Employee Training


NHPA offers more than 40 online training courses for retailers to educate their employees on product knowledge, project sales, customer service and more. These courses are available to NHPA Premier Members.

Training Benefits

It's no secret that trained employees are more confident and satisfied with their jobs. NHPA Premier Members have access to more than 40 online training courses, giving staff all the tools they need to succeed.

Sales

Increase Transaction Size

Employees who understand a customer’s project can suggest add-on sales, which can boost your average transaction size.

Retention

Decrease Employee Turnover

When employees have the skills they need to do their jobs, they will feel more confident and connected to the business.

Service

Boost Customer Service

The more employees know about the products they’re selling, the better they’ll be able to answer customers’ questions.

Compliance Training Now Available!

NHPA offers a convenient and affordable way to give your employees workplace safety and HR compliance training. Courses are available for sale in NHPA’s Training Store.

Level 100: Basic Training Courses

Basic Paint Sales

This course covers the fundamental retail skills an employee needs to start selling paint. Topics include how to help a customer choose a color, selling skills, product sales, merchandising, maintenance and store safety.

Joining a Retail Team

This course is designed to help you understand the important role you play as a member of a retail team. You will learn about teamwork, customer service and why independent retailers are an important part of the community.

Hardware Retailing

Basic Training in Hardware Retailing equips employees with the basic product knowledge they need to start selling the eight core hardlines departments. Each course covers features and benefits of common products and selling skills.

Building Materials Retailing

Basic Training in Building Materials Retailing covers basic product knowledge in eight core building materials departments. Each course outlines the benefits and features of basic products and key selling skills.

Selling Skills

This course teaches employees the basic selling skills needed for delivering top-notch customer service. It covers topics such as how to make a good first impression, deal with customer complaints, overcome objections, close the sale and much more.

Merchandising

Proper merchandising helps a store improve sales, so it is essential that every employee be familiar with best merchandising practices. This course helps employees learn merchandising fundamentals and what they can do to maximize the impact of every display.

Loss Prevention

This training program is designed to help retail home improvement stores develop a safe and secure retail environment for both employees and customers. It includes three separate courses covering internal theft prevention, external theft prevention and store safety.

Project Selling

Understanding the components of the most common DIY projects and how to sell a customer an entire project instead of just specific products can make a big impact on a store’s sales. Increase transaction size and improve customer service with Project PRO.

Our Three Pennies of Profit

This video gives employees a basic understanding of the fundamentals elements of retail profit and loss. It is ideal for all employees because it helps them understand how their actions on the salesfloor directly affect the store’s profit—and their own success in the business. It includes a test.

Advanced Paint Sales

Advanced Paint Sales is an updated version of the Coatings Specialist and Paint Customer Specialist courses that will teach coatings, applicators and sundries, color and customer service. Through interactive content, study guides and review tests, sales associates will gain an in-depth understanding of the different types of coatings sold in paint and decorating stores, as well as customer service best practices.

Paint Problem Solver

This reference guide helps sales associates understand the probable causes and recommended solutions for different interior and exterior paint performance problems. Full-color photos and detailed explanations instruct sales associates on how to help customers and find the correct product for remediation. Paint Problem Solver is available as an online reference tool and PDF guide.

Level 200: Advanced Training Courses

Retail Pricing

The course in Retail Pricing is an introduction to the basic principles of pricing in a typical home improvement operation. The six modules of the course review concepts such as pricing terms and calculations, common pricing techniques, price audits and price shopping. The course also reviews how retailers can manage their price image and strengthen their overall pricing strategy to improve profitability.

Retail Accounting

This course introduces accounting by explaining the terms used in the two most common financial statements: the income statement and the balance sheet. The course also defines common basic financial ratios retailers can use to compare their operation against others in the industry. Business owners and any employees involved with financial management will benefit from this introductory course.

Inventory Management

The course in Inventory Management is a primer on the basic concepts and best practices of managing inventory in a home improvement retail operation. In seven modules, the course outlines the components of the inventory cycle, including ordering, receiving and stocking. It also covers ways retailers should maintain the accuracy of their inventory records and manage slow-moving and discontinued inventory.

Are You an NHPA Premier Member?

While all independent home improvement retailers are automatically members of the association with access to free resources, training and events, only retailers with an NHPA Training Membership can access these in-depth online training courses.

To gain access to NHPA’s online training courses, simply log in below or head to our membership page to see how you can become an NHPA Premier Member.