Thirty Yamaha piano dealers from 29 different locations across the country were chosen to participate in the first ever Yamaha Institutional Solutions Group (ISG) “Piano Pros Institutional” training, held at the Yamaha Corporation of America headquarters in Buena Park, California.
Yamaha ISG creates and implements specific marketing plans that highlight the benefits of Yamaha keyboard products and services to Educational Institutions. The group is responsible for improving dealer sales skills within this market and builds on the relationships, sales, support and strategies that have dramatically increased the company’s academic presence in recent years.
The two-day event, which was held between June 19 and June 20, was designed specifically for training best practices. Upon completion, each dealer took a test to achieve official certification as a certified institutional salesperson.
The training was separated into two different themes. Day one was designated “Tactical – How the Institutional Sales Process Works” and was led by the entire ISG team, as well as Kevin LaManna from digital marketing agency Monday Loves You and Dr. Bill Stowman from Messiah College.
Day two was themed “Practical — How to Demonstrate our Products to Institutional Customers” and was led by Bill Brandom and Ryan Ellison on acoustic pianos, and Craig Knudsen and Lori Frazer on all of the other Yamaha Keyboard Division products.
“Music education being at the heart and soul of Yamaha, it is essential for us to professionally develop our institutional dealers” said Dan Rodowicz, national sales manager, Institutional Solutions Group, Yamaha Corporation of America. “This training will equip our team with the skills and strategies necessary to increase their presence in the academic arena.”
Echoing that sentiment was Thomas Solich, owner of Cleveland-based Solich Piano: “The training completely invigorated me to pursue my business even stronger. I look forward to taking what I learned from the training and implementing it into my business.”
