Ulster’s Contract Sales Manager, Francoise Kergoat, recently took part in La Pause – a lunchtime webinar by NEWH Europe. If you were unlucky enough to miss it, we thought we’d look at some of the topics that she covered.
MISSING OUR CUSTOMERS
Our European sales team has missed out on meeting our customers face-to-face recently, which has been tough.
“We don’t like the situation but we have adapted to meet the needs of our customers,” says Francoise. “Like La Fontaine’s Fable of The Oak and The Reed we have had to be flexible and resilient.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
One topic that every manufacturer has to consider is the environment. Francoise is a keen advocate of the sustainable processes undertaken by Ulster.
“This is an area that we have been very proactive in,” Francoise explains. “We were the first textile manufacturer to be accredited to ISO 14 001-2015. We have also improved our industrial processes to divert 100% of our post industrial waste away from landfill.
“Then, of course, there is the fact that we use wool in our carpets, which is a rapidly renewable material that can be recycled.
“But we aren’t stopping there and we’ve opened a new Recycling Hub where waste carpet will be recycled into Axfelt Triple Layer Underlay. We will continue to review every aspect of the company to reduce our impact on the environment. I hope my children benefit from the fact that we take the planet’s health so seriously.”
THE PERFECT FIT
When asked why Ulster is such a good fit for the hospitality sector, Francoise outlined three major areas – skills, service and reliability.
“We have highly skilled teams at every level of the company,” explained Francoise. “Our designers are some of the best in the world and we have developed technology to allow them to translate their artistry into your carpet designs.
“After all, a carpet for the hospitality sector is a technical product, so it is key that we respond to meet these needs.
“Secondly, we provide high levels of service. Using our experience, we can anticipate a lot from the initial stages of a project right through to final installation and maintenance.
“We offer a full design and planning service and we can provide a range of resources, including our online archive, tuft boxes and bespoke samples.
“Finally, we are reliable. Our integrated manufacturing process puts us in complete control of every aspect from selecting, spinning and dyeing the wool to the bespoke design and, of course, the weaving. As a consequence, we are reactive to your needs.”
DESIGN COLLABORATIONS
The partnership approach at Ulster is an important part of our success and, as Francoise outlines, it is why interior designers, architects, managers and owners love working with us.
