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A brand of cosmetics sold by its own employees!

There is something new in the cosmetics aisles of six different superstores. Volunteer Sarbec employees are promoting the Corine de Farme brand produced in their Neuville-en-Ferrain plant. Talk about innovative ideas!

Martine is in charge of negotiations with purchasing agencies in order to distribute the Corine de Farme range of products throughout France. She has been working out of the main office in Neuville-en-Ferrain since May and has no experience whatsoever in retail sales. Frédérique is the manager of the marketing team, based in Neuville as well. Hired in February 2008, she doesn't know much about the art and way to attract Saturday afternoon customers. They still volunteered to promote their products during a televised communication campaign. That's pretty brave! Could you imagine a journalist selling his newspaper at a stand or Bonduelle employees selling their peas in supermarket aisles? Is that where employees belong? Should we rethink this?

"You are not out there to sell, rather you are there to promote your company", is what the two young women and their 33 colleagues are told by Julien, 37 years old, Sarbec's young sales manager.

Five times the amount of sales from a normal week (without any promotions) was achieved in a single day. The volunteer employees did not get a bonus; they are simply working with the consumers rather than working at their normal job, in their business.

The activity counts for one day of work per employee and is carried out in six superstores, four Auchan and two Carrefour. The approach is original and involves all the departments of a company with 450 employees, 220 of which are in Neuville. A promotion this size is not seen very often according to Auchan managers, who have seen many promotions in their lifetime. Sarbec's CEO also will put on a green t-shirt to work in a superstore and see how women purchase these products.

In situ, in vivo, at the always delicate moment that the cart goes by.

BY YANNICK BOUCHER
(La Voix du Nord du mardi 01.09.2009)