Distributors typically look at training as a necessary evil, so it is something they do reluctantly for their customers. The training that is provided is uninspired, which creates low class attendance and confirms the distributors’ belief that very few contractors are really interested in training; which of course is simply not true. The key to a successful training program is to design training that is irresistible to your contractors. If you provide a class hitting on an important topic to your local HVAC community, your class will sell out, and the folks who attended will be impressed with what your supply house can do for them.
The best way to develop interesting training is to listen to your customers. They will tell you where they need help as long as you ask the right questions. You’ll want to ask your contractors where they see themselves struggling and which types of service calls are routinely misdiagnosed. What types of service calls are routinely misdiagnosed? If you ask enough of the right questions, you’ll find that the same topic keeps coming up, and everyone in your area is probably struggling with the same service problems. It could be they need help troubleshooting electrical problems, understanding controls, basic refrigeration and similar issues.