Edgars BUZZ Issue 3 2019

30 AUG 2019

ISSUE03

QUARTERLY

TEAM NEWS Initiative and hard work pay off in Tembisa

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY The launch of #saysomething in KZN

Send your comments or queries to: EdgarsBuzz@Edcon.co.za

EDGARS ON TREND Bold and beautiful animal-print shoes

Message from CE: Mike Elliott

QUARTER 1 UNDER THE BELT In last quarter’s Buzz article I said the following: ‘Our goal is simple and that is 0 in 3 (we must be profitable within three years). How we do this is also simple – drive gross profit Rands and manage expenses like never before (austerity being the key word). Sales and gross profit come from great product; that arrives at the right time, in the right store, in the right quantity, delivered to the customer with simplicity and with great service (champions of our customers).’ Now, with Q1 of the new financial year under the belt, I can say with certainty that we are seeing our strategy and efforts starting to deliver the financial performance we are looking for. The final numbers for Q1 are not yet in, but we finished with a really well executed start to our End of Season Iconic Sale, as well as an excellent June, and we will most certainly have exceeded our EBIT budget for Q1. This is the first time we have made a quarterly budget in some time, and it’s a great way to start the new financial year. I always say – ‘I love paying bonuses’ – and although we still have a long way to go, the results of Q1 mean we are winning, and this is the first step towards this being the year we start paying bonuses again. In our endeavour to deliver great product, I am really pleased to see some shifts across a number of areas within the business starting to deliver the positive growth we need. While a number of departments delivered results worthy of celebration, the performance of the Kids division for the quarter warrants a special mention and celebration with L4L sales +22.1%, and GP +22.9%.

While this is a great start to the year for the business, the next quarter remains more critical than ever. We need to maintain this momentum through the quarter, but it is also the quarter where all the key work is done in terms of product and planning for our biggest quarter of the year – Q3. I therefore encourage everyone to use the good Q1 to motivate even more focus so we can ensure we deliver the year. Congratulations all on a good quarter and thank you for your efforts and ongoing support.

Best Regards

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What an incredible day.....

THE LAUNCH OF THE #SAYSOMETHING CAMPAIGN IN EDGARS KZN All store managers were invited to attend the launch and were privileged to interact with wonderful guests that formed part of the agenda.

Author and motivational speaker Wendy Richards discussed Inspiring Happiness Within, and shared some of her own harrowing life stories that inspire hope at the end of it all. Whilst she brought the audience to tears as she narrated her life events, her message of being able to get through life’s heartbreaks was very clear and encouraging. Wendy received her lifeline from the Open Door Crisis Centre in KZN, which was represented at our campaign by the founder, Thora Mansfield.

Thora unpacked what they do and how they help victims of sexual, domestic and other types of abuse, spreading a ray of light where it’s needed most. KZN has adopted the Open Door Crisis Centre as part of our CSI initiative as it is linked to the Orange Unite Campaign. Our very own Santie Myburgh took everyone through the #saysomething launch and policies that have guided the creation of this campaign.

Nidan Jashvir Singh, 2nd Dan Black Belt from Warriors Fight Academy, came through to empower our delegates with some simple yet effective self-defence techniques. The day ended with the division completing our #saysomething pledge by signing in acknowledgement of the same on a T-shirt, and a symbolic cutting of the pledge cake. The team departed, inspired to launch this campaign in their own stores by the 23rd of July.

Celebrating a true hero

THE GIFT OF GIVING ON MANDELA DAY The late and great Nelson Mandel’s birthday on 18 July 2019 marked the ninth Mandela day.

On this day, the global community is invited to donate 67 minutes of their time through volunteering and community service.

The 67 minutes is to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s 67 year fight for social justice. The campaign is about bringing people around the world together to fight poverty, promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity – the cornerstones of Mandela’s beliefs.

Here at Edgars we decided to use this very special day to launch our partnership with the Tears Foundation. This non-profit foundation provides immediate access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling and prevention education services for everyone impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. These services are offered at no charge to the victims.

As you are aware, Edgars main corporate social investment programme is Orange Unite, an initiative that speaks out against gender-based violence. What better way to reinforce our stance against gender-based violence than through our partnership with the Tears Foundation.

The Tears Foundation is our vehicle to assist our employees and their families. Play your part and spread the word. Share the free SMS service (*134*7355#) and get the word out. Help is available to anyone who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and or child abuse.

It is our responsibility to break the stigma associated with domestic violence and sexual assault, and ensure that our family members, friends and work colleagues know that help is just an SMS away.

Edgars on trend

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

It’s bold, daring and makes a statement all by itself. Yes, our footwear range will blow your minds! Taking inspiration from the world’s top designers, Summer 2019 is all about embracing the whole safari of animal prints, with tortoise shell, zebra, snake, crocodile and the popular leopard print in stores by end August.

Our customers will find these in all their favourite silhouettes, including pointy courts, ‘barely there’ sandals, pumps and sneakers, filtering into both Kelso and Free 2BU footwear. So take a walk on the wild side with Edgars.

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Celebrating young design talent

DESIGN INNOVATION STUDENTS SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS The Design Innovation Challenge students took their collections to the next level in June, participating in several market access opportunities in celebration of youth month. Nine of our young designers had the chance to showcase their collections as part of the SAFW Menswear pop-up and Father’s Day celebrations at the Mall of Africa from 14 to 17 June 2019.

MTN hosted a youth empowerment initiative and invited four of our designers to set up shop at their head office in Fairlands for their staff and stakeholders, which was a resounding success.

As if that wasn’t enough, our young designers – together with several established designers – took their collections to the stage at Nasrec as part of the Designers en-route to Success event organised and attended by members of the Gauteng Department of Education and Youth Development, the National Youth Development Agency, and members of the public. Two of the design interns successfully secured funding from the NYDA for the manufacturing of additional items for their collections – another incredible milestone for the Design Innovation Challenge.

Reaching business goals

EDGARS MIDLANDS

Through aggressively driving financial services targets daily, weekly and monthly, Edgars Midlands Mall not only achieved its Q1 FS Targets, it has also achieved the highest number for activations in the division for this quarter. In addition, the store has also risen to be the number 1 store in the chain for driving CLUB in the month of June. Edgars Midlands should without a doubt be celebrated for its performance in what has been deemed an absolutely critical focus for the business.

Empowering management

EDGARS CAPE DIVISION IS EMPOWERING OUR PEOPLE The Edgars Cape Division launched our First Line Management Academy to 64 first line managers in July 2019.

The purpose of this academy is to equip our first line managers with the knowledge and skills, and to implement and execute on the Edgars Strategy in line with our value of empowering our people.

The programme will span across a period of three months and consist of five classroom days along with in-store practical implementation. Some of the modules that will be covered include Strategy, Leadership and Technical skills. Learners are required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence after each module providing an in-depth analysis of their learnings and application thereof in the workplace. We will conclude this programme with a graduation ceremony in September 2019. Here is what learners to say after Day 1:

‘It was very informative. As a first line manager, I now have the confidence to not only stick to my area of responsibility but to also apply leadership and entrepreneurial skills.’

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In your living space

COMMON GROUND We are celebrating spring in full colour, with varied intensities and hues.

The inspiration of dappled morning light on budding blooms with swaying grass sets the mood for Common Ground. Sun-drenched colours of Aspen Gold, Emberglow and Baked Clay warm the palette, while Deep Linchen Green and Eggshell Blue add a soothing cool. As with colour, designs embrace imperfection and focus on eliciting feelings.

Patterns feature lush yet delicate leaf motifs and ditsy florals, as well as more abstract and organic designs. Animal prints including leopard, snake and zebra are incorporated, and winged creatures like birds, butterflies and moths adorn foliage prints. Vertical stripes bring order and balance to the theme.

Refresh your living space with the in-store assortment of Common Ground bedding, dining and décor styles.

Team news

TEMBISA STORE NAILS FINANCIAL SERVICES Edgars Tembisa has achieved a year to date % of 101% against credit and financial services targets, activating 925 accounts in the last quarter.

The store has also shown amazing growth of 114% on last year. With great team effort and an absolute drive to grow their business, the Tembisa team has used its initiative in driving eventing and creating positive competition in their store. Edgars Tembisa’s top three consultants in its store are also notably the top three consultants in the chain. Tshillo Mudau, Innocentia Nemutshetoni and Trudy Ndou have also been highly successful in achieving their accounts targets, and exceeding their personal targets. Thank you and well done to Faziel Timms (Store Manager), Sello Molefe (Admin Manager) and the Edgars Tembisa team for their commitment and hard work. You are flying the Edgars Tembisa flag high.

Jabari drip

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS DRIP?

Now’s the time to call the shots and own your hustle with Jabari, the brand that lets you redefine your style with on-fleek street gear to own the streets. Follow us on Instagram: @jabarifashion. Available soon in selected Edgars stores.

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