Frequently Asked Questions

What are the demonstrator working hours?

How do I select the stores I want to demonstrate in?

The Tesco Sampling & Demonstration team at Arc will schedule your activity into available demonstration stores that stock the nominated product.

If you are providing a selected store list, it is imperative the store name and number are made available when submitting the Final Booking Form. Please note that we will only guarantee 50% of any selected stores are booked, the remaining stores will be taken from the store stocking list.

How do I make sure enough stock is available for the demonstration and sales?

An additional stock allocation is needed to cover samples and sales uplift. The stock allocation for your demonstration should be agreed at the time of submitting the Final Booking Form.

A valid TPN-B (Tesco Personal Number B) will be required to set up the stock allocation on the Tesco stock system. This number can be obtained from the key Tesco stock contacts including Category Buyer, Supply Chain Co-ordinator and Supply Chain Manager.



The supplier will be responsible for providing and verifying these contact names with Arc.



Three weeks before the activity date, the Arc Tesco team notify Stock Control Services and key Tesco stock contacts at Tesco Head Office of the activity and stock delivery dates.

The Tesco Supply Chain Manager or Co-ordinator is then responsible for ordering the stock allocation from the Supplier ensuring that stock is delivered to depot in time to meet the date specified by the Tesco Sampling & Demonstrations team.

Individual Tesco stores are made aware of the allocation 2 weeks prior to the demonstration date via a weekly planner system and are able to amend the allocation at their discretion without notifying lime.



Stock is delivered to store three days prior to activity for all demonstrations (with the exception of short life products e.g. fruit).

How do I know when my booking is confirmed?

Once the demonstration has been processed you will be appointed a dedicated Arc Account Handler. This will be approximately 4-5 weeks prior to the activity date.



The Account Handler will send you an email detailing the following points which will act as final confirmation of your booking:

• Demonstration date
• Products to be demonstrated
• Number and list of stores participating in the demonstration
• Allocation of stock
• Date by which product information must be supplied
• Date by which POS/uniforms (if necessary) should be delivered
• Outline demonstration costs

How do the demonstrators get briefed on my product / service?

In order to maximise the effect of the demonstration it is essential to ensure that demonstrators are correctly briefed. The more informed the demonstrators are, the better equipped they will be to communicate effectively with consumers.



All demonstrators receive a written brief the week of the demonstration.

Arc also have an online training portal for all staff.

In addition to this, there is also the opportunity to brief your demonstrators in more detail through face to face training sessions or telephone briefings.

What happens if a demonstrator is ill?

Any absentees / sicknesses will be reported on the day of the demonstration, or on Monday morning if the activity takes place on a Saturday or Sunday. The Tesco Sampling & Demonstration team will aim to re-book any absentees / sicknesses for short life products on the day after the original demonstration date. Any other products will be re-booked as soon as possible.

Please note you will not be charged for any store days we are unable to rebook.

What do I need to consider when visiting my demonstration?

1. Demonstrator lunch and break times
2. Stands are required to be removed from the shop floor when a demonstrator is on a break, therefore there may be no obvious sign of the activity when the demonstrator is at lunch or on coffee break
3. Demonstrators are asked to buy additional sampling stock when they are returning from lunch or coffee break, whenever possible, to minimise absence from the shopfloor, which may add a few minutes to their break. This may not always be possible if an activity is particularly busy so a separate purchase may be necessary
4. Demonstrators need to locate the stock in the warehouse before starting their demonstration, to ensure that additional stock is available to support the promotion. This can take some time and can on occasions impact demonstrator start times
5. Please contact your Account Handler as soon as possible if you have any queries during or following a store visit. It can be difficult for a demonstrator to recall exact whereabouts several days later!

How is demonstrator quality monitored?

A Field Operations department within Arc are responsible for demonstrator quality in the field and work very closely with our team of Regional and Field Managers who are responsible for recruitment, training and monitoring of demonstrator performance.



All demonstrators are selected for their warm personality, friendly approach and ability to engage with customers. They need to be good communicators and enjoy working with the general public. All receive induction training from their field management team and a formal refresher training course annually, developed specifically by a professional training company.



Demonstrators are assessed on a regular basis through unscheduled visits and a team of mystery shoppers managed by Head Office, to ensure best practise principles are followed.