty-five skills employers seek when recruiting, customer service skills are 48% more in demand than the number two skill on the list.

In a few recent roundtable conversations with small retailers and regional chambers, participants expressed the need for a customer service certification program. The National Retail Federation Foundation developed a RISE Up Customer Service & Sales course with retailers and is ideal for job applicants and educators looking to meet this highly desired soft skill.

The course delivery is flexible and can be taken online, in the classroom, or a combination of both. This highly-valued course includes the following key components:

    • Understanding retail and the customer
    • Know before you sell – products, services, and the customer
    • Meeting the customer’s needs – personalized service and overcoming objections
    • Performing your best – furthering your customer service skills, non-verbal communication, employability attributes, and professionalism in the workplace

With this job-readiness soft skill certification, job applicants will have the opportunity to secure a higher entry-level wage and advancement opportunities in retail and other industries.

For a limited time, Washington Retail is offering grant courses for those interested in this customer service course and the other three RISE Up courses. Workforce development organizations, educators, K12 or college students, and retail employers are welcome to inquire.

For more information, please contact Rose Gundersen, VP of Operations and Retail Services, at 360-200-6452 or [email protected].