The Silent Sales Team: Why In-Store Staff Still Need Brand Support
Walk into any retail store today and you’ll notice a common thread, floor staff are stretched. With leaner rosters, larger sections to manage, and endless product ranges to oversee, store teams rarely have time for in-depth brand training. Yet, they’re still the people standing right in front of your customers when purchase decisions are made.
And that’s exactly why they matter.
At VSS, we see store staff as your silent sales team. They’re not on your payroll, but when they know your product, understand your point of difference, and feel confident making a recommendation, the impact is powerful. In the current retail climate, that kind of advocacy doesn't happen by chance, it happens with support.
Empowering Through Training
We’ve seen firsthand what a difference the right training can make. For one of our brands, our team ran quick, practical sessions in-store across key retailers. By talking staff through categories and hero products, we made the range feel accessible and easy to sell. It wasn’t complicated or time-consuming, just targeted and consistent.
Turning Curiosity Into Confidence
In pharmacy, we’ve seen similar wins. Many brands expect pharmacy staff to understand product ranges with minimal input, especially when the products are niche or technical. Our team bridges that gap.
Whether it's walking beauty staff through the benefits of a new supplement, helping them position a skincare range, or simply answering the day-to-day questions that pop up, we give store teams the tools they need to sell better. It’s not about a one-off training session and walking away, it’s ongoing support, tied into our regular merchandising calls.
Consistent Merchandising Builds Trust
Regular merchandising visits aren’t just about tidy shelves. They’re a vital part of brand support. A well-maintained display tells staff, and customers, that the brand is active, cared for, and ready to be sold. It’s also when we reinforce training messages, check stock levels, refresh POS, and answer staff questions on the spot.
Consistency builds trust. When store teams know someone’s coming in regularly, they’re more likely to raise issues, ask questions, and advocate for your products.
And let’s be honest, with store staff pulled in multiple directions, there’s no guarantee your product will even make it to the shelf unless someone is there to follow it through. We’ve seen too many cases where deliveries sit in the backroom simply because no one had time. That’s where regular merchandising makes all the difference.
One Visit Won’t Cut It
The truth is, one training session won’t stick if it’s not reinforced. Products change, staff turnover happens, and promotional focuses shift. That’s why our approach is different, every VSS call is a chance to refresh knowledge, check confidence levels, and leave behind clear, simple information to support the sell.
The floor team may seem silent, but when they’re supported through training and regular merchandising, they speak volumes about your brand.
