Feel Good Store proves successful

Opened in May 2009, it has a steady sales turnover, successful recruitment and retention of previously unemployed people in all aspects of the project (from 16 trainees at opening to 20 currently being trained) and favourable customer feedback and is proving itself a sustainable model for success.

The project is an innovative partnership between The Foschini Group and Learn to Earn, an NPO operating in the Western Cape, aiming to fight poverty by training unemployed people in skills relevant to the retail supply chain. The store stocks refurbished customer returns, samples, rejects and over-runs, from the group's Foschini, Markham, Exact!, Fashion Express, Luella, Donna Claire, Sportscene, Totalsport and Due South stores.

Designed to be self-sustaining

“It has been designed to be self-sustaining. All revenue generated from sales will go back into the project,” says senior HR manager for CSI and wellness of the Foschini Group, Karde Buys.

“We are excited about this partnership with group,” GM of Learn to Earn, Susan Wishart says. “Our focus is the development of unemployed people and the partnership has enabled us to grow our capacity to do this.”

Lusanda Slaai speaks of her Feel Good Project training experience; “Working at The Feel Good Store has been a wonderful journey for me. My experience to date, how to deal with customers, merchandising, housekeeping and how to follow retail procedures, has also taught me to respect others, to be reliable, punctual and honest. I see myself growing at the store and now I am considering furthering my studies and plan to study retail management.” The 23-year-old mother of one lives with and supports her mother and brother in Langa. She first completed a basic computer and office admin course at Learn to Earn before entering project training programme.

“We believe that that this project is a first of its kind in South Africa,” says William Bent, project manager of store. “I am proud to be a pioneer of an initiative like this and I am confident that this project will do extremely well in time to come.”

Donations and work provide infrastructure

• Fittings and fixtures - Foschini Group stores
  
• Design and shop fitting planning - Foschini store design and shop fitting team with finishing touches supplied by Facilities Design
  
• Corporate ID for the Feel Good Store - pro bono from Fountainhead
  
• UCS donated funds for the point of sale system and training
  
• Polyoak donated additional coat hangers
  
• Skynet Worldwide Express provides free transport of clothing between the depot, warehouse and store on its delivery routes of all clothing items
  
• Plascon provided the paint for interior décor and the exterior roller shutter doors.
  
• ITB Manufacturing donated and delivered the first 2000 shopping bags free of charge.
  
• FA Print has donated all the printing requirements
  
• Kenzan Tiles provided 300m² of tiles at cost.
  
• Hart Multi Media donated the sound music system
  
• AGD Studios donated the three-piece mirror set
  
• Woodwork students at Learn to Earn built and fitted the POS and parcel counters.