Key Takeaways:
• GIA has launched NextGem, an on-demand training solution designed to provide retail sales associates with foundational knowledge in diamonds, colored stones, and jewelry.
• The program utilizes short, engaging videos and online knowledge checks to streamline onboarding, making training more consistent and cost-effective for jewelry retailers.
• By providing essential gemological education, NextGem aims to build associate confidence and consumer trust, ultimately driving sales and long-term customer loyalty.
The Showcase Showdown
Retailers know that sales associates are the primary ambassadors for the all-important in-store experience that ultimately converts a browser into a buyer. Today’s customers enter appointments armed with internet-guided talking points, which means every conversation at the counter matters. The challenge for retailers is to ensure that all associates can speak with a solid understanding of gems and jewelry. Knowledgeable sales professionals inspire customer trust, and trust is the foundation of long-term loyalty.
Take Associates from Zero to Sales Floor
Associates with a firm foundation in diamonds, colored stones, and jewelry are better equipped to guide customers toward confident purchasing decisions. To meet this critical industry need, GIA® has launched NextGem™, a new on-demand training solution that helps associates learn the basics and prepares them for more advanced sales coaching. With foundational training handled by a trusted educator, retailers can focus on their store’s unique brand, storytelling, and the art of the sale.
Save Time and Simplify Training
Whether through seasonal hiring or turnover, training can be a drain on limited staff resources. Inconsistent training can lead to miscommunication and missed opportunities. GIA NextGem is a user-friendly training program, designed to make onboarding and ongoing education more consistent, efficient and cost-effective. Each course is delivered via an online platform that allows for easy progress tracking with built-in knowledge checks to reinforce new concepts. Associates watch short, engaging video content and bring themselves up to speed with knowledge they’ll actually use daily in their roles.
Associates learn best when the information they need to perform their roles well is presented in a contemporary, visually interesting way. NextGem provides high-quality photography and videography, striking animation, and simple, clear narration that captures a trainee’s attention. As new associates begin to learn the basics, they acquire the vocabulary and instinct to ask more informed questions and reach a deeper understanding.
Managers balancing multiple priorities can rest assured that new associates are grounded in the fundamentals, reducing the need for intensive oversight. The result: confident team members who reach the sales floor sooner. Programs like NextGem not only free up more experienced associates to perform their sales roles, but new employees reach the next stages of training with reliable, repeatable knowledge in hand.
Courses covering the 4Cs of diamonds, colored stones, and standard jewelry care and handling deliver the fundamentals every retail associate needs to know in bite-sized videos that are accessible on any device. When associates speak with knowledge and confidence, customers listen. With the right foundational training in place, retailers can elevate the in-store experience, strengthen trust, and turn everyday conversations into lasting relationships that drive sales and loyalty.
See NextGem in Action at JCK
Retailers attending JCK can experience a taste of NextGem firsthand. Booth visitors can explore the platform, see how easy it is to enroll your team, and try out courses on diamonds and colored stones.
Visit GIA at JCK Booth 14023 to learn how on-demand training can become a true sales advantage and receive access to an exclusive, show-only special.
GIA: Your Trusted Training Partner
NextGem is the latest addition to corporate training offerings through GIA Training Studio™. For specific training needs including in-depth gemology, design and technology, and bench training, GIA Training Studio can accommodate with flexible programming. Sessions are tailored for your precise business needs and are led by GIA instructors. Choose from formats that include in-depth lectures, hands-on workshops, or a combination of both. GIA can accommodate onsite or virtual sessions that bring live presentations to you and your employees anywhere in the world.
