Bata April 17, 2015 Weekly Digest News from around Bata World AT A GLANCE STORE OF THE WEEK: Highest Sales Per Square Meter BCP India Makes Sports Day a Success for Batanagar Children First Week of Bata Retail Race Fuels Excitement in Bangladesh The start of the Bata Retail Race has brought about an unprecedented level of effort among Bata Bangladesh sales teams, and all are determined to see themselves at the top of the rankings. Q & A with Xavier Castex About Bata's New LinkedIn Page Bata Thailand Donates Weinbrenner Shoes to Forest Preservation Foundation Power Plazma Launch Is Headline News for Bata India Hernan Vizcaya Pays a Visit to Bata Zambia Bata Kicks Off Merchandise Strategy Course in Indonesia Bata Shoe Museum Explores Unusual Fashion Trend with New Exhibition Bata Industrials Pakistan Makes Waves at Safety and Security Exhibition
Bata April 17, 2015 The start of the Bata Retail Race has brought about an unprecedented level of effort among Bata Bangladesh sales teams, and all are determined to see themselves at the top of the rankings. CORPORATE First Week of Bata Retail Race Fuels Excitement in Bangladesh The results from the first week of the competition have been counted, and congratulations go to Uttara North City as the best-performing store in the region, and Syed Nahidul Islam, the top district manager, and his team from the 514-Rajshahi area. There is still plenty of time for other stores to catch up however, and there will be many opportunities for everyone to score big points. Each team will be looking to find ways to raise its performance and improve its chances of winning. One particular aspect of the competition that is making a big difference to Bata Bangladesh employees is the new technology being used, such as the Bata Retail Race app. The availability of information regarding store performance across the globe has enabled sales team members to feel more involved, and to understand the competition from a wider perspective. Chitpan Kanhasiri, company manager of Bata Bangladesh, commented: The Bata Retail Race is truly a laudable endeavor to revitalize and stimulate our sales teams. The very notion of racing, accompanied by technological sophistication, has brought about a visible vibration among the sales people in our stores, and this program will surely have a profound impact in building a more focused attitude and an improved senses of commitment within the sales force." In conjunction with the Retail Race, Bata Bangladesh is also currently in the middle of its Bengali New Year promotion and a units-per-transaction competition in stores, all of which is helping to encourage teams across the region to exceed expectations.
Bata April 17, 2015 Bata has signed a global partnership agreement with the world's largest professional network, LinkedIn. INTERVIEWS Q & A with Xavier Castex About Bata's New LinkedIn Page The agreement was signed in February. How did the initiative come about? employer and benefit from significant savings in regard to recruitment costs carried out via headhunters. This project is part of our global HR mission to attract, develop and retain the best people. How does this differ from Bata's previous presence on LinkedIn? Today, everybody including companies has a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or LinkedIn profile. Linkedin helps people find their next career move, and helps companies find new talent. This digital tool can change the way we recruit people and how Bata is seen worldwide as a potential employer. Linkedin offers fantastic opportunities to quickly interact with talent worldwide, so it was obvious we needed to start using it. In the past, Bata had a free page on LinkedIn, with limited information available. Today, the Bata Group page offers an informative and interactive page with a newsfeed in addition to a career page as well. We can advertise global positions and specific roles, and talent can apply directly or refer the roles to their network. We can communicate with our followers and with the LinkedIn community at large, passing on messages and developing our image from there. What are the main goals of Bata on LinkedIn? Why was the decision made to create a career page? Our plan is simple: we will use LinkedIn to recruit new talent, to develop our branded image as an Recruiting external talent is very difficult, and companies are too dependent on headhunters. Recruiters and headhunters are usually proposing active job seekers that they have in their network, and this approach has limited impact. With LinkedIn, we can easily interact with passive talents and approach them to join Bata. A passive profile can then receive our job opportunities or simply be connected with the Bata page, which might trigger the idea of contacting us and applying for a career in Bata. This is a fantastic opportunity for us. Has Bata recruited new talent via LinkedIn? What has been the impact of the partnership so far? In regards to recruitment, we have received more than 4,500 applications for the 12 roles that we have advertised so far, and I am happy to confirm that we have hired two new talents for critical roles in Singapore and Italy.
Q & A with Xavier Castex About Bata's New LinkedIn Page In regards to audience, we had only 1,000 followers on our company page before this new project. After only two months, we have seen a very significant increase as we now have more than 12,000 followers, including 3,500 employees. Of these followers, 40 percent work in apparel and fashion and 30 percent in sales. This project has also had a direct impact on cost: for the same cost of one recruitment completed via a headhunter, we can advertise ten roles a year and have our company page. The return on investment is guaranteed after the first recruitment. Therefore, and as we have already recruited two candidates, we ve made a great choice. How can everyone check out the page and get involved? The page is already active at www.linkedin.com/company/bata/care ers. Please visit our page, become a follower, and refer it to your colleagues, friends and in your network as well. And if you don t have a personal LinkedIn page, no worries, it s not too late! Bata April 17, 2015
Bata April 17, 2015 The recent launch of the Power Plazma running shoe was conceived by Bata India as a total media campaign involving stores, events, digital platforms and traditional media. PRODUCT Power Plazma Launch Is Headline News for Bata India The campaign began with events sponsored by Power Plazma, and these were then followed by media announcements of the new product range. Finally, customers visiting stores were treated to innovative, creatively designed window displays and specialized areas within the stores, where the shoes were given pride of place. As part of the campaign, Power Plazma acted as the official footwear sponsor of Spring Fest 2015, a major social and cultural event at one of the country's top colleges, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Its renowned spring festival was a perfect fit for the new running shoes and provided Bata India with the opportunity to introduce the shoe and its technology to young people in the area. The media was informed about the new collection via a press release and media sampling activities, which led to the product being featured on a large number of websites, as well as in newspapers and magazines. The coverage appeared in almost 30 publications across a variety of media in the space of less than two weeks, and the launch of the range was also announced through Bata social media accounts. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, Group managing director of South Asia, stated: The new Power Plazma range is a sophisticated reinvention of a premium performance running shoe, designed for a wide range of runners. The innovative technology within the shoe allows the feet to stay comfortable and protected. We in India aim to redefine running and hence the launch of the Plazma Shoe. It is pleasing to see that the customer, as well as the media, has loved the shoe.
Bata April 17, 2015 In keeping with its other projects aimed at improving the local environment, Bata Thailand has donated a consignment of shoes to the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, Thailand s No. 1 foundation for the preservation of its wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. BCP / SUSTAINABILITY Bata Thailand Donates Weinbrenner Shoes to Forest Preservation Foundation Eugenio Olabe, company manager of Bata Thailand, along with Carlos Garces, company manager of Bata Indonesia, recently presented 144 pairs of Weinbrenner outdoor shoes to Sasin Chalearmlarp, secretary general of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation. The shoes were then passed on to staff at the foundation s head office. Olabe said: The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation is a non-profit environmental non-governmental organization established in September 1990 to carry out the wishes of Mr. Seub Nakhasathien, a well-known Thai conservationist, to promote the conservation and protection of Thailand s precious forest and natural environment, a cause that matches our own objectives. News of the donation, reported in major local newspapers and magazines, produced extremely positive feedback for the company from the general public, increasing awareness of Bata Thailand s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Olabe added: After donating shoes from our 120th anniversary celebration campaign to the Mirror Foundation, we have followed up the success of that campaign with the donation of 144 pairs of Weinbrenner shoes to support the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation in its activities, confirming our vision to Live outdoors with Weinbrenner.
Bata April 17, 2015 Hernan Vizcaya, Group managing director for Africa, visited Bata Zambia from March 30 to April 4 in a visit packed with activities including store visits and discussions on ways to increase business for the company. CORPORATE Hernan Vizcaya Pays a Visit to Bata Zambia Vizcaya's first engagement was to chair the annual general meeting of the shareholders of Bata Zambia. The meeting was a success, with shareholders expressing satisfaction with the company's performance in 2014, and encouraging management to do even better in 2015. After the meeting, Vizcaya made a series of store visits to talk with staff and share ideas on how to improve the collection and displays, and also on how better to use point-ofpurchase materials in stores. This was followed by in-depth discussions with different sales teams including retail, non-retail sales and merchandisers. Vizcaya emphasized the need to analyze all processes, and to ensure that all activities satisfy customers and encourage them to make a purchase. He also provided insight on how studying conversion rates and units per transaction can help to increase sales and help merchandising teams to manage collections in stores. Finally, Vizcaya held discussions with members of the management team to look at methods of improving sales. The team agreed to embark on a major promotion, due to begin on April 13, and everyone has worked hard to prepare for the new scheme. Prosper Bachi, company manager of Bata Zambia, commented: The visit came at the right time as a lot of ideas were discussed, resulting in an action plan being drawn up to push sales. On the occasion of his visit, Vizcaya also launched the Bata Retail Race, in the presence of all district sales managers and some senior store managers. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the competition, and all involved are looking forward to challenging themselves in the yearlong race.
Bata April 17, 2015 The first Merchandise Strategy Plan training course took place on March 23-24, and was attended by 26 enthusiastic participants from Bata Indonesia. CORPORATE Bata Kicks Off Merchandise Strategy Course in Indonesia The course, which will be run in all regions, helps buyers and merchandise departments to build the most appropriate collection by analysing their customer profiles, store concepts and product range. It teaches participants how to analyse key performance indicators in order to ensure that all collections contribute to the improvement of sales, margins and faster stock turnover. Jessica, a buyer for Marie Claire, and one of the participants on the course, commented: The course has been very engaging and informative. It gives a chance for us buyers to re-evaluate our buying strategies, applying our ideas and knowledge of our customers to create a winning formula to market a successful product." She added: The course touched both our analytical and creative skills and offered a great learning package for all. It was indeed a fun and inspiring experience, and I am grateful to have been able to join this course. Dewi Wulandari, a Family Concept buyer, stated: We need to know our customer; their needs, wants and desires, in order to have a good understanding of our market and, from there, build the right collections. The course also re-emphasized that planning is important, but that the actual execution of the plan is key to being successful." Roberto Longo, president for customer service, was also present during the course, and he took the time to share some of his experience with the participants. Also in attendance were Carlos Garces, company manager of Bata Indonesia, and course trainers Gerard Slotboom, Enrico Bettella and Jim Livingstone.
Bata April 17, 2015 Bata Singapore s holder of highest sales per square meter is boasted by the store in Century Square, Tampines. STORE STORE OF THE WEEK: Highest Sales Per Square Meter Tampines is the largest residential area in Singapore and an important commercial hub with high population density. The area manager in charge of this Family Concept store with whopping sales of $1,724 per square meter, in a space of only 134 square meters, is Jimmy Lim. His insights from 11 years in district management and visual merchandising let him oversee the operations and business of 10 Bata stores. Lim shared the secrets of how he manages his district. He believes in consistent communication, teambuilding activities and operations and business reviews with the team. During his weekly visits to stores, he specifically looks into areas such as visual displays, cleanliness, replenishment of products, individual staff performance, overall sales targets, stock room management, standard levels of customer service and staff quality, and monthly meetings with management to drive traffic to the store. For every visit to the store, Lim makes a detailed analysis to find out the topselling categories to determine any required replenishment or expansion of lines. And to make important decisions such as withdrawing stocks for slow-moving categories. The Century Square store s top-selling categories are Bata Men s formal shoes, Weinbrenner outdoor shoes, Bata Comfit Ladies, casual wedges and ballerinas, school shoes and other Children s licensing brands such as Hello Kitty, Dora the Explorer, Frozen, Ninja Turtles and more. It is no wonder that with Lim s attention to detail and direction, this store has consistently increased its turnover over the past six years.
Bata April 17, 2015 BCP India recently helped the Batanagar Nursery and Kindergarten School organize its annual Sports Day, in the spirit of promoting children s health and safety. BCP / SUSTAINABILITY BCP India Makes Sports Day a Success for Batanagar Children The school is located near the Batanagar factory and enrolls children ages 3 to 11 from the community, including the children of Bata employees. a great pleasure to participate in a BCP activity. It gives us an opportunity to connect with the children and contribute to their development. On Sports Day, all of the school s 250 children took part in a number of athletic competitions. The program started at 11 a.m. with a parade and dance performances. Other BCP volunteers who contributed to the success of Sports Day were S. K. Mandal, unit manager of Batanagar; Ananda Chatterjee, HR manager at Bata India; and Mithilesh Tiwary, assistant HR manager at Bata India. Then the competitions began! Events included a chocolate race and a garland race. It was clear from how engrossed they were that the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly. To involve the youngsters parents and guardians and recognize the efforts of teachers and school staff, the last events were among the grown-ups. The day naturally concluded with the conferring of prizes. Deepanjan Dey, in a triple role as BCP volunteer, senior HR manager at Bata India and secretary of the school, distributed awards to the winners of the various events. He commented, It is always
Bata April 17, 2015 The Bata Shoe Museum has unveiled its upcoming exhibition, Standing Tall: The Curious History of Men in Heels. CORPORATE Bata Shoe Museum Explores Unusual Fashion Trend with New Exhibition The aim of the exhibition, which opens on May 8, is to explore the history of men's heeled shoes from the early 1600s to the present day. It will look at the use of heels in men's dress and the significance of the fashion trend through the ages. Today, the idea of men wearing heels is a strange notion, but this has not always been the case. Elizabeth Semmelhack, senior curator of the Bata Shoe Museum, stated: When heels were introduced into fashion at the turn of the 17th century, men were the first to adopt them, and they continued wearing heels as expressions of power and prestige for over 130 years. She added: Even after they fell from men's fashion in the 1730s, there were pockets of time when heels were reintegrated into the male wardrobe not as a way of challenging masculinity, but rather as a means of proclaiming it. The exhibition will feature rare examples of men's heeled footwear from the 17th century to the present day. Along with 19th century military boots and 1930s cowboy boots, those visiting the Bata Shoe Museum will have the opportunity to see John Lennon's Beatle boot from the 1960s, as well as platform shoes worn by Elton John in the 1970s, all from the museum's own collection. The collection will be on display until May 2016 as part of a year-long programme of events and activities to celebrate the museum's 20th anniversary, including a gala birthday evening, a community festival, performances, lectures and workshops.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Bata April 17, 2015 Bata Industrials Pakistan recently participated at Safe Secure Pakistan, held from March 10-12 in Islamabad. CORPORATE Bata Industrials Pakistan Makes Waves at Safety and Security Exhibition The Bata Pakistan team exhibited its complete safety collection from basic to premium, with the Bata Industrials Global offering receiving a very positive response from visitors. The Bickz range remained the overall highlight, and Bata Pakistan's intention is to sell this type of high-level product to a variety of international companies. The 2015 edition of Safe Secure Pakistan featured more than 250 exhibitors from 31 countries. The exhibition was attended by over 5000 visitors from the sector, including government officials, business professionals, diplomats and armed forces officers. Muhammad Qayyum, company manager of Bata Pakistan, commented on the event: Safe Secure Pakistan is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, providing us common ground to interact with end users and distributors within the industry. Our booth received a very encouraging response and our team did a tremendous job in sharing complete product details with customers. I m certain that the future outlook of Bata Industrials in Pakistan is very bright. Carlos Casanello, Bata Industrials and institutions manager for Asia and Africa, said: Product exposure like this gives one an additional edge over competitors. Bata Industrials has great potential in the Pakistan market, and increasing awareness among end users is an essential ingredient for success in the business. It is very important to continue investing in these kinds of events. Every year we are gaining more brand awareness, credibility and confidence from our customers.