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Week 3 - Seminar Debrief/Maximizing the Test Ride

Activity: Seminar Recap

Before we get down to business...I'd like to thank everyone who attended the seminar this year for an awesome day, full of learning, discussion, and commitment to the craft of making our little chain of bike shops the best in the world. I'm writing this on Monday night just brimming with gratitude for the people we have working with us. If we can show each customer the enthusiasm and kindness we showed for each other today, our shops can be whatever we want them to be: profitable, fun, and (most importantly) havens for those seeking to find the good life on two wheels.

Much love,
Ern Jr.

Another year, another seminar! Let's take a minute this week to reflect on what was covered, and what our key takeaways were. Each morning, assign one or two of the topics below to each person working, and set a time for a discussion. At the discussion, have each participant give a QUICK, 2-minute synopsis of what they learned during their assigned class and some top level items everyone should know moving forward. Take the time to ask a few quick questions and share other takeaways, then move on to the next one!
Some of our teammates were NOT able to attend - be sure that they are up to speed (and up to the standard) of what was discussed at the seminar!

  • Hospitality
  • Guide Sales - Bikes
  • Guide Sales - Service
  • Guide Sales - Accessories
  • Group Activity
  • While you're at it - jot down some seminar feedback on the back of your huddle sheet. How was the venue? How was the food? We're always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives on this annual event, let us hear it! Just make sure to get it written down on your huddle sheet and sent back to Molly!

    Assignment: Test Ride Prep

    The test ride is THE pivotal moment of any bike sale. That first pedal stroke can be the start of a bicycle love story, with a big smile and a whoop. But getting the customer out on the bike is just half the battle. Where the rubber really meets the road is when we use the test ride as a tool to educate the customer about the bike, pull out more information about how they'll use it, and collect dots for accessories taht will improve their riding experience.

    Watch Trek U/Sales Basics/Hybrid Basics (11 videos)

    Read EBS Training Manual - Test Ride Section

    Self Evaluate Test Ride Core Competencies

    Huddle Discussions

    Check out each day's link during the corresponding morning huddle, then discuss. Use the questions below as a starting point for your discussions, but don't limit yourself - think hard about how the concepts can relate to you and your shop!

  • Sunday: Hybrid 101
  • Tuesday: Verve
  • Wednesday: FX
  • Thursday: DS
  • Friday: Sizing 101
  • Saturday: Tire Pressure 101
  • Think about these questions when discussing the videos in the huddle

  • How can you be as specific as possible when offering test rides?
  • Is your test ride preparation process customer-friendly? If not how can it improve?
  • Customer attention can be the limiting factor in a sale. How can you use the test ride to be more efficient with your customer's attention span?
  • What can your store do to better support a streamlined test ride experience?