Bauformat | ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
“Brexit or no Brexit, it makes no difference to us”
Delf Baumann, owner of the Baumann Group, talks Bauformat, Brexit and Burnley. We also get a teaser of the kitchen brand’s plan for kbb Birmingham 2020
Q & A
Q: Can you tell us about the Baumann Group? A: The Baumann group is a third-generation, family-run company. We have existed for more than 100 years and have two different locations in Germany. We produce more than 140,000 kitchens a year, employ more than 1,000 staff, and export to over 60 countries around the world. The Baumann Group has three different brands: • Bauformat: Our bespoke German design, specialising in handleless kitchens; • Burger: Budget to mid-range kitchens with a focus on furniture; • Badea: Our bathroom furniture brand.
Q: Why is the UK market worth investing in? A: The UK is one of the world’s leading kitchen markets and is very important to Bauformat, as it’s one of our biggest markets. We have been active in the UK for several years and want to further expand our presence and be successful, alongside our retailers.
Q: With such a strong commitment to investing in the UK, how has the ongoing situation with Brexit affected your approach? A: Brexit or no Brexit, it makes no difference to us. We’ve already made preparations for when it finally happens by continuing to invest in the UK market. That’s why we have now opened our own UK-based training centre.
Q: Tell us about the new UK training centre. A: On December 4, we opened the training centre in Burnley, called the Baumann Academy. This allows us to train our retailers and provides them
with all the information they need to successfully sell German-made kitchens in the UK. Not only do we train the salespeople, we also give installation training to fitters. The training centre is in direct contact with our German-based exhibition centre, Haus Beck, in Löhne. This is where we plan our training programme for the Baumann Academy.
Q: Why is it important for Bauformat to have a more localised focus? A: We have a team of three people based in the UK. As specialists, they know the market very well and are able to build a larger network of dealers. Most importantly, they are best placed to be able to focus on supporting retailers and act as local contacts for our customers.
Q: What other benefits do you offer retailers? A: For a number of months now, we have been transporting our kitchens to the UK with our own trucks. This is so important, because we’re able to give our customers the security of punctual delivery times. Our kitchens are loaded directly from the production line in Germany into our trucks and then delivered direct. The security and customer satisfaction this provides is a key part of our service.
Q: What’s next for Bauformat? What are your plans for kbb Birmingham 2020? A: For us, kbb Birmingham is the most important trade fair in the UK. The show is the perfect opportunity to present our kitchens to UK retailers. At kbb Birmingham 2020, we will present a new concept: The Kitchen Family Elite Dealership. We want our partners to be successful, so we’ve ensured the concept is well thought out and recognises the needs of our retailers.
For more information please contact our UK team: Julian Pringle
Bob Marsden Country manager - UK/Ireland Tel: 07557 922044
Email:
bmarsden@bauformat.de January 2020 · kbbreview
Sales manager - East/South England Tel: 07718 339572
Email:
jpringle@bauformat.de
Sustaining a working relationship
Delf Baumann “We call ourselves a kitchen family and we gave ourselves that title a few years ago. We were arguing and we were laughing. We were discussing this name with our dealers and someone said it was like being in a family. With families there is always struggle, but there is always confidence and trust. Even if one says black and the other says white. Family means many different people having the same basic ideas about what is the right way. The most important thing is listening. I ask all my employees to listen.”
Neil Anthony,
Neil Anthony Kitchens “Bauformat understands us and has empathy for retailers on a personal level. They are a crucial part of my business and they are committed to the UK market, as they have their own sales representatives. The motto of it being ‘the kitchen family’ really is true.”
The Baumann Academy in Burnley
Adam Presch
Sales manager - North England/Ireland Tel: +353 876529800 Email:
apresch@bauformat.de
Dirk Kleykens Export manager Tel: +32 475867773
Email:
dkleykens@bauformat.de 23
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