Welcome to the second episode in the latest series from Stories from the River - Ashley's 'Right to Win' Product Knowledge Boot Camp. Today, Charlie Malouf sits down with Teresa Thompson, Ashley Furniture Industries Field Sales Manager and trainer at this year's Boot Camp held in Pineville, North Carolina (one of the eight host sites for the training sessions).

Teresa shares her journey from a long career in retail, including stints at Williams Sonoma and in fine jewelry, to her current role with Ashley, where she is part of the original group that launched the field sales training initiative. She highlights her passion for training and developing talent, especially in onboarding and product knowledge, and explains how Ashley's thorough and extensive 12-week onboarding—complete with factory visits and hands-on learning—set up the new field sales training team up for success.

The conversation delves into the origin and success of the "Right to Win" Boot Camps, describing them as intensive, interactive sessions designed to instill confidence and deep product knowledge in retail sales consultants. Teresa outlines how these boot camps are tailored to individual licensees and retailers, focusing on Ashley's unique strengths and how to leverage those against competitors. She emphasizes the positive cultural atmosphere at Broad River, the long-lasting impact of the training on sales and morale, and the importance of keeping Memory Makers engaged through active participation.

Come back next week for attendee impressions and more stories from this year's Ashley's 'Right to Win' Product Knowledge Boot Camp.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MHhcdcNEG4o

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