Joyalukkas have started a ‘Retail Sales Training Program’ for their sales staff across all India stores. The training is provided by the International Gemological Institute(IGI). The two-day training programme commenced in Mumbai on 29th June, 2009. %% The ‘Retail Sales Training Program’ is a practical hand on training course which gives insights into the standards of diamond grading, coloured stone identification and effective sales techniques. The course is focused on providing Product Knowledge involving topics like diamond formation, identification of imitations and synthetics, gemstones and pearl, types of jewellery, branding and market trends and more importantly, reading and understanding reports. The course also throws light on Selling skills and management aspects, understanding customer demand better, window display factors, communication skills, important features on taking care of your jewellery, etc. %% Speaking on the occasion, Ramit Kapur, General Manager, IGI said, “Today the consumer is well informed about diamonds and certification. They are aware of all terminology used in diamond business. Therefore it becomes extremely essential for the sales staff to have good knowledge of the product. This enables them to sell with confidence. %% Joyalukkas believes that the course is not only beneficial for increasing sales, but also helps the sales personnel in attracting a more intelligent customer base and gaining optimum confidence in the market. In the words of Subin P. Sukumaran, store manager, Joyalukkas, Mumbai, “Our sales team have a minimum of two years experience. This course upgrades their knowledge about diamonds. It would indeed boost their performance.”