OPERATING CHANNELS
Trade is a flexible business that is keen to seize all market opportunities, making it an effective and reliable partner, whatever your needs.
The longstanding experience and professionalism of its teams allows it to bring its transferable skills to all channels: large-scale retail, consumer electronics, food service and hotel, pet shops, and pharma, to name the most significant. Each channel is analysed holistically and with regard to its specificities, with a view to developing custom projects that deliver value to each customer.
LARGE-SCALE RETAIL
GDS
PET SHOPS
PHARMACIES
TOBACCONISTS
FOOD SERVICE AND HOTELS
The modern mass distribution channel, in the form of hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini-marts and discount stores, is where most professionals involved in the in-store promotion and merchandising world were trained and work.
The Trade network has an extensive presence across the country and reflects the structure and peripheral location of the various outlet types.
Our operators work with the large-scale retailers each day, carrying out visual merchandising and promotion activities for the various trade categories covered (food and non-food) and on a recurring basis across other types of outlets (supermarkets and discount stores).
The professionals involved in the channel are: promoters, hostesses, merchandisers, visual merchandisers, shelf stockers, rack jobbers, installers, sales representatives, advisors, field specialists, field auditors.
Specialising in electronic consumer goods distribution, the training and aptitude of personnel involved in this trade category is a key focus in this channel.
Training, POS support, operators’ technological equipment, and a keen sales- and result-oriented attitude are essential to success, and to selecting a promoter and brand ambassador network.
Different dynamics are at play, on the other hand, in the consumable materials, publishing and services (telephone, pay TV, etc.) markets, with dedicated specialist – and typically exclusive (see corners, shop-in-shops etc.) networks.
The professionals involved in this channel are: promoters, visual merchandisers, field specialists, sales representatives, advisors, brand ambassadors, field auditors.
The pharmacy has undergone a major evolution over the years, from specialist store to modern mass market retail outlet.
Footfall and the role served in the local area, together with liberalisation of certain pharmaceutical products (OTC), has enabled pharmacists to make the most of self-service shelving, freestanding displays and ad hoc window displays to engage with different operators, beyond the pharmaceutical specialists that help and support with installation and visual merchandising.
As such, background and interpersonal skills are essential for operators in this sector.
We therefore devote particular attention to recruiting, selection and training activities.
The professionals involved in this channel are: visual merchandisers, field specialists, medical promoters, field auditors.
The needs and dynamics of the eating out of home channel are linked to the distribution- and sales-based nature of the market, characterised by the extensive reach of the businesses, localisation, seasonality, and the close relationship with local distributors and wholesalers.
As such, the promoter and field specialist networks in this channel must have sales-focused characteristics and skills, and are responsible for both relations and sell out.
Networks are usually exclusively linked to a manufacturer or brand, though network costs may be shared to enable management of different products by non-competitor companies.
The professionals involved in this channel are: promoters, visual merchandisers, field specialists, sales representatives, advisors, field auditors.
Like all specialist distribution channels, the needs of the DIY channel are closely linked to technical skill and familiarity with the materials and how to use them.
Practical application, demonstrations, and information corner management are the top services requested of personnel working in this sector, with specific brand- or product-related projects.
Training and POS operational support are therefore the most tricky and demanding aspects of managing these events.
The professionals involved in the channel are: visual merchandisers, field specialists, promoters, field auditors.
Telecommunications dealer
Promotional and visual merchandising dynamics have had a major impact on the distribution structure of the telephone service industry, which has adapted by rethinking store concept and design.
Support with managing spaces and the materials displayed, particularly with regard to promotional activities, involves ever-larger and more visible networks of specialist personnel, to the extent that they have evolved into training and professional development networks for telephone industry experts.
Naturally, ad hoc event management also requires a top-level hostess. The professionals involved in this channel are: visual merchandisers, promoters, hostesses.
Traditional stores are another major channel requiring dedicated networks of ambassadors, field specialists, visual merchandisers and field auditors. The primary networks involve:
Field Auditors: accurate collection of information on operations (survey), market information (products, prices, promotions), surveys to verify the presence of promotional and POP materials, Mystery Shoppers (score cards and incentives);
Visual merchandisers: arranging special or routine POS displays based on promotional plans, arranging displays and handling layouts, managing shop corners;
Ambassadors: careful oversight of POS to check assortment, management and promotional offers, transfer orders.