Proven Winners’ certification program was born seven years ago following a survey of 210 independent garden centers that showed 93 percent of them did no formal plant training.
The program officially launched about a month ago, and already, 211 independent garden centers have been certified, training a total of 1,727 employees at an average of eight per store, a significant increase from last year, when the average was closer to 3.5.
In light of the expense and time required to create a certification video, Proven Winners is experimenting with a new method: online training presentations and testing. So far, the feedback has been exceptional; while many enjoyed the videos for their ability to train an entire staff at once, others prefer to go through the material at their own pace.
The first 200 garden centers that complete certification will receive a “Get Pure Magic” 24”x34” poster. If you do not have access to a computer you can request a printed version of the presentation, with a test and employee answer form.
Certification is free, and those who complete certification are listed first in Proven Winners’ retailer locator, which goes out to 400,000 to 600,000 requests. Retailers will also receive free slide charts for their certified employees. For more information, visit http://www.pwcertified.com/.
