Liza Motte (EDHEC BBA 2007) presents her merchandising agency, BURPEEZ

Liza Motte (EDHEC BBA 2007), presents BURPEEZ, a merchandising agency offering tailored services for businesses to cover all their retail development needs.

EDHEC ALUMNI: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Liza Motte: I’m from Nice and completed my higher education on EDHEC’s Nice campus. While studying at EDHEC, I had the opportunity to do several internships and was elected president of the Events Association, which organises the school’s graduation ceremonies. That experience gave me a taste for project development and challenging work.
Once I graduated, I got my first job in a communications agency in Paris, where I learned how to manage projects, handle pressure and adapt my skills to a wide range of demands.
I went on to work at two other agencies, one of which introduced me to the world of merchandising. After 5 years in agencies, I took up a position at Lagardère Travel Retail, where I helped open the merchandising unit and was appointed as a category head. After another 5 years with Lagardère Travel Retail and 10 years as an employee, I decided to try to achieve what I really wanted: to develop my own business!

EA: HOW DID YOUR PROJECT COME ABOUT?

LM: I came up with the idea when I was still at Lagardère TR. I began to wonder, “why not offer an outsourced merchandising service to businesses and retailers with the possibility of tailored options?” So I started developing a project to create my own merchandising agency, and Burpeez was born! This agency was made possible through a partnership with two other people: Sébastien Rodinger, a designer who has helped us come up with new retail concepts, and Sophie Laplanche, an expert in operational marketing.

EA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

LM: Burpeez is based on 3 pillars representing tailored services for businesses to cover all their retail development needs.

• Design to develop on-trend innovative concepts for brands looking to stand out from their competitors.
• Merchandising management for businesses in need of support and advice on how to orient their product catalogue, develop or implement category management practices, or achieve their merchandising goals.
• Initiatives to ensure a dynamic brand image and activate all levers of retail growth: on-site commercial promotions, street marketing, point-of-sale digital technology, and contractors to install promotional material in retail outlets.

Studies have shown that consumers are increasingly demanding when it comes to their in-store experiences. To meet their expectations, businesses must surprise them, and that means taking certain risks. Burpeez is on hand to offer them support and advice on how to achieve this.

EA: WHAT’S YOUR INITIAL ASSESSMENT? 

LM: Burpeez is a name that closely resembles a difficult fitness move known as the “burpee”, which perfectly illustrates the challenge of starting your own business.
”You start standing upright, you regularly find yourself on the ground following periods of doubt, difficulties or intense stress, you get back up because your belief is unshakeable, then you jump every time you land a new contract!” And we landed a few promising contracts in 2018, including Sephora. Entrepreneurship is a unique human adventure in which dreams can come true.

EA: any advice for young ENTREPRENEURS?

LM:

1/ Team up with people who have different personalities to your own. That way you can complement one another and achieve the perfect formula to progress even further every day.

2/ Be patient and humble.

3/ Don’t be afraid to fail, because it’s better to try and mess up than to stand around watching the days go by!

EA: WHAT’S NEXT FOR BURPEEZ?

LM: Expand onto new markets, develop our client portfolio, and hire new staff...

EA: WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY?

LM: If there is anything we can help you with, get in touch!
www.burpeez.fr