Training & Business Systems

15-Minute Training Tips to Boost Holiday Sales

Does your business see a considerable jump in sales during the holiday season? If so, this webinar on training tips was designed with you in mind! Many retailers are entering the pre-holiday bustle, which is the perfect time for quick-to-implement improvements that will positively impact your bottom lines by increasing sales and/or improving customer service. ZingTrain-er Joanie Hales […]

Training & Business Systems

Using Systems to Get Better Results

Systems often get a bad rap as being tedious and bland. But what if we told you that they’re actually one of the best tools we have for success? Simply put, systems drive more consistent business results. Better systems mean that we’re making fewer mistakes and creating more opportunities to succeed. When designed well, they create […]

Training & Business Systems

The Business Perspective Chart

The Business Perspective Chart (aka “the BPC”) is one of our favorite training tools here at Zingerman’s. Created by ZingTrain founder, Maggie Bayless, this chart is a graphic representation of the key elements of our organization and how they work together to inspire and guide our daily work. Many organizations have adapted our Business Perspective […]

Training & Business Systems

Essential Guide to Staff Training

My first Staff Training column in Gourmet Retailer was published in January 2000 – 14 years ago! It’s hard for me to remember how different things were back then, both in my personal life and at ZingTrain. What I do remember is how I was both honored and scared to death to have been asked […]

Training & Business Systems

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP): What Are They and How Do I Use Them?

As I’m writing this in 2020, a LOT of what we do and how we do it has suddenly changed and will continue to change. How will we keep our high-quality products and great service consistent as we adapt to virtual environments, new safety policies, new expectations from our customers, and everything else? Really, how […]

Training & Business Systems

A Practical Guide to Onboarding New Employees

This webinar is Part 2 of a two-part series on the basics of our Bottom-Line Training® method. Part 1: Set New Employees Up For Success with an Effective Training Program A new hire walks into your organization for their first day. Do you feel confident you’re able to give them a great onboarding experience? Do you have […]

Training & Business Systems

What is Bottom-Line Training®?

This is Part 1 of a multi-part series on the basics of our Bottom-Line Training method. Creating the Training Method When ZingTrain was founded in 1994, Maggie Bayless, ZingTrain’s Founding Partner, joined the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses as the third Zingerman’s business along with the Delicatessen and the Bakehouse. Her expertise in training method and instructional […]

Training & Business Systems

Set New Hires Up For Success with an Employee Training Program

This webinar is Part 1 of a two-part series on the basics of our Bottom-Line Training® method. Part 2: A Practical Guide to Onboarding New Employees In the mid 90s, after a decade of organic growth, Zingerman’s needed to more formally develop its employee training program. Enter Maggie Bayless, ZingTrain’s Founding Partner. Her expertise in […]

Training & Business Systems

A Proven Recipe for Effective Organizational Change

Change is an inevitable part of life. Organizations embark on new initiatives, businesses begin to offer new products and services, managers want to improve the way their team is working, individuals desire personal and professional growth. But for many of us, change is also challenging. We humans are creatures of habit. Our brains love recognizing […]

Training & Business Systems

An Employment Specialist’s Guide to Great Hiring

Chances are you’ve seen the signs everywhere that say “Now Hiring!”  Recruiting and hiring is a real challenge nowadays – we hear it from our clients time and time again and we’ve certainly experienced it ourselves throughout the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses over the last few years. According to Glassdoor, “it will be just as […]

Training & Business Systems

32 Icebreakers to Kick Off Your Meetings and Energize Your Team

We’ve all been in the bad meeting… You’re left wondering why the meeting was called in the first place and why the same four people are dominating the conversation. In any meeting, in-person or virtual, it’s important to kick things off by letting everyone get their voice in the “room” in order to have a […]

Training & Business Systems

Creating a Feedback-Friendly Team Culture using Liked Best/Next Time

Giving and receiving actionable feedback is a pillar of a strong team culture. Not only is feedback an essential tool for performance management, it’s also a productive tool for debriefing events and managing ongoing change – continuously improving your work as a team. How can you foster this kind of feedback within your team? We […]