Crisp Learning Publishes Three New Books -- On Effective Writing, Goal-Setting and Retailing Basics.

Business Editors

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2002

Crisp adds 12th and final Retail Smarts Series Workbook, plus two new Fifty-Minute books - Better Business Writing: Techniques for Improving Correspondence; Goals and Goal Setting: Achieving Measured Objectives

Crisp Learning, a leading producer of workplace training and self-improvement products, has released new editions of two of its perennial best-selling books, plus a brand-new workbook.

A new section on the proper form and etiquette for e-mail has been added by Susan Brock to Better Business Writing: Techniques for Improving Correspondence (fourth edition) while continuing to highlight the basics of effective business writing. Brock taught business writing at the college level for ten years and now manages the communications team at Financial Engines of Palo Alto, Calif. She is the author of two other Crisp titles on business writing topics.

In the new third edition of Goals and Goal Setting: Achieving Measured Objectives (third edition), Larrie Rouillard increases emphasis upon visualization as a motivational tool and adds advice on overcoming impatience, a common obstacle to achieving goals. Rouillard heads the Oklahoma City planning firm Learning and Resources Co., which practices the same approach to defining goals and setting measurable objectives that she teaches in the book.

Retailing Smarts: Keeping Up Appearances completes the 12-volume Retail Smarts Series, a collaboration between Crisp Learning and the National Retail Federation. The NRF developed a set of national retail skill standards specifically for the retail sales associate and selected Crisp to help teach them. The Keeping Up Appearances workbook presents eight quick exercises to teach the basics of maintaining the store premises as well as product presentation and displays.

"Crisp is pleased to release these new publications. Our customers and their employees have known for many years that our Fifty-Minute (TM) Books provide solid information, fast -- information that makes it possible for employees to do their jobs faster, better, and with greater insight," said Debbie Woodbury, Crisp's director of Product Development. "Our new Retailing Smarts Series builds on that tradition with a great set of exercises for the front-line retail employee."

Better Business Writing is one of 11 Crisp titles that teach business writing and editing. Goals and Goal Setting is one of eight titles in the area of projects and planning. In addition to the Fifty-Minute Book format, each is available on video and CD as well as online.

Crisp Learning is an employee-owned company known for its simple, straightforward, user-friendly corporate learning programs. Crisp has over 350 products in many media formats serving 20 million learners in 26 languages. Over the years Crisp has also designed more than 500 custom programs that meet organizational training and development needs for clients such as The Boeing Company, GE, Motorola, Pinkerton, and Williams-Sonoma. For more information or to order one of these new titles, visit www.crisplearning.com or call 800/442-7477.