TK Maxx moves on jewellery market

Clothing retailer TK Maxx has arranged for hundreds of its staff to receive jewellery retail training ahead the launch of its new ‘jewellery counters’ at 15 stores across the UK.

The fashion chain’s jewellery buyer, Lisa Hollidge, said: “We wanted to be able to offer our customers high quality, branded jewellery and watches with a significant saving versus the RRP, this will also be matched with exceptional services from devoted associates.”

Jewellery apprenticeships firm Holts Academy says around 200 TK Maxx staff have already received a “concentrated” two days’ worth of training, as well as “follow-up sessions” in-store for four pilot stores. It expects to train around 450 more in the coming months and early next year.

TK Maxx reportedly plans to open jewellery counters at its stores in Poland, Germany and Ireland as well as those across the UK.

Holts Academy said the training will comprise a mix of written and practical work, focusing largely on hands-on delivery and in-store assessment methods.

The full qualification will be a diploma with the option of staff gaining an award (the smallest qualification available), a certificate, or the full diploma. The latter is made up of certificates and a wards in different modules such as sales, customer service, jewellery product knowledge and visual merchandising.

The academy’s director, Lee Lucas, said the firm is “delighted” to be working with TK Maxx, adding: “[Its] associates will get detailed knowledge of gems, hallmarks, precious metals and the manufacturing process, as well as skills in customer relations and visual merchandising.”