PERC Announces New Sales Training Program & Other Expenditures

WASHINGTON (December 21, 2015) – The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), announced via a conference call meeting Dec. 11 that it had approved $665,000 for the 2016 Marketer Technology and Sales Training Program for an estimated 60 classes to give marketers information and techniques that they can use to drive new demand for propane in traditional and emerging markets.

PERC announced the selection of a new sales training vendor, GP Strategies, which has expertise in classroom training and digital learning. “When Ferrellgas participated in 47 customer service MTST classes this year, we thought the quality was very good,” Council Chairman Tom Van Buren of Ferrellgas told councilors. “We thought it was valuable because we learned a lot of techniques and information about marketing the new products PERC has helped develop over the last few years to help grow gallons. I would encourage any company to coordinate with PERC staff to incorporate MTST classes into their schedule next year.”

The Marketer Technology and Sales Training curriculum and other PERC programs will be modified to include initiatives to inform and support marketer involvement in the consumer education campaign that will launch in 2016.

The following funding requests were also approved by the PERC Council:
• 2016 Corporate Communications, $1,050,000
• 2016 Partnership with States, $1,800,000
• Propane Market Research Initiative, $394,580
• 2016 Advisory Committee and Program Support, $460,000
• 2015 API Survey and Report, $179,850
• 2016 Marketer Technology and Sales Training Program, $665,000

The PERC Council’s next meeting will take place Feb. 18, 2016, in Dallas, Texas.