Exhibition interview: Rob Heredia, UK sales manager, Acquabella
Q: Why are trade shows such as this one important for your business?
A: Kbb is the best way to show our products at their best. Usually we are visiting customers showing catalogues and samples, but at trade shows they can see the concept, quality and possibilities of the products we offer more clearly and deeply.
Q: How’s business compared with last year?
A: We are improving business in the UK year after year from 2013, so the balance is very positive. Added to this, the product is achieving a very prestigious position in the market because it is a very eye-catching product and its concept very innovative and different.
Q: How do you think the relationship between supplier and customer is changing?
A: As a family company, our ethos is to keep long-term business relationships with customers. For us, most of them are part of the family and a key part of our success. Manufacturers need to be increasingly innovative in order to entice customers, as they will be more faithful to brands that are making the effort with innovation and not paying attention only to pricing.
Q: What are the main challenges you will face as a business this year and how will you overcome these?
A: We want to achieve a very successful kbb 2020, to keep calm and carry on with Brexit and try to maintain our position as a main manufacturer of these products in Europe. We opened a new R&D centre in 2019 and are also going to finish the construction of a new factory, after which we will be the number-one factory supplier of coloured Akron made-to-measure resin shower trays.