Product Training

The client sought a straightforward method to educate retail staff across all locations about a new partnership with a leading US frozen drink brand. The training needed to cover brand knowledge, product information, and serving standards.

The client had no specific training method in mind and preferred to remain hands-off during the development phase. They wanted an internal training solution that, while not needing to exactly match the drink brand, should complement it and not contradict or harm the brand’s image.

The client provided an information booklet about the range of drinks and a set of brand guidelines from the frozen drink supplier.

Despite being hands-off during development, the frozen drink supplier required the opportunity to review and approve the solution before its release.

The goal was to educate and excite retail staff about the new drink range. The target audience consisted of customer-facing employees who had been with the company for some time and possessed transferable knowledge from a similar drink range being phased out. This existing knowledge needed to be considered, and the training solution had to be appropriately pitched.

The content needed to prioritise upskilling staff in brand awareness, product range (flavours), and slight changes in serving and presentation. 

This was a straightforward fun product and the branding echoed this fun exciting image so there wasn't a lot of design work required.  Firstly it was important to identify what key messages needed to be communicated.  I spent some time looking at the ‘outgoing’ frozen drink brand and speaking to employees and it was clear there were not a lot of differences between them other than the flavour range, serving sizes and presentation, and the new brand was higher profile - which simplified things too. 

A short eLearning course was an obvious choice.  Although hands-off, after sharing a brief concept with the client and drink brand, I immediately got a sign-off from both parties.

In this instance, due to the simplicity and time constraints, I did not go into the full storyboarding process. Rather, I made a few simple sketches and used the information that was already provided to me to format the key messages into a logical flow and got to work creating a linear elearning course. 

The design used the brand's colour pallet and inspiration was drawn from their brand guidelines and the results turned out and looked aligned. 

The product was straightforward and fun, and the branding reflected this exciting image, so extensive design work wasn’t necessary. The first step was to identify the key messages that needed to be communicated. After reviewing the outgoing frozen drink brand, comparing the differences, and speaking with employees, it became clear that the main differences were the flavour range, serving sizes, and presentation. The new brand had a higher profile, which simplified the process.

A short eLearning course was the obvious choice for training. This format allowed for interactive and engaging content that could be easily accessed by all retail staff. Although the client preferred a hands-off approach, I shared a brief concept with both the client and the drink brand, and received immediate approval from both parties.

Due to the simplicity and time constraints, I skipped the full storyboarding process. Instead, I made a few simple sketches and used the provided information to format the key messages into a logical flow. This allowed me to quickly create a linear eLearning course that was both efficient and effective.

The design utilised the brand’s colour palette, drawing inspiration from their brand guidelines. This ensured that the training materials were visually aligned with the brand, reinforcing the brand identity. The course included interactive elements such as quizzes to test the staff’s understanding and keep them engaged.

Additionally, the eLearning course was designed to be mobile-friendly, allowing staff to access the training on their smartphones or tablets. This flexibility ensured that the training could be completed at their convenience, without disrupting their work schedules.

To further support the training, I worked with the client's internal marketing team sharing some of the course's imagery so they could create posters that were displayed in staff areas. These materials highlighted key points from the training and served as ongoing reminders of the new brand standards.

The final result was a comprehensive training solution that effectively communicated the necessary information, engaged the staff, and aligned with the brand’s fun and exciting image.

Upon launch, the eLearning course received overwhelmingly positive feedback from employees. They found the training engaging and informative, which significantly boosted their excitement about the new range of drinks. This enthusiasm translated into a more motivated and knowledgeable workforce, ready to promote the new products to customers.

As a result of the comprehensive training, the implementation and launch of the new drink range was highly successful. Employees felt confident and well-prepared to introduce the new products to customers, which led to a noticeable increase in customer satisfaction and engagement.

Most importantly, the sales of the new drink range exceeded all expectations and targets. The combination of well-trained staff, effective promotional materials, and a higher-profile brand created a strong launch that drove significant sales growth. The client was extremely pleased with the outcome, noting that the training program played a crucial role in the successful introduction of the new products.

Overall, the eLearning course and supplementary materials not only met but exceeded the client’s objectives, resulting in a highly successful product launch and increased sales performance

• Articulate Storyline

• GIMP

• Audacity

• Fiver (freelance voice-over)