🎙 Meet Sarah Chabbat, franchise development manager at Padd.
👉 Having fallen in love with horse riding from a young age, she began her career at Padd with temporary assignments.
And since then, she has become indispensable! Today, she is responsible for Padd franchisees, working alongside Arielle.
Turning your passion into a career: was it obvious for you?
First of all, working in ready-to-wear shops since my teenage years, I caught the commerce bug early on. One day, I learned that a saleswoman at the Padd store in Lyon was sick, and I offered to replace her. I had been a rider since I was 5 years old and had worked at Equita Lyon and in a saddle shop: I was made for the job. I continued to work at Padd throughout my studies and then completed my internship at Fences, the Norman auction house for horse sales. With a business school diploma in hand in 2014, I continued to take on assignments at Padd, and then Pascal mentioned the opening of the megastore in Douvaine, near the Swiss border.
And so, the adventure with Padd began.
Yes, I was trusted quickly despite my young age, and I took the role of deputy store manager in 2016. Two years later, the opening of the Lausanne store was on the horizon, but the project fell through, and I left the company in search of a new challenge at Horse Pilot. I was appointed as the event sales manager for Europe at this technical clothing supplier for riders. At the end of 2019, Pascal called me back for a franchise development manager position opening at headquarters. Back to my first love, I rejoined Arielle's team a few days before... the pandemic.
What is your role with the franchisees?
It's important to know that out of our 98 stores, 58 are franchised. Therefore, we support them daily while also identifying new ones to better cover the territory. Once the profiles are selected, 100% of whom are enthusiasts, we are present from the start of the project: selecting premises, layout plans, financial forecasts, orders, etc. We also provide two months of training on store management and Padd methods, conducted in stores in Lyon, Poitiers, or Tours. Then, from the opening day, we offer extensive support to make their new job easier and more comfortable. In the long term, we work with franchisees to inform them about new products, train them on these products, launch promotional operations, analyze sales figures, identify well-performing and underperforming product families, track progress, and offer merchandising advice. Our goal is to make them even more successful. Of course, we also enhance the skills of all sales advisors through on-site visits and training via the Padd Academy.
How are customers evolving?
Even though I am only 32, I can see that they have changed. The typical customer is more demanding, as they have product knowledge, thanks to the web, and they leverage competition. At Padd, our goal is not to make them spend at the risk of losing them. We want to attract them in the long term – through human connection, expertise, advice, and a wide range of products – to ensure loyalty. The ideal is to help them progress in their practice, from beginner to advanced, without losing them along the way.
What has been the most significant project of your young career?
It's the daily task of learning alongside Arielle. The rhythm of new stores – by Christmas, we are opening Arras and Lorient. The innovations we are implementing that add value for our passionate customers, such as customization kiosks or in-store tablets. And the constant challenge of selecting locations and choosing candidates.
The quality you prefer in others and what you hate?
I love curious people who see far, who constantly want to discover and learn. And it’s not about age. The professional commitment of younger generations is often criticized, but they also want to work, they also have drive. Simply, they seek balance, and no one can fault them for that. Conversely, lack of honesty, passivity, and deceitfulness are deal-breakers for me. Poor communication, or lack of communication, can also be a weakness, especially in our human-centered profession.
The motto that guides you daily?
"The best things that happen in the business world are not the result of the work of a single person. It's the work of an entire team." - Steve Jobs
Padd in one word?
There will be three: team spirit, ambition, and passion.
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