Hello all,

For the last 2 years I've been working in Games retail, utilising my not in-considerable product knowledge along with my sales abilities to get along just fine.

Today, however, I've started with a new company, no longer selling games, and I'm out of my depth.

I'm now working with Modelzone, a UK chain selling Airfix, Hornby, R/C cars/planes/copters, Revell, diecast cars, planes, buses, etc, etc

I was just wondering if any GOGers had any advice on the product knowledge side of things.

I'm sure I'll pick it up as I go, and the manager hired me knowing my lack of knowledge: I was hired for my sales skills, but I'd like to get a leg up ASAP.

I'm not particularly into this sort of thing myself, but one thing you've probably already thought of would be to join a local hobbyist group. I know that model plane pilots gather in large numbers at designated fields to enjoy their hobby together, and if there's one thing I know about hobbyists (no matter their interests) they adore ranting for hours about their hobby. You could probably buy a fellow a cup of coffee and fill a notebook with all the tips and product info he gave you.

The bossman has already suggested ideas like this, and he says I likely wouldn't need my own time for that: as you said, hobbyists LOVE to talk about their hobby when they can (god, me in my old games shop was over excitable :P ) so I'm going to be picking up a fair bit off the customers, it'll just take time, so I was looking on here to see if I could stretch my feelers out and head for the online method.

Here's a piece of advice which may sound odd, but you could try it nonetheless. YouTube. What I mean is, sit down with your product catalog and look up some of the products on YouTube. You'll be sure to find a bunch of videos from enthusiastic users, explaining and demonstrating exactly what makes that particular product so cool. Some of it might be very entertaining as well. And it'll give you an insight into the customers' world, and may give you something to talk to them about.

That's gooood. That's VERY good. I think that shall be my Friday night (I'm skint. Stupid starting new job just after a holiday)

Which one? I'm in my local Modelzone fairly frequently.

Glasgow :D

If that's near you, come say hi. (:

Nearer me than nmillar I think but im afraid I wont be doing the 2 hour run through. Sorry.

As for advice, if you havent in the past when you get a bit of cash buy a couple of the easier models and do them, it may not help for the diehard hobbyists but if you get a customer looking to take it up then you can certainly advice them a lot easier, (I know most models have a skill rating on the side but 1-5 isnt much help IMO, in my younger years I did a couple of 5s but never managed a 2 O.o)

A bit too far away for me I'm afraid, but maybe you'll actually be able to introduce some decent customer service in your branch! I mean, how difficult is it to look up which shops actually have the Marvel Legends figures in stock?

Lol, that was purely aimed at my local branch!

I guessed that, haha. Whereabouts are you?

Name and shame time, is it? :P

Guildford.

Cool beans, I now have a target to brutally destroy every single day :D

You seriously need to get on the enthusiast forums for these products. If you're the guy that can steer people to the best products every time they will seek you out (presumably you get commission?).

Politely remind people who mention buying online that that is great some of the time, but if they don't buy from your store sometimes, they won't have a place to speak to knowledgeable folks like you.

Also, since they sell Airfix, I hope you are interested in planes. You need to spend time at air museums and crap. I'm not really into any of this stuff, but knowing these things is why people come to stores like yours. Otherwise, it's cheaper on Amazon.