News

BADA creates UK network of trained and approved retailers (26/6/2009)

In a major initiative to substantially enhance the customer service offered to UK hi-fi and home cinema buying consumers, the British Audio-Visual Dealers Association is pleased to announce it has created the UK's first network of trained and approved retailers.

Working with many of the major manufacturers in the industry, BADA developed its multi-award winning Demcraft training programme, which is designed to equip hi-fi retailers with the skills needed to present the most effective and professional product demonstrations. During the association's AGM in July 2008 it was announced that completion of Demcraft training would become a mandatory requirement for membership of the trade association.

The Association embarked on an ambitious plan to put every customer-facing member of staff in all BADA members' shops through the course. In total, approximately 400 staff from around 80 shops have attended and gained approved status. This means that by choosing a BADA member the consumer can have confidence that they will be buying from the leading retailers in the country.

Demcraft was conceived and written by the BADA board and a number of manufacturer (associate) members of the Association, including Arcam, B&W, Naim, PMC and The Chord Company and is endorsed by these manufacturers, along with Chord Electronics, Denon, Marantz, KEF, Dynaudio, Meridian and The Multi-Room Company. The endorsing companies' logos are included on the certificates issued to each member on completion of the course, to act as a reassurance for the consumer.

The members were given until late April 2009 to complete the course, after which point non-compliance would result in termination of membership. BADA is very pleased to report that only one member has failed to complete the course and under the rules set out by the board, that business has had its membership revoked. BADA will be stronger for being made up only of members who are committed to the value of ongoing training and business improvement.

On completion of the training, Simon Byles, BADA chairman, said "I am very proud to be in a position to announce that BADA has created the first UK wide network of hi-fi retailers who are all trained to a single standard that has the backing of the major manufacturers. This really does offer something to the hi-fi buying public that has never been available before." He went on to add "It is a credit to the dedication of our trainers, board and office staff, associate members and most importantly the members, to the cause of customer service improvement, that we have been able to achieve this. We are committed to raising standards through training and will now build on this success with future courses."

BADA will be following Demcraft with the soon to be launched Visioncraft course, which focuses on multi-channel vision based systems and the recently launched Salescraft programme, which is the first sales development course designed specifically for hi-fi and home entertainment retailers.

www.bada.co.uk