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Monday February 4 2019 THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM
KAM LOQUEMANSales Agent for Guzzini, Microplane, Ladelle, Root 7, The DRH Collection, Greener Cleaner and Tramontina
On the road
products that I’ve represented over the years. I was asked this question many years ago, and at the time I was on a two-year break from representing Guzzini, but I still said the Guzzini Feeling Mugs and I stick by this. They are completely iconic, stylish, simple and comfortable - and have never been copied. The same with their Feeling Cutlery: all my friends use and love it as much as me. My favourite product at the moment though
is my Guzzini orange lounge table with one of the three coloured Le Murrine bowls on it. It uses the same colours as my favourite American football team, the Miami Dolphins, and looks simply stunning.
What’s your background? After studying retail management at Surrey University, I worked in retail until my mid-20s. Then I switched to the supply side. I worked for Forma House for 10 years, working up to national account manager. I then decided to go it alone. I became independent in 2012 and have never looked back.
What brands do you represent? I've looked after Guzzini, supplying direct from Italy for six years now (eight years through the distributor before), and Ladelle and Root 7 for around five years. My newer brands are The DRH Collection,
Greener Cleaner and Tramontina. Sadly Microplane will be leaving my portfolio soon but I’m in talks with a few others already.
How do you spend an average day? Emails/calls/admin have to be first. If I don't get on top of those, I'll have missed important things that need to be done before I jump in my car. Then I go out to two or three appointments, depending on whether I’m going into London or not. Of course there are quieter times on the road (before a show, for instance) and then hectic times (after a show!). Also, you can be far more (cost) effective sometimes in front of your laptop than behind the wheel. So I have to plan my road days very efficiently.
Which of ‘your’ products do you use? I love to cook so I tend to use a lot of the
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housewareslive.net
“I genuinely love promoting the brands
in my portfolio and the people supplying them”
My kitchen is full of old Ladelle tea towels - their microfibre blows my mind. I’ve gone a little green recently, so I try to use their All Natural cleaning materials, together with the recycled cleaning tools from Greener Cleaner. They make me feel good about scrubbing the floor and running the dishwasher! I still use my DreamFarm Supoon [cooking spoon] from my Forma days - it’s totally brilliant - and, of course, my Microplane [grater] but watch those fingers! Finally, I plan to replace all my whiteware and cookware with DRH soon, as it will be nice to have a good quality matching set for once.
What’s the best aspect of your job? People, people, people: meeting new ones and working out how best to liaise with them and gain their trust, and maintaining my long- standing relationships I’ve built over the last 15 years in the industry, both from the customer side and supplier side. I went to [German trade show] Ambiente
this year and deliberately walked all the halls, catching up with all the brands I’ve met over the years. It was brilliant [to see] how many agreed to help each other in any way they could, and not for any financial reward. Above all, I choose what I represent, meaning I believe in them and am never asked to push something that my employer happens to have picked up. I genuinely love promoting the brands in my portfolio and the people supplying them.
What’s the worst aspect of your job? Costs. I was charged £16.50 for 1.5 hours parking in London the other day; there was a £4 diesel fee I knew nothing about. Then you have the [London] Congestion Charge, the [Dartford Crossing] Dart Charge… the list goes on, meaning you are in quite a deficit before the possibility of writing an order. Running a car and a sole trader business is
more expensive than ever, yet commission remains at around 10%. It’s becoming more difficult to make a day on the road match a salaried position, without a doubt. I very much miss a fully expensed car! Also, I do envy some of the treatment
[enjoyed by] my European agent colleagues. They are very well protected and respected. Many work for the same company for decades and hand the agency on after they retire. Now that is a relationship. Over here, we tend to chop and change a bit too much.
What car do you drive and why? A BMW 3 Series Touring in white, which is rarely clean. It's getting a little old now but does the job nicely. In fact it does two jobs. I DJ as well, and it can hold all my DJ gear in the back with ease. It does look good with the 'DJ11 KAM' plate that all my friends clubbed together to buy me for my 40th!
What do you do outside work? Another job. I host a speed dating night every two weeks. It's a lot of fun. I also DJ at Student Unions and private gigs, which is a big passion of mine. In my own time, I do enjoy a good video
game too. ‘Fortnite’ is massive at the moment and I’m not bad at it (google it if you don't know about it). I also love to go on a city break. I’m fortunate
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July/August 2018
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