MOHAWK CONTINUES TO OUTPACE COMPETITORS IN RETAILER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

EXPANDED AND ENHANCED MOHAWK UNIVERSITY OFFERINGS FOR 2012

 

DALTON, Ga. Dec. 1, 2011— At a time when many companies and industry groups are reducing retailer support, Mohawk continues to provide retailers with the industry’s gold standard in training and education. In fact, Training magazine recently announced that Mohawk ranks as one of the “Top 125” training organizations for the seventh straight year, putting it in the same category as powerful companies like Best Buy Co., Inc. Microsoft, Verizon and UPS.

 

To ensure that Mohawk continues on this esteemed path, the company is expanding its Mohawk University offerings for 2012. Retailers can now access additional problem-solving and solution-driven programs, led by world-class instructors, as part of Mohawk University’s 2012 course curriculum.

 

“Mohawk University is widely recognized as the leading training program in the flooring industry, and our efforts in 2012 certainly reaffirm this position,” said Mike Zoellner, vice-president of marketing services at Mohawk. “We attribute the success of Mohawk University to the way we engage our retailers to help shape Mohawk U’s curriculum. You will see an even greater emphasis on programs delivered via the web relevant to their business and the industry. All of our course ideas come from retailer recommendations, including an exciting new opportunity for our dealers.”

Zoellner is referring to Mohawk University’s new partnership program with professional training companies like the American Management Association (AMA), the Ken Blanchard Companies, and the Disney Institute, which gives Mohawk retailers access to course offerings at a discounted rate. The AMA is a trusted partner in professional development for the majority of all Fortune 500 companies. To help retailers identify which classes are most applicable to the retail flooring business and the industry’s challenges, Mohawk University will use retailers to vet the classes. Mohawk will sponsor select retailers and ask them to attend a seminar with the specific purpose of reporting back on the workshop’s retailer relevance. This information will be made available on the Mohawk University website.

 

“We understand that the flooring retailer’s time and money are precious,” explained Zoellner. “To take time away from day-to-day operations, additional training and educational seminars must be truly beneficial to the bottom line of the business.”

 

On-demand, web-based learning will continue to be a big focus in 2012. Mohawk University will offer ten live webinars, which will address all-new topics requested by the company’s aligned retailers. These free webinars will also be available on the Mohawk University website, where retailers can listen and learn at their convenience. Sessions from 2011 are also available on the Mohawk University website.

 

“The economy has forced reduced staffs, diminished dealer travel and challenged stores to refocus their selling efforts,” said Zoellner. “We are trying to help retailers better leverage their time by moving more resources online. We will still offer a limited classroom schedule for our most popular programs like our Design Sales College, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and installation training. But in addition to that, we are cultivating an expanded Mohawk University online library. This ensures resources are available to our retailers and their sales associates precisely when they need them.”

 

Mohawk University is also partnering with Ken Blanchard Companies to pilot a guided learning program in 2012. Comparable to taking a college course online, the guided learning program will be a combination of instructor-driven web-based live sessions and study-at-home activities. Retailers should look for more information regarding guided learning course offerings on the Mohawk University website early next year.

 

“Times are tougher than we would like for flooring retailers, but now is the time to build foundations for the future,” added Zoellner. “We have been strategic with our 2012 Mohawk University offerings to ensure that our retailers have the very best education and training made available to them and that the training we offer is time and cost efficient.” 

 

 

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Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, stone, vinyl, rugs and other home and business products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Columbia, Century, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Quick-Step, Lees, Bigelow and Durkan. Mohawk's unique merchandising and marketing assist our customers in creating the consumers' dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations.