Interview with Julian Navarro, Manager of Ferreteros in Alicante, S.C.V.L (Cofedal)

Quite the contrary, precisely, this decision had been taken in order to maintain all the services they need, now more than ever, cooperators, such as the two weekly deliveries of product, the personalized attention of warehouse, purchasing and marketing, support technique of brands, etc.

ERE that has requested Cofedal, agreed upon by all employees, is adjusting the staff costs of the company in an environment of widespread crisis in the economy.

Cofedal, since end of 2007 and in the course of 2008, adjusted its workforce from 49 to 40 workers, so it was correctly dimensioned for an already lowered sales forecast.

The cooperative believes that all workers are needed and how to reduce staff costs without any, has been through the suspension of contracts of 34 people, organized on a rotating basis, as well as the reduction of working day for other 3 employeesachieving savings of which would terminate the contracts of 6 people.

Many companies opt for the resolution of employment contracts, while Cofedal, always from a realistic point of view, has chosen to take temporary measures which cover, in length, a full year, not just waiting for economic recovery, but relying on the extensive commercial work that is being carried out, aimed to achieve a real increase of sales.

Cofedal considers it necessary to maintain all contracts of employment in force, getting, if sales increase at any given time, either by the acquisition of new Credit Union, either because the economic situation begins to improve, or for other reasonsto have your template and desist from ERE, recovering to its employees who are perfectly prepared to pay to full satisfaction.

Also, with the savings in staff costs calculated on the basis of the application of the ERE, the downward trend in sales, operating with less staff and with the reassurance of having adjusted the budget can afford.

The actual causes are motivated by the need to adjust the staff costs to current sales, so, building on the measures that the Administration has put at the disposal of companies and workers on March 6You can get a significant reduction in the cost of the template, without having to dispense with any employee.

All the consequences on employment are positive, because the company is still paying the contributions of workers and also the employees do not lose their rights to unemployment, and even though it is repetitive, still jobs.

Indeed, the issue of guarantees of payment is fundamental. The Rector Council of the cooperative, in 2003 decided that each cooperativist should have backed shop to Cofedal, to avoid that, because of mismanagement in particular, would be affected the collective.

This decision, which at the time was regarded as excessive control towards own cooperators, is today a calm for partners and suppliers, who are aware of that Cofedal can meet its payment obligationshaving guaranteed payment commitments.

Not only currently still active, but that in our desire to increase sales, as a measure to strengthen us in the crisis, have developed new systems of management for the acquisition of new Credit Union, further adjusting to the real needs of the hardware at the present time.

It is precisely in times of crisis, when the cooperative must support to its partners, with more intensity, if possible, by providing them, as far as possible, greater individual choice sales to customers in their stores.

Basic services are:

Ø procurement with suppliers, for direct supply to the hardware.

Ø storage of product, for the supply fluid of goods with our transport.

Ø two routes per week, Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday at each cooperativist, without having to conform to a minimum order, and can spend the last order until the day before its routes, at eleven in the eveningthen a night shift is available for the preparation of the goods.

Ø pick up, delivery to technical services and return of the products repaired to the hardware.

Ø phones for personalized assistance to cooperators, the commercial Department, and storage.

Ø all management of marketing and advertising, which comes from Ancofe, and of the own credit.

Ø installation of a program of communication, which among other alternatives, must enable:

• Access to the connection with the Infotarifa platform.
• Access to the conditions of suppliers, their sales representatives and their S.A.T.
• Access to the codification of the articles and their EAN codes.
• Access to the invoices of Cofedal.
• Draw up its own fees from the professional catalogue of Ancofe.
• Learn about stocks in real time.
• Know the status of the pending orders received at Cofedal.
• Know the status of the pending orders to the cooperativist.
• Attend regular conformity of supply orders in real time.
• Study of offers of price or payment orders directly.
• Take orders for the products of the brochures directly.
• To send the cancellation of the pending faults.
• To send out requests for order collection.
• Performed automatically (if adapts its programme):

Ø the entry of the products in the management of the partner program.

Ø accounting of all receipts for Cofedal, (sale of Cofedal = partner purchase); (O­nly VAT = VAT supported); (Payment due = due date of payment); etc.

For more details on services, contact your web page: www.cofedal.es