Paris as practice playground

Ferris wheel at the Jardin des Tuileries

[The following is a work in progress draft I’m iterating and formalising]

This idea here is a training programme designed for sales and marketing professionals to learn the value of fostering a playful state of mind and practice infusing play-based methods in their day-to-day work. The programme is designed to bring participants in a different, unfamiliar, real life environment to promote inspiration and turn into breakthrough results.

Intention: For participants to go out of their usual business settings and comfort zones to learn from other industries, crafts, environments. Participants will learn play-based methods and exercises applicable for sales and marketing teams to generate unprecedented results.

Location: Paris, France

The immersive training will focus on learning and experiencing different aspects the City of Lights excels at, though isn't necessarily on the minds of most tourist visiting the city, or will feature twists to defy expectations. A look behind the scenes of the industries at play will give a whole different perspective on their own work.

To cite an example, Paris and France are known for food and gastronomy. However, you may not be aware that the second largest wholesale food market in the world is right here, Rungis. Of course this means food, and also a wide range of logistics and supply chain expertise. Participants will have a whole new appreciation for gastronomy over a meal after visiting and learning about the workings of the Rungis food market.

Format and content

• An introductory group video conference session

• one or two days in person in Paris

• Time will be divided between in person workshop sessions in a central Paris, and activities tailored to the participants. For example :

  • Visit of the Rungis wholesale food market, interviews with logistics suppliers, chefs, wholesale food specialists, farmers. An understanding of sales and marketing for the food industry.

  • Visit of a boutique fashion designer workshop.

  • A guided tour of the Fondation Louis Vuitton building with an architect.

  • Visit of a luxury store and interview of the manager to understand their sales process and style.

  • A wine tasting and hand-made ceramics event with a Michelin-starred chef.

  • Spotting and understanding faded signs and street art with an expert.

• These events will be tied back to the workshop sessions and analogies drawn between participants' working environments and challenges to open new ways to tackle challenged and generate innovative solutions.

A more detailed view of the planning:

Arrival the previous day (optional)

Day 1

• Morning workshop

• Lunch

• Early afternoon workshop

• Late afternoon craft visit and interview of a professional

Day 2

• Very early start 3-4am guided visit of Rungis International Market

• Gastronomy lunch experience

or

• Optional dinner experience the night before

• Morning workshop

• A walk and guided visit mid-morning

• Working lunch in a private room of a restaurant

• Experience visit in the afternoon, with a professional.

• Wine tasting and closing of the two days.

Why Paris?

• It is one of the most visited cities in the world, the most attractive as per Euromonitor, I grew up and live here now.

• There is more to Paris for sales and marketing professionals to discover, appreciate, and learn from than the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Élysées.

• It's a fun environment.

Participants

• Sales, marketing, or fundraising team of a single business or organisation, or professionals of multiple businesses and organisations. It could also be the founding team of a small to medium business, or a group of individual entrepreneurs wishing to lear about sales and marketing principles.

• Approximately a minimum of five and up to 10-15 participants.

Outcome

• Learn branding, marketing, and sales principles, as well we as the value of fostering a play state of mind for your work.

• Practice play-based methods to produce outstanding results in your performance.

• From gastronomy to street art and luxury, experience original events and business practices in the City of Lights.

• Go back to work inspired and generate breakthrough results.

As stated above, this is an early draft and the live is in beta, I’m working on a product page. I am interested in organising prototype tests at cost, in exchange for detailed feedback and testimonials. If you are interested, please send me an email: willem@playfulbrandstrategy.com.