INTERVIEW | Acquabella A ‘We want
shower trays in the UK’
cquabella r to be THEeference brand for
A
t the height of the Covid- 19 pandemic, Spain was arguably one
of the
hardest hit countries in the world. That the country went into complete lockdown just a week after this industry experienced the highs of a successful kbb Birmingham show, makes the fast-paced, cataclysmic effects of the virus even harder to grasp.
The way events played out in Spain and the impact they had is best described by the head of a brand that was there to experience it all firsthand. We talk
to Acquabella’s CEO Juan José Benavent about the affect of the pandemic on the industry globally and his future plans for brand in the UK.
Q & A
Q: How did the pandemic directly affect Acquabella? A: Spain went into lockdown just a week after our successful appearance at the kbb Birmingham show. Luckily, the area where we are based was one of the less-affected regions of Spain. However, as a business, we were still forced to make some very difficult decisions. Due to government restrictions,
we closed the factory for two weeks. Rather than stand still, during that period we decided to support frontline health professionals in the fight against the virus. We used our 3D printers to make masks and certified health protection materials, which
were then distributed to
health authorities in the areas of Spain worst hit by the virus. For an extended period, we also donated 3% of
the sales of our
award-winning Smart Quiz collection to charities fighting the pandemic in
38
Acquabella’s Urban range of bathroom furniture shown alongside its Smart Quiz shower tray
each country we operate in. From a business perspective, we
reacted quickly – setting staff up so that they could work from home, where applicable.
were able to continue to
This meant we give
commercial and technical support to consumers and retailers throughout lockdown. This also meant that, once restrictions eventually began to lift, we were able to establish a plan to restore production and incorporate departments following the strictest security protocols.
Q: How has Acquabella supported its retail network? A: We have been committed to supporting our customers throughout the pandemic and worked with our partners to ensure that we were supporting them in the best way we could. We maintained a level of service and communication that I think was key for any business
We already have a wide
network of UK customers, but are looking to establish even more long-term business relationships with retailers
operating through such a challenging period. We stayed visible on social media and tried to spread positive and realistic messages throughout the difficulties. We also made sure we let our customers and suppliers know exactly what we were doing at every stage of the pandemic. I have to say that I’ve been really
impressed with the positive attitudes and the resolve that the KBB community has shown during such a difficult situation.
Juan José Benavent, CEO of Spanish shower tray specialist Acquabella, reflects on how he steered the brand through one of the most challenging events the world has ever experienced
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