J. EULOGIO ESTIGARRIBIA. An innovative trust-based self-service egg system is drawing the attention of hundreds of people in the Sommerfeld colony and along Route PY02.
Customers can enter a small kiosk, pick up the products, and complete the payment on their own, even taking their own change from a cash box.
The venture was launched by Víctor Giesbrecht, who explained that the project began about two years ago in a low-visibility location intended mainly for people he knew. However, the initiative gained notoriety after moving to a more busy area called Paseo Verde in the Sommerfeld colony, and later expanding with a new sales kiosk located at km 217 of Route PY02, in the Campo 8 area.
The system works via an electronic lock. Customers must scan a QR code or contact a WhatsApp number, where they automatically receive an access code. To obtain it, they must provide their name and ID number, data that also allows maintaining contact with buyers and issuing invoices when necessary.
Once inside the kiosk, customers select the products and pay autonomously. Those paying in cash have access to a money box for change, so they can withdraw the corresponding difference themselves. There is also the option of making electronic transfers through an alias set up for that purpose.
"After that, it's pure trust," Giesbrecht summarized when explaining how the system works.
According to him, the venture went viral on social media after a visitor shared a video on TikTok shortly before Holy Week. Since then, the number of customers has increased considerably.
Giesbrecht said the experience has been mostly positive and highlighted the honesty of the community. He recalled that in an early stage they used a hidden conventional key to access the premises, on which occasion a young addict stole money and some products. However, he stated that it was an isolated incident and that since the implementation of the automated system no further issues have been recorded.
Currently, each egg tray is sold for G. 25,000. The entrepreneur assured that the price is similar to that of supermarkets, but with the advantage of offering fresh daily eggs, constantly renewed to ensure product quality.
Public acceptance is also reflected in sales. At the roadside location, about ten trays are sold daily, a figure that continues to grow and may require expanding storage capacity in the coming weeks.
Beyond the commercial aspect, Giesbrecht stated that the main objective of the project is to convey a positive message about Paraguayan society.
"We want to show that you can trust people and that it can work in Paraguay. Many say it can't, but we want to prove the opposite," the entrepreneur said.
The entrepreneur added that every business involves risks, but he believes the experience shows that honesty remains a value present in a large part of the population, which is why he hopes to continue expanding this trust-based marketing model.