Courtesy of BlueBuddies.com RUGBY SMURF PROMOTION --------------------- SUMMARY ------- This is a unique opportunity for BP Service Station Operators to capitalise on a rare event. The occasion, of course, is the visit of the British Lions Rugby Team who will again do battle with the Springboks. To mark the occasion, we are importing a special production of Rugby Smurf figurines in the two team colours of the Lions and Boks. But, because of the cost of airfreighting the consignment to South Africa with the special hand-colouring of each figurine, we must increase the price of each to BP Dealers from 56 cents to 65 cents - an increase of 9 cents. However, if the Service Station holds the * retail price to 95 cents, plus 4 cents GST, there is still a profit of 30 cents to be made by the Dealer on each figurine. When considering the interest that will be generated during this two- month tour, by the Lions, we are certain BP Dealers will appreciate this opportunity to capitalise on the event. This is particularly true to those Service Stations who are in the vicinity of venues where matches will be played, since this will give opportunities for 'local' promotions to celebrate the occasion. Furthermore, Rugby Smurfs are a BP exclusive; CNA will not have them. The planned itinerary for the tour is given on page 8. As will be recalled, Smurf figurines have previously been stored and dispatched by Spearpoint. With Rugby Smurfs, Spearpoint will have no involvement, except to invoice and accept payment. In this latter regard RET/MAN has stated that Representatives must ensure that Smurf participating Dealers settle their Spearpoint accounts without delay. With Rugby Smurfs, the packing, selling and distribution will be under the control of Regional Retail Managers; as will be the responsibility of finding a secure storeroom. In no event should BP Dealers contact Spearpoint regarding delivery - as Spearpoint will not have stock. This whole exercise should prove a useful experiment to Regions and should stand them in good stead should we mount any special Smurf promotions in the future. (* Dealers can of course decide to sell at a price the market will bear thereby maximising their profits.} Regional Allocations -------------------- As stated in ASP/MAN's memo of 11th April we are importing 100 000 Rugby Smurf figurines - 60 000 Springboks and 40 000 Lion Smurfs. Regions have been allocated quantities, with the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban Regional Offices being responsible for the packing operation as follows : Lion Springbok TOTAL Packing Figurines Figurines Responsibility Head Office 500 500 1 000 ) Cape Town Southern Region 8 500 14 500 23 000 ) Eastern Region 7 500 10 500 18 000 Durban Central Region 4 000 6 000 10 000 ) Northern Region 18 000 27 000 45 000 ) Johannesburg S.W.A. 1 500 1 500 3 000 ) ------ ------ ------- 40 000 60 000 100 000 ------ ------ ------- Retail Managers of the larger Regions will thus control their own destiny in respect of sales and delivery, with an obligation in the case of Northern Region to satisfy the needs of S.W.A. and Central Region. This decentralised absence of Spearpoint permits Regional Retail Managers to organise their own sell-in volumes to selected or individual Service Stations, as well as arranging delivery of the figurines and point-of- sale material. On a National basis of 600 participating Service Stations, it means an allocation of 166 figurines to each; but no doubt Regional Managers may wish to change this allocation according to the size and potential of individual stations. Packaging --------- In order to save airfreight costs, to streamline our operation, and to gain some experience of doing part of the work ourselves, we ask Southern, Eastern and Northern Regions to undertake the packaging operation. Regions will therefore receive consignments of Rugby Smurf figurines in bulk, then be required to place each figurine into a polybag of 13 cm x 8 cm and close it by stapling a universal Rugby Smurf header card with two staples. Regions will receive 5% over-supply of both polybags and header cards to cover spoilage. Surplus of both items are then to be given to the RET/ASP who will receive further disposal instructions from RET/SP. Counting -------- To ease the problem of counting at the Service Station and partially to avoid pilferage, better control will be attained if 10 header carded Smurfs are packed into a larger polybag(20 cm x 30 cm). Again, these polybags with securing wires will be provided to Regions, together with a 5% over-supply. Additionally, all Spearpoint warehouses carry a stock of cardboard cartons which accommodate 5 packets of 10 Smurf figurines. These are BP stock and are readily available should Regions wish to use them. Invoicing --------- A special Rugby Smurf Order Form has been developed. The primary purpose of this is (a) to enable Spearpoint to issue an invoice to the Dealer, and (b) to enable Smurf sales data to be captured on the Spearpoint computer programme for monthly sales data. These Order Forms are printed on NCR paper and consist of three sheets to a set, to be distributed as follows : Top Copy - To Spearpoint Regional Office Second Sheet - Service Station Copy Third Sheet - BP Representative's Record Copy Regional Offices will need to supervise that documentation is passed to Spearpoint and, secondly, to equate total sales/distribution with allotted number of figurines. BP personnel to make every effort to ensure completion of Dealer payment to Spearpoint within 30 days. Note: This Order Form offers Dealers the opportunity to pay at the time of placing their order. The Packaging Operation ----------------------- A real problem with Smurf figurines is that their attractiveness en- courages pilferage. This has been experienced at all ends of the distribution chain. The first function therefore is to establish the number received so that any shortage can be handled by an insurance claim. PUR/SC to be notified immediately in such cases. Pilferage can also occur during the packaging operation and this should be borne in mind when choosing the packer to do the job. The actual packing operation should not be under-estimated. If one attempts to get a rubberized article into a plastic bag, it will be found that the two items tend to stick. It may be found therefore that one may have to use a scoop or piece of cardboard to keep the polybag open, whilst the Smurf is dropping into the bag. It then needs a fairly deft operation to get the header card over the top of the polybag and keep it in position while sealing with two staples. These problems could mean that a large staff will need to be available at short notice. Producers who have been called upon to cope with such repetitive work will frequently call upon institutions of mentally re- tarded or physically handicapped people to help them. These institutions often have difficulty in finding work and frequently welcome the oppor- tunity to earn extra money. Furthermore, they tend to be quicker, cheaper and less prone to pilferage than some commercial organisations. Again, the use of a sports club and its members who are eager to raise funds would usually have space in the clubhouse and would call in enthusiastic members to work overnight and weekends, without the inhibiting problems which could be experienced by a commercial concern. An important aspect of course is the security factor. Head Office are prepared to accept a charge of up to one cent per figurine packed as stated above. Nevertheless, quotations are to be cleared with RET/SP (in discussion with RET/MAN). Stocks of the First 26 Smurfs ----------------------------- A recent check at Spearpoint warehouses indicated that stocks of Smurfs are now at their best since the launch of the programme. Furthermore, another 200 000 or so figurines are due approximately the third week in May (that's in addition to Rugby Smurfs!). This means that Regions can sell Smurf figurines with confidence, safe in the knowledge that stocks in the country are adequate. Dealer Persuasion ----------------- When looking at the Regional allocations for Rugby Smurfs, some Regional Managers may consider their allocation inadequate, when assessing the probable appeal. In such instances, a Regional Manager may wish to adopt the approach to his Dealers, that if he (the Dealer) wishes to stock Rugby Smurfs then he must place minimum orders for a number of the other Smurfs! Such action would need to be executed in conjunction with the local Spearpoint Regional Office as the ordering of normal Smurfs and the delivery route is to be through Spearpoint. Normal Smurf Order Forms are available from Spearpoint offices. Again, if it appears that Rugby Smurfs are going to be in short supply, then a Regional Manager could adopt the approach that dealers who pay C.O.D. will be given preference. COMMUNICATING THE AVAILABILITY OF RUGBY SMURFS ---------------------------------------------- Co-operative Press Advertisement -------------------------------- Dealers should be encouraged to advertise in the local Press. Regional Offices will receive original material to help Dealers mount local promotions. Note: The overall objective of the Rugby Smurf promotion is to encourage motorists to BP Service Stations. On no account must Rugby Smurfs be sold at match grounds; such instances would in- fringe the Rugby Union copyright; as would use of either of the team badges. If in doubt, check with Head Office. Radio Springbok Sessionettes ---------------------------- From Monday 5 May at 16.27 hours on five days every week there will be a programme aimed at children. Rugby Smurfs will be promoted at selected times during this programme. Sunday Newsletter ----------------- On Sunday 4 May we commence a schedule of advertisements and a Smurf Newsletter in the comic sections of the Sunday Times and Rapport. Repeating on the first Sunday of each and every month. A prime carrier for Rugby Smurfs. Competition Responses --------------------- To date we have had more than 15 thousand entries into the "Name-the- Smurf" competition which appeared in the Sunday press on 30 March and 6 April. When responding, we will tell every family about the forth- coming availability of Rugby Smurfs. Bulletin Board Posters ---------------------- This design is featured within the next few pages and will be available in both English and Afrikaans. The bigger Service Station can also use this Windmaster size poster in their windows. Dealer Mailer ------------- Regions will receive sufficient copies of these for BP Representatives to either mail or to leave with BP Service Station operators. Rugby Smurf Order Form ---------------------- This is featured in the following pages. Be sure to send the top copy to Spearpoint Regional Office. PLANNED TIMING SCHEDULE ----------------------- 21 April - Dealer Mailers Both items in Regions' hands to enable Representatives - Rugby Smurf Order Forms to take orders. 28 April - Small Polybags All items in respective Regions to enable polybagging to commence - Header Cards as soon as figurines arrive. - Large Polybags (with wires) - Posters (in packets of 10) Note: There is only one design of Header Card; this is to be used for both the Lion and Springbok Smurf. Figurine Distribution --------------------- The following dates are not yet substantiated but serve as a guide to work to, depending on arrival date of figurines: 30 April - 100 000 Rugby Smurfs are cleared from Jan Smuts Customs. 1 May - 24 000 flown to Cape Town - 18 000 flown to Durban 5 May - All Rugby Smurfs polybagged and delivered to sites. Regions need to arrange a secure storeroom for Rugby Smurfs and to ensure that no stock is held by them by the mid-way point of the Lions tour, i.e. June 1Oth. If this is the case, Head Office must be informed. The Lions Team is scheduled to arrive in South Africa on 4/5 May, with their first official match to be played at Port Elizabeth on 10 May. The Lions Tour Itinerary ------------------------ Saturday, May 10: v Eastern Province, Port Elizabeth Wednesday, May 14: v SA Rugby Association, East London Saturday, May 17: v Natal, Durban Wednesday, May 21: v SA Invitation XV, Potchefstroom Saturday, May 24: v Orange Free State, Bloemfontein Tuesday, May 27: v SA Rugby Federation, Cape Town Saturday, May 31: v SOUTH AFRICA, FIRST TEST, NEWLANDS Wednesday, June 4: v SA Country XV, Windhoek Saturday, June 7: v Transvaal, Johannesburg Tuesday, June 10: v Rhodesia, Salisbury Saturday, June 14: v SOUTH AFRICA, SECOND TEST, BLOEMFONTEIN Wednesday, June 18: v Junior Springboks, Johannesburg Saturday, June 21: v Northern Transvaal, Pretoria Free Week (visit to the Kruger National Park) Saturday, June 28: v SOUTH AFRICA, THIRD TEST, PORT ELIZABETH Wednesday, July 2: v South African Barbarians, Durban Saturday, July 5: v Western Province, Newlands Tuesday, July 8: v Griqualand West, Kimberley Saturday, July 12: v SOUTH AFRICA, FOURTH TEST, PRETORIA From SmurfBBS Message: https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/4553.html Transcribed by PeazJelly: https://bluebuddies.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/profile/3101.html