31 AUGUST 2018
ISSUE03
QUARTERLY
EDCON DESIGN INNOVATION CHALLENGE The Class of 2018
EDGARS TEAM MEMBERS Making a difference for Madiba
Send your comments or queries to: EdgarsBuzz@Edcon.co.za
EDGARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Project Runway South Africa
Message from CE: Mike Elliott
KEY Q3 IS AROUND THE CORNER By now, most of you have had the opportunity to hear me address the three key pillars of our strategy: own our unique position, show up differently and make it clear for our customer. You have also heard me talk to our purpose which is ‘To enable self expression for all South Africans for all occasions’. Over the next three months, you’ll be involved in numerous activities, projects and marketing initiatives that are geared towards bringing these objectives to life. Q1 has been a tough start to the new financial year, and it is imperative that we get behind these initiatives with passion and urgency in order to ensure a successful key quarter 3. In-store, we need to continue putting our customers front and centre, and monitor NPS feedback very closely. Staff availability, general attentiveness, and friendliness remain a challenge. In order to boost our customer rating and NPS scores, we need to prioritise the basics of good customer care – always smiling, greeting every customer, and letting them know that we are available to assist. I am always amazed that these small acts of kindness still surprise and delight customers.
In addition, it is imperative that we execute new format promotions with speed and precision. We have some great promotions planned, but urgency, accuracy and a solid trading mentality are the keys to our success. During this quarter we have also focused on investing in various corporate social investment programmes. This includes reinvesting in our strategic partnerships with the Orlando Children’s Home, and relaunching our Edgars Orange Unite Programme with various shelters for women throughout the country. We believe that we have a significant role to play as a responsible corporate citizen, and I encourage everyone to support us whenever we create the opportunity for involvement. Now that I am settling into my role, I look forward to visiting more stores and meeting our great teams over the next few months. Best regards,
Mike Edgars changing lives
ORANGE UNITE The Orange Unite programme was established by a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to raise awareness of violence against women and children. Edgars has partnered with the UN on this programme, and we are now ready to take it to the next level. Together with the Department of Social Welfare and UN Women, we aim to empower women with the skills required to thrive in life. So why the colour orange, you may ask? Orange is the colour of the sunset and the sunrise. It signifies the setting of the old dawn and the rising of a new day for these ladies. It is a vibrant colour of hope, which we wish to impart to women through our initiatives. So what’s your role? First #breakthesilence. If you are aware of abuse, or are a victim of abuse, report it! We also encourage you to support those who have completed our programme by purchasing their merchandise, for sale in the Edgardale foyer on the 25th of every month. Furthermore, consider volunteering at a local women’s shelter – we have a list in each province, contact your HRBP for further information. Finally, stand in solidarity with the victims of abuse by wearing a splash of orange on the 25th of every month. We held our first Orange Day activation on 25 June 2018. The ladies at Placecol came through to spoil our employees at head office and each store with a mani, using their creative license to make a statement in orange. To the left are some pics of the day.
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