Profile House leads the way in digital live communications with its own virtual trade show

With a profile developed especially for the Dutch market, the company has rooted itself even deeper into the patriotic window frame market. REHAU, not so long ago moved from Nijkerk to Amersfoort, never sits still. We speak to Tom van Boxtel, the newly hired Commercial Manager at Benelux Window Solutions. With March 2 as his official starting date, he has not had long to enjoy working live with both colleagues and clients, because of the issues surrounding the Coronavirus.... That hinders
Van Boxtel, however, does not in his work.

"The industry felt familiar from the beginning," Van Boxtel opens the conversation. "With my background in the shading and roller shutter industry, I was already used to working with components, and frankly, the window frame industry looks similar to the industry I come from in terms of logistics and mentality. I know the challenges in production environments and how dealer networks work."

Synego SmartGuardII.

Firm plans

Asked about his immediate plans, Van Boxtel replied, "We are building solidly on Synego-NL, the profile developed especially for the Dutch market. A beautiful product that is welcomed with open arms everywhere, because in our little country we have our own taste in this area. We also have innovations to present, but because of the Corona crisis we cannot show ourselves at trade fairs and intensive visits to customers are also out of the question. That's a challenge we were only too happy to find a solution to and we have found it."

The solution being talked about is "state of the art" and uses the very latest techniques in digital communication. "We are currently finalizing a virtual trade show. When this edition of Profile hits the doormat, this new form of digital live communication will be a reality and we will already have welcomed the first visitors," Van Boxtel suggests.

Experience Synego Sunshield virtually? You can. (Image: Peter Kotzur)

Visiting REHAU online is less virtual than you might think

We get to see a preview of the virtual fair through the video conversation we have with Van Boxtel. It looks promising; the visitor walks through a virtual showroom in which all REHAU products are displayed interactively.

"The virtual fair is an addition to the static pages of our website. A lot can be found there at a glance. However, those who want to get acquainted with our products and novelties on a deeper level can register and make an online appointment with me or with account manager Roberto van den Berg. We then receive the customer or prospect neatly in the digital environment. On screen we both see the same thing and we literally walk with him or her through the digital showroom. You can see that very literally, because there is continuous contact with each other via microphone and speaker. Questions can be asked, which are answered on the spot. We can point things out, demonstrate and advise. So we walk with the visitor synchronized through a virtual
REHAU environment."

Synego's Smart Montage is also on display at the virtual fair.
(Image: Peter Kotzur)

Personal attention to the customer under all circumstances

REHAU is rolling out the virtual concept internationally, demonstrating that personal attention to customers is a priority.

"Our Dutch team consists of Mischa Schipper in indoor sales, Roberto van den Berg in field sales and I myself am in a kind of hybrid position. Of course we can't wait to get out into the field again. I myself work to complete the team and take care of the management in the Benelux and enjoy visiting customers, because I have a practical attitude," Van Boxtel adds.

"The virtual fair is a blessing for us now in this day and age, to be able to get the message across properly and still offer the customer a real 'REHAU experience.' However, it is not a temporary measure. If everything goes back to business as usual, this digitalization will be a keeper, complementing the old way of working."